Tag: faith

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

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

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

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

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 19, 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 last full day of winter (the vernal equinox occurs at 5:01 am on Thursday), and let us be glad for the promise of spring that will be ours to embrace!  In some communities on the East Coast, there’s a tradition of “sock burning day” on the first day of spring, when people exchange their boots and heavy socks for Sperry Topsiders (or boat shoes of your choosing) and no socks for the upcoming boating season, but we don’t recommend that here in God’s Country… winter weather has a way of hanging around for a little while after the beginning of spring!

As one meteorological season ends and another begins, the season of Lent continues.  This time of preparation, contemplation, and prayer is so special because the pace of life in this day and age is so hectic that we are rarely free to sit in stillness with our God.  It may seem as if we’re beating the subject of Lenten practices to death, and maybe we are, but it’s all too easy to give the season sort of a cursory glance and say to ourselves “I’ll get around to it later,” and then never get around to it.  It’s not “normal” for many folks in the 21st Century to make time to be still for any reason, let alone matters of faith, but it is so very important.  And so, we talk about Lent a lot, because Lent is good for you!  It’s good for your soul, it’s good for your physical health, and its’ good for your mental health to stop scrambling around and be still, so that you can prepare, contemplate, and pray.  Whether you’re wearing socks or not.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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



“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in the days getting gradually longer, and let us be glad that the switch to Daylight Savings Time is behind us for another year! We know that it takes a few days for things to begin feeling “normal” after the time change, and so we hope that everything is going well for each of you. We’d like to think that we got all of the clocks in our houses changed, but there’s almost always one or two clocks in an obscure corner of the house (or in a car!) that we missed, which can cause just a wee bit of excitement! Maybe someday we won’t have to adjust our clocks twice a year…

We are now fully into the Lenten season; the paraments in the sanctuary are purple, and the scriptures point directly to Jesus’ journey to the cross. We’re only a couple of days away from the infamous “ides of March,” which really only means the middle of the month, and are infamous only because Julius Caesar had a really bad day about 2,000 years ago. In a week (plus one day), it will be the vernal equinox, the beginning of spring, and incidentally is also “Mr. Rogers Day.” A week into the journey with Jesus, how far have you come? A week after Ash Wednesday, has the imprint of the cross faded away? This isn’t meant to scold anyone, only to ask how it’s going; the 40 days of Lent are exactly that – 40 days. There’s a lot of time left to continue the journey, or to start it as the case may be. The imprint of the cross may no longer be visible on your forehead (or back of your hand), but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still there. In a perfect world, at least a perfect church world, we would all be laser-focused on the path to the cross, having set aside any and all distractions that might bump us off-course, and we would constantly feel the burn of the ashes reminding us of why we’re on this particular journey. Alas, the world isn’t perfect, and so our Lenten journeys are not perfect; and that’s really OK. Every day is a chance to start again, and so if you aren’t where you’d like to be on the journey (or if you haven’t started yet), get going! It’s never too late.

Greetings in 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

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 5, 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 we’re only two weeks away from the spring equinox, celebrating the beginning of spring, and let us be glad that March came in like a lion, which means that it will go out like a lamb! Or so conventional wisdom tells us… In the remaining days of the “official” winter season, let us continue to be thankful for the road crews who keep us safe on the highways; they are unsung heroes. And let’s not get ahead of ourselves and start putting away the snow-fighting equipment, OK? That could have very unpleasant consequences!

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season, and an opportunity to come together in worship so that we enter the holy season of Lent unified in our resolve to focus on our relationship with our God. For the next 40 days, let us listen to, let us watch for, and let us sense the presence of the Divine in our lives; if that requires you to set aside a favorite activity to eliminate a source of distraction, so be it. What you’ll gain for having been intentional about your connectedness to God will far outweigh what you might miss out on. If that requires that you add something to your routine, like prayer or a devotional reading, so be it; what you’ll gain for having prayed and studied will far outweigh any benefits that you might accrue by keeping your familiar routines in place. Ideally, your Lenten discipline(s), should you choose to engage in something new and different, will be transformative; you’ll know God better, and you’ll know yourself better. Lent can be a wondrous time of growth; take full advantage of these 40 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

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 19, 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 respite from heavy snowfall (for at least a little while), and let us again be glad for the hardworking crews across the county who face off against dangerous conditions to clear the roads for us. It was certainly a tough call to cancel worship last Sunday, but keeping everyone safe is our highest priority. Hopefully we won’t have to miss worship again this winter! According to the meteorologists (and a groundhog or two!), we still have four weeks of winter to go, so we must be patient, but also hopeful; we know spring is coming!

As Presque Isle County slowly digs out from under the snow, and as we let our minds wander a bit to the change of seasons to come, we will be well-served to think about comfort; not necessarily comfort in the sense of warm homes and cozy sweaters, but the comfort of God’s presence in our lives. He’s been with us through the storms, he’s been with us as we’ve traveled, and he’s with us as we go through every day. God’s comfort can take the form of a warm feeling washing over us when we’re frightened, or it can take the form of a friendly wave from a passer-by, or it can look a lot like a snowplow cruising past our house. We can relax into God’s comfort wherever we are and whenever we need to feel reassured. As we read in Isaiah 40:1, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” All is well, for God is close by.

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

O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, According to Your word to Your servant. Psalm 119:76

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 12, 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 pristine blanket of snow covering the ground, and let us be glad for the hard-working men and women who move that pristine snow off the roads! Winter Up North is at times breathtakingly beautiful, but getting around can at times be challenging, so all of us owe a debt of gratitude to those who clean up after a snowfall, even if that’s a member of our own households!

This week’s communication will be a bit different than you’ve become accustomed to. During the pandemic, we sent a daily message of hope and encouragement, along with some things we thought might be helpful during those long locked down days. When we were able to be out and about a little more, we transitioned to a weekly note very similar to what we had been sending out daily, and added a current prayer list. Starting with this week’s email, the “Midweek Update” will consist of words that we hope will be inspiring and thought-provoking, and a list of prayer joys and concerns. We welcome your feedback on the Midweek Update; is it too much, too little, or just about right. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Soon we will be entering into the Season of Lent as we observe Ash Wednesday on March 5th; but right now, we’re very much in an in-between time, a time perfectly suited for reflection and study. As we look out on the snowy landscape while nestled into our favorite chair, maybe with a blanket and a mug of something hot to sip on too, we are able to let our minds wander and consider the thoughts and ideas that come our way. And then we can approach our God in prayer to get his thoughts on what has come to us; are there actions we are to take, are there actions we are to avoid, are there things that we should dig into more deeply? The quiet times are when we can best focus on listening; and if we can be patient, we’ll begin to hear incredible things, things that can change our lives forever. Take full advantage of these quieter days. Be still and listen. And when the time comes, get up out of that comfy chair and act on what you’ve heard. If you’ve been listening carefully, you will have been blessed to have heard the voice of God falling gently on your ear. And you will know 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


For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. Psalm 62:5-6

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 22, 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 weather forecaster’s telling us that the extremely low temperatures will be ending today, and let us be glad for the warmth of our homes that have kept us comfortable during the cold snap. Let us further rejoice in those men and women who maintain our heating systems, and let us be glad for their skills and dedication to their craft. While we’re more-or-less equipped to deal with winter weather, no matter how extreme it may be; we hold our friends in Southern states in prayer who are not so fortunate, as several inches of snow were reported in New Orleans and Orlando. If you have the latitude to stay inside today, we encourage you to grab a hot drink and a cozy blanket and watch the snow globe-like conditions make magic. And as you stay warm and dry, say a prayer for the hard-working road crews doing their best to make travel safe for all.

We’d like to offer a humble suggestion for your “snuggly” time today; be intentionally thankful. Lots of truly incredible things have happened in the past few days that are worthy of thankfulness. The United States witnessed a peaceful transfer of power from one presidential administration to the next, and hostages were released in the Middle East and a cease-fire took hold. Children were born, life-saving medical procedures were successfully complete, marriages were celebrated, new relationships began; lives well-lived were celebrated, even though hearts were heavy with grief. We have a choice every day as to how we will approach what lies ahead – we can be fearful and tentative, or we can be thankful and bold. Our faith calls us to thankfulness and boldness, trusting that we walk with Christ every step of the way. So let’s be thankful as we snuggle in, or as we venture out. Give thanks!!

With our love,

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 praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 15, 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 days getting steadily longer, and let us be glad for the pristine beauty of newly fallen snow that surrounds us during this season. Your pastors are both dealing with the “crud,” so we’re writing this week’s message from home; neither of us can remember feeling quite this lousy, and we know some of you, our beloved church families, are dealing with it as well. Perhaps we should be glad for warm drinks, cozy blankets, and the love of Toby the Church Dog as he goes back-and-forth between us to bring comfort!

We are now into the season of the church year known as “Ordinary Time.” We’ve talked about this over the years, but it’s worth repeating that there’s nothing “ordinary” about Ordinary Time! All it means is that there aren’t any feast days or special observances until we get to the Season of Lent in early March. This quieter time of the church year is when our focus is on living the lives we are called to as Christians; focusing on being kind, loving, generous, and compassionate people, even if the world around us isn’t too keen on these things. Our way of being can, and will, change this world for the better; so let us embrace our calls to be different! And let us hold our brothers and sisters in California, and everywhere around the world where there is strife, in ardent prayer. Let us seek ways to contribute to relief efforts as we are able. And let us trust that our prayers will be heard and our efforts will be successful!

With our love,

Karen and Greg

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

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and
will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, January 8, 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 new year and all the
opportunities it presents, and let us be glad for the happy memories of the Christmas season that has just come to an
end. It may take a while for it to sink in, but we’re in the Year of Our Lord 2025, and it promises to be a year full of
personal and spiritual growth, adventures, and probably a few surprises. We look forward to sharing the year to come
with all of you!
This coming Sunday will be the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, a truly significant day in the life of our Lord and
Savior, and a truly significant day in our own lives as well as we remember our own baptisms. For many of us, who were
baptized as infants or young children, we most likely don’t have very clear memories of our baptisms, but we certainly
have heard the stories and seen the photographs of that great day. And we have known the joy and confidence that
being baptized into the protection and love of the Body of Christ has given us. It’s fitting to start the new year with a
reminder of our baptisms, and it’s fitting to renew our commitment to living into the hope and promise that having been
baptized represents. Let us join together in celebrating the Baptism of the Lord, and let us join together in remembering
and honoring our own baptisms, and the vows made on our behalf when we were sealed into the protection of Christ’s
church. And let us also remember that God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good! Here’s wishing each and
every one of you a grand and glorious 2025!
With our love,
Karen and Greg
Home: (989) 474-9116, Cell: (734) 502-5969
revgregrc@yahoo.com / revgreggl@yahoo.com
revkarenrc@yahoo.com / revkarengl@yahoo.com

I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who
believes in Me will not remain in darkness. John 12:46