Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

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 beautiful summer’s day Up North, and let us be glad for the celebration of the Fourth of July in the United States and Canada Day in Canada. This year, the United States celebrates 249 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and Canada celebrates 158 years since the signing of the British North American Act, which effectively established the nation of Canada. Our two great nations share the longest undefended border in the world, and in spite of occasional spat or two, have been great friends for well over a century.

The relationship between the United States and Canada could serve as a pretty good model for relationships between churches; we have different ways of governing ourselves, slightly different ways of expressing ourselves, and some variations in the way we relate to the world around us, but still we are the best of friends. We share a common heritage, common values like decency, respect for others, and a thirst for freedom. Sometimes we disagree, but we don’t pick up our bats and balls and go home, ending our relationship in response to a dispute. Yet in the church world, it seems as if the slightest disagreement results in an irreversible rift; a new denomination is formed, and long-cherished relationships are ended. And if we’re entirely honest, the same is often true in our relationships with one another – the smallest of disputes can end a life-long friendship. Yet we are called to unity, unity as citizens of great nations, unity as members of the body of Christ, and unity in friendship. We too easily forget the Apostle Paul’s words from his letter to the Galatians: There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. In relationships between nations, churches, and individuals, those are powerful words to remember.

Blessings,

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

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

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 arrival of summer (officially) on Friday, and let us be glad for all the joys and delights the season will bring!  Summertime Up North is such a special time of the year, with seemingly limitless ways to enjoy God’s beautiful Creation that surrounds us.  We’re looking forward to adventures and new experiences, we hope that you are, too!

Sometimes those adventures and new experiences bring frustrations, because things don’t go as we planned, or it turns out that a new experience requires a few tries to get it right.  We’d all like to think that we’ll easily conquer a new game, or that there’s nothing to getting up on water skis, but the reality is that very few of us are going to be good at something the very first time we try; and if we are successful, odds are that a healthy dose of luck was involved!  But fear not, because if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!  For the vast majority of us, failure is a (tough) part of learning a new skill; so is determination, and we have a great internal source of determination and patience – Jesus Christ.  He’s with us in all things, even when we’re at play and trying something new and different.  He’s also with us when we stumble and fall, when we stumble and fall again, and when we stumble and fall a third time, whether we’re trying water skis or dealing with something far more important like a new task at work or a challenging time in a relationship.  So don’t give up, keep trying, and trust always that your coach will never let you down.  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

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

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 slowly-warming air and abundant rainfall, and let us be glad for the lushness of the earth that flows from these things! It’s awe-inspiring to look at the beauty around us, with flowers in bloom and trees sporting their full coats of leaves. We are truly blessed by the generosity of Almighty God in sharing Creation with us!

We are also truly blessed to enter into the days after Pentecost, when we are free to focus on our relationship with the Divine without planning for the next “big day” on the calendar. We often overlook these days, because they’re so, well, so ordinary; but these are the days when we can put our newly-invigorated faith to work, to let our spirits soar and our hearts sing out with joy in our everyday living. It’s true that the warm-weather months gift us with all manner of delights, as the ice cream stands reopen, the golf courses and tennis courts are ready for play, and the beaches beckon us to come and sit for a while; but it’s equally true that these are the weeks and months when the real work of the church gets done. These are the days and weeks and months during which we can live out what we say we believe, when we can make a real difference in the lives of those in need. These are the days when we can allow ourselves to recognize our own needs, to accept that our needs matter just as much as those of others, and to revel in the fact that we have the time to address those needs. In these quieter times, before the Season of Advent rolls around again, we humbly suggest that it’s OK to pay attention to you. It’s OK to be a little inwardly focused, because you matter, too.

God bless you, Karen and Greg Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969 revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice that the ice from last week’s storms has melted away, and let us be glad for the hard-working crews from across the region and across the country who worked tirelessly to restore power to most of us, and now to clear away the debris. Let us also rejoice and be glad for neighbors helping neighbors, for businesses opening their doors (without power) to try to make essential products available during the protracted darkness and cold. It’s a pretty safe bet that none of us want to experience anything like this ever again, but it’s an equally safe bet that a whole lot of people were at their very best during the storm and its aftermath.

It was easy to see the hand of God as the days wore on, and those with the means to help did exactly that; warming shelters quickly established, folks with generators opening their homes to those without heat and light, National Guard troops rapidly mobilized to aid those in need. And now, as the cleanup continues and the last pockets of power outages are dealt with, we see the hand of God at work in neighbors being helped – those gloved hands that you might have thought belonged to the guy next door are in fact the hands of God. As we continue our journey with Jesus to the cross, let us all remember that Christ gave a new commandment to his disciples, to love one another as he had loved them. Let us love one another as Christ has loved us by reaching out to all who have need, and doing whatever is in our power to help; it could be picking up branches, it could be hauling damaged items out of a flooded basement, it could be preparing a meal. Or it could be holding a hand or sharing a prayer. Let your hands be the hand of God. Let your heart be the heart of Christ. We will get through this, and we will do so together.

God bless you.

Karen and Greg

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

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

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 evolving season of spring, and let us be glad for the delights it brings! OK, maybe that’s a bit much on the morning after yet another dumping of snow and cold air, but it’s hard to argue that it isn’t beautiful outside with the sunshine reflecting off the pristine snow and a gentle breeze barely rustling the branches of the trees. The old adage that ‘March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” is certainly being tested this year!

What isn’t being tested is our journey to the cross, as we continue in our observation of the Lenten season. Day-by-day, we come ever closer to Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, his Passion, and his ultimate victory over sin and death. Day-by-day, as we invest in our personal relationships with the Almighty, we begin to see ourselves in a new light, a light of faith and commitment, a light of spiritual rebirth. We’ve said it many times, but we believe it to be true; this is a wonderful, marvelous season in the life of the faithful and of the church, one which we encourage you to fully embrace and savor. We look forward to sharing the rest of the journey with each of you, trusting in God’s infinite grace and wisdom to guide each of us to exactly where we need to end up. 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

Trust in the Lord and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, November 6, 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 beautiful Up North Wednesday, and let us be glad that the long election season has finally come to an end. Based on the results of yesterday’s elections, about half of us are pleased, and about half of us are not. While the final numbers have yet to be tallied, it is clear that we the people have spoken, and there will be new political leadership at local, state, and federal levels. Now is the time to take down the yard signs, take off the buttons, and go about our everyday business; and to work tirelessly for unity and peace.

Psalm 133 reminds us that it is good and pleasant when sisters and brothers come together in unity. One of the presidential candidates said a few days ago that there is much more that brings us together than separates us; and while we may (or may not) agree with other things this particular candidate advocates for, this sentiment is absolutely true. It’s kind of like the way Christian denominations have evolved over the millennia; we agree that God is in charge, that Jesus Christ came to Earth to save us, and that the Holy Spirit indwells each of us. We agree that God is love, and that love conquers all. We read from the same Bibles, sing many of the same hymns, and recite the Lord’s Prayer in worship. But we disagree on about 5% of doctrine and details of Scriptural translation, and so we separate ourselves; and in this the body of Christ, which is the church, is diminished. In the Pledge of Allegiance, we profess that the United States is “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” an ideal and a goal that we strive to achieve. The election is over, now the real work of coming together begins. As people of faith, it falls to us to lead, to console, and to heal. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work, trusting that God will give us the wisdom and strength to overcome the forces that would divide and destroy.

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 I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. John 17:11