Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the steady, soaking rain overnight and into this morning, and let us be glad for our rejuvenated lawns and gardens!  While it’s not a great day to be outdoors (at least not in the morning as we’re writing this), it’s a great day to enjoy a second mug of coffee or tea and to linger over the newspaper or your favorite TV shows.  As the day progresses, the weather looks to improve a bit, so maybe we’ll all be able to get in a stroll or a bike ride later!

It’s been another tumultuous week in our world, with unexpected changes in the political landscape in the United States, ongoing wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and another season of wildfires that our friends in Western Canada are struggling with.  Thanks be to God that we have a safe place to retreat to, that place being in the presence of the Lord Almighty, so that we can face the storms of life.  The lyrics of the much-loved Rodgers & Hammerstein song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” come to mind when the road gets bumpy; in case you’ve forgotten them, here they are:

When you walk through a storm                         Walk on through the wind
Hold your head up high                                         Walk on through the rain
And don’t be afraid of the dark                            Though your dreams be tossed and blown
At the end of the storm                                         Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
There’s a golden sky                                               And you’ll never walk alone
And the sweet silver song of a lark                      You’ll never walk alone

Hope.  That’s the key to facing up to life’s challenges, along with joy, peace, and love.  As children of God, hope is ours to claim, so that we can walk on; and never walk on alone.  God is with us, always.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell:  (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com  /  revgreggl@yahoo.com 
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

This the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in gentle breezes and puffy clouds, and let us be glad that the temperatures have moderated a bit! Summertime Up North is such a wonderful, marvelous place; sometimes we take for granted all that we have been blessed with, including where we live and where so many come for rest and relaxation. Our hope and prayer is that everyone reading this message can get out and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us every day.

We can’t ignore recent events, neither are we going to dwell on them; we will only say that we must, must find ways to disagree without being disagreeable. Violence is never an acceptable response to differences of opinion. As has been said many times in recent days, the national temperature has to be dialed down. A lot. There are many passages of Scripture that speak to the subject of conflict, but the bottom line from each of them is that we are to come together and work through our differences with an attitude of kindness and forgiveness; as Jesus says in Luke 6:27 “love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you.” Hopefully there isn’t hatred amongst us to be dealt with, but we are not so naive as to think that there aren’t differences of opinion that can become heated at times; the events of last week should serve as a cautionary tale about how easily “heated” can become “violent.” Let us resolve to come and reason together when we disagree, as Isaiah tells us to do in the beginning of his writings (Isaiah 1:18), and let us resolve to be peacemakers, for then we shall be called children of God.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969 revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

Love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

From the desk of

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Toby the Church dog

Hello dear friends!

I try to be a good boy; I really do. In spite of this, I sometimes hear my name said sharply by my parents. “Toby!” Now when I hear my name, I generally stop what I’m doing and turn my attention to the speaker. It might be you or another of my friends, and I never want to miss out on an interaction with someone special to me. But, when my name is repeated again and again in a tone that I find annoying, I tend to tune it out. Unfortunately, this happens almost daily within my house; and the vocal tone seems to become more strident if I ignore the call to attention.

Sometimes additional words are added to my spoken name. Frequently I hear, “Toby, No bark!” Frankly, this hurts my feelings. It’s not as if I bark just to hear myself talking—well, not often, anyway.  I bark to alert, to warn, to greet, to protect, and for so many other reasons: “I hear a noise, I hear a noise, I hear a noise!”, “Hey you! Get off my sidewalk!”, or “Well hello there, pretty lady!” While I don’t like to brag, I do have quite a nice voice; a pleasing baritone, if you will. As needed I can dip down into a bass range, and I can even sustain my vocalization as needed to make my point! You want to hear a vibrato; I’ve got it too! Yes, I don’t think there is anything wrong with my voice; certainly not something that should cause someone (my parents!) to “shush” me. 

In fact, I do try to be mindful of my surroundings and to adopt a demeanor of dignified reserve when called for. Mom and Dad are often complimenting me on how well I get into a zone of rest and reflection when I bring them to my office and monitor their work. I find that they are easily distracted, and I work to set a good example.

While it may look to the outside world as if I am merely sleeping, this could not be farther from the truth! I believe time with God is so important; and it cannot always be about my requests, my concerns, and my worries handed to God —sometimes I need to listen. And that is what I’ve decided to do! I quiet myself and wait to hear (or feel) what God wishes to share with me.  This I know; God always has something important to share with us!

Nothing can ever quiet me in proclaiming my care for you, dear friends! Know that you are loved by me.

Your church dog,
ToBY

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Psalm 62:5

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the joys of summer Up North, and let us be glad for a bit of life-giving rain to freshen our yards and gardens, before the promised sunshine and warmth of the weekend!  After a somewhat chaotic start to the season, weather-wise, it’s nice to see things settling into a more comfortable pattern, so that we can get outdoors and enjoy the blessings of Creation!

It’s hard to believe that we’re at what some consider the midpoint of summer, now that Canada Day and the Fourth of July are behind us!  We just heard an ad on the radio for a back-to-school sale, for Pete’s sake; let’s not fall into the trap of pushing the season along faster than it needs to go.  Instead, let’s revel in these days before the inevitable return of cooler weather and the busyness that always seems to come with it.  Let’s take advantage of opportunities to follow Jesus’ example, and go off by ourselves to a quiet place to pray; that quiet place being a beach or a shady spot under a tree or a comfortable chair on our front porch.  Summertime is a wonderful time to set the cares of everyday life aside and talk with God; and more importantly, to listen to God. Somehow it often seems easier to listen when the breeze is gentle and warm and the birds are singing in the background.  Join us in embracing this glorious time of the year, when the livin’ is easy and time feels like it’s moving a bit slower; God awaits our conversations!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell:  (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com  /  revgreggl@yahoo.com 
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.  Mark 1:35

Pastor’s Message

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Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in an ever-brightening day, and let us be glad for the Fourth of July holiday that is just hours away!  The Fourth of July is such an important day in the history of the United States, with the Declaration of Independence having been signed 248 years ago tomorrow; it’s sad that we sometimes lose sight of what the fireworks and picnics are all about.  Yes, it’s about the birth of a new nation, but it’s also about the deep-seated human quest for freedom, respect, and self-determination.  As the United States gears up to celebrate, let’s not forget that our Canadian brothers and sisters are celebrating as well; Canada Day was on July 1st, celebrating the Canadian Confederation, drawing former British colonies together into a dominion known as Canada.

Both of these holidays are central to the identities of two great nations, and brings to mind the true meaning of “holiday;” holy day.  Not merely a day off from work, these national celebrations are sacred observations of the beginning of new ways of being a country.  Much has changed over the centuries since the United States and Canada were established, but the fact remains that both countries value freedom; as does our God.  In the Letter to the Romans, we read that we are set free from sin and death through Jesus Christ.  God freed the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, and in the Letter to the Galatians we are reminded that we are called to be free, but that we should not use our freedom to indulge our basic instincts; rather we should use our freedom to serve one another in love.  Our freedom is indeed something to celebrate, not only on national holidays but every day, and our freedom is something to be thankful for.  So amidst the fireworks and hot-dogs and parades, let us take a moment to give thanks to God for his great gift of freedom.  And let us not misuse that gift to make mischief or cause harm; let us use it to spread the Good News of God’s love made manifest through Jesus the Christ!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell:  (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com  /  revgreggl@yahoo.com 
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in a nice, mild, non-rainy, non-windy day to get outside and enjoy, and let us be glad that the weather extremes have left us (for now).  It’s been quite the roller coaster, hasn’t it?  Here’s hoping for more typical early summer weather, so that the delights of Northern Michigan are ours to enjoy!

The weather extremes are an interesting contrast to the constancy of our God, who never wavers in his love for us.  No matter what challenges face us, no matter if we turn our backs on God for a time, no matter if we selfishly act in our own best interests without regard for others, God loves us.  The weather can be rotten, our favorite sports teams can be having a lousy season, we can be struggling with our health; nonetheless, God loves us and cares for us.  God wants only good for us, and is always in our corner offering strength and wisdom and guidance.  Isn’t it nice to be assured that there’s at least one absolutely constant force at work in our lives, and that that constant force loves us so much that he sacrificed his only Son on our behalf?  In return, God wants only that we love him, and that we love our siblings in faith. He knows we won’t love perfectly; he knows that we won’t love consistently; but he knows that he has given each of us a loving heart, so that we have the tools we need to share the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with all people (and with all of Creation as well).

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell:  (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com  /  revgreggl@yahoo.com 
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

For he loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD! Psalm 117:2

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 20, 2024


Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the formal arrival of summer, at 4:51 p.m. when the summer solstice takes place, and let us be glad for the promises of the new season!  Even though today started out rainy and cool, we can be assured that there will be many delightful Up North summer days to come!

God says in Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”  What will we do with this new thing, this new season?  At Westminster Presbyterian, a nearly year-long celebration will come to an end with the 100th Anniversary worship on Sunday, and a new 100 years will begin.  At the Grand Lake Chapel, months of planning will culminate in Vacation Bible School the week of July 8th, and a new group of youngsters will have the opportunity to begin their faith journeys.  What will you do with the new season?  We hope that you will find plenty of time for fun in the sun, to be sure, but we also hope that part of your summer will include time for prayer, study, and reflection on your relationship with the Holy Trinity.  These summer weeks are an ideal time to seek out a quiet place to sit for a spell and take in the wonders of nature, without having to put on layers of clothing and heavy boots!  Let the sun warm you, let the gentle breezes rustle the leaves above you, and let the waves lap on the shoreline before you; you will be gently held in the loving arms of the Almighty, and all will be well.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell:  (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com  /  revgreggl@yahoo.com 
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

“See, I am doing a new thing! 
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”  Isaiah 43:19

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 12, 2024


Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in gentle breezes and warm temperatures (finally!!), and let us be glad for all the fun activities to participate in this weekend in our area!  While we all know that the weather can be a bit inconsistent this time of year, it’s fair to say that we’re firmly into summertime, so let’s get out and enjoy!

Someday, somebody will point us to the Scriptures that says that Christians aren’t allowed to have fun, either in worship or in life; we haven’t found them yet, so we’re going to declare victory and encourage each and every one of us to HAVE SOME FUN each and every day!  The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except eat, drink, and enjoy life; sound advice from the wisdom literature of the Hebrew scriptures.  There is so much joy to be had all around us, so many pleasurable activities to take part in when the weather allows us to be outside.  Whether your greatest joy is gardening, or spending time on the water, or swinging a golf club or a tennis racquet, or pedaling your bicycle along one of the many wonderful trails in Northeast Michigan, we encourage you to take advantage of the season and revel in the beauty of God’s creation.  And while you’re enjoying life to its fullest, remember to give thanks to God who created all things; and remember to smile, because a smile on your face will brighten even the darkest of days.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell:  (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com  /  revgreggl@yahoo.com 
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, Proverbs 15:13a

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 5, 2024


Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the first full week of “the season,” and let us be glad that we have several months to enjoy the beauty of Presque Isle County!  Isn’t it exciting to think of all the good times to be had?  What a gift we have been given!

Time has been much on our minds this past month, while Dr. Greg has been somewhat constrained by his knee replacement surgery and subsequent recovery; everything seems to be happening more slowly than we’re accustomed to (getting around takes forever…), and the recovery process feels agonizingly slow.  So many of the things we normally are doing this time of the year are either on hold or have been set aside entirely, but there has also been an unexpected awareness of the value of time.  We read in Ecclesiastes 3 that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven,” apparently including healing.  Being limited in some things opens up time for others; reading, listening, conversing, napping.  Being limited in some things also opens the door to new possibilities for getting the necessary things in life taken care of; new roles taken on in terms of household chores, or skilled professionals being invited to handle maintenance tasks or repairs.  When it seems as if there is nothing but time on our hands, maybe we should consider that all that time is being gifted to us to take a hard look at how we prioritize life; maybe our cultural obsession with always being productive, always being active, always looking ahead to the next goal should be pondered for a time.  Sometimes the best use of time is to simply sit and be. 

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell:  (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com  /  revgreggl@yahoo.com 
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

There is a time for everything, and a season
 for every activity under the heavens  Ecclesastes 3:1

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, May 29, 2024


Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in bright, sunny skies to start the day Up North, and let us be glad for moderate temperatures for working in our yards and gardens or getting our toys ready for the season!  It might be a bit on the cool side for some of us, but we can be confident that it will get warmer day by day.  It’s probably a pretty safe bet to put away the snow shovels…

Now that we are “unofficially” into summer (the meteorologists tell us that summer doesn’t really begin until June 20), our thoughts turn to leisure, family gatherings, long walks along the shores of whichever body of water we love best, and the blessings of time to just “be.”  For some reason, many of us can’t find the time for peaceful reflection until the pages of the calendar turn past Memorial Day; we put so much energy into the major holidays like Christmas and Easter, which can dominate the fall and winter months, and then we work during the spring to be ready for summertime.  As your pastors, we’d like to gently remind you that there is always time enough to do those things that truly need to be done, and that a big part of self-care is taking some time each day (regardless of the season) to be still and to reach out in prayer to the Triune God. But, we’re every bit as guilty of overloading our schedules, so we look forward to the slower pace of summer as well.  Here’s a thought for the day; make time for God today.  Make time to look around you, wherever you are (unless you’re driving!), and soak in the beauty of Creation.  Stop doing for a few seconds, and say “thanks” for all that you see, and feel as the Sun warms the earth.  If summertime is really about relaxation and peacefulness, what better way to center yourself in the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, than to turn to God and give thanks.  And if it takes more than a few moments to express your joy, what possible difference can it make?  You’ve got the whole summer to take care of business!!  Always remember that God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell:  (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com  /  revgreggl@yahoo.com 
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1