Tag: god

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, May 22, 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 warm (albeit overcast) spring morning, and let us be glad for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.  Let us rejoice that old friends are beginning to return to Northern Michigan for “the season,” and let us be glad that we are blessed with the opportunity to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, so that the blessings of freedom have been ours to enjoy for 248 years.

As we prepare to step into summer, it’s helpful to look back on the seasons that came before and to remember some of the challenges and joys of winter and spring.  We had a relatively mild winter, but still we had snow to shovel and ice to negotiate.  Spring came in fits and starts, with mild days followed by hard freezes that put fear into the hearts of those of us who enjoy gardening.  On the cusp of a new season, summer promises us warmer, longer days in this amazing place we call home, yet there will be storms to contend with.  In a similar way, as we look forward to a long holiday weekend, it’s helpful to remember why we celebrate Memorial Day; it is a day to remember.  Even though the holiday has become something of a “standard” long weekend, replete with furniture sales, family picnics, parades, and speeches by politicians, the reason we observe Memorial Day is far too important to forget.  And forget we have; this weekend isn’t a time to honor all who served – every day is a time to honor those who served.  This is a time to remember and honor those who died in service of our country.  This is a time to remember and honor their families, who forever have an empty space at the dinner table, whose hearts forever have an empty space that looks very much like their loved one who paid the highest price of all.  This is a time to give thanks to God that there are those among us who are willing to meet Jesus’ standard for friendship; that they are willing to lay their lives down for another.  This is time to ask God to hold those who lost their lives close in his arms, and to ask God to hold their loved ones in those same arms.  Memorial Day is a day of remembrance; and so let us remember, let us give thanks, and let us pray for peace, so that no more names will be added to the rolls of the honored dead.  Celebrate the day, to be sure.  But start the day by remembering.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, May 15, 2024


Greetings in Christ!

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  One last time before we exit the Season of Easter, we share the most powerful words ever spoken; Christ is Risen!  On this beautiful spring day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad that Jesus of Nazareth was born, lived, died, and rose again to change the world for all time, and let us rejoice and be glad that very soon the Advocate, the Helper, the Holy Spirit will descend on us so that the presence of the Triune God lives in each of us.  God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good!

Over the years, there have been many creative attempts to depict the arrival of the Holy Spirit in worship services, ranging from large fans with red streamers attached to the shrouds, waving in the breeze, to propane torches being lit to imitate the tongues of flame amongst the worshippers (what could possibly go wrong with that plan?), to sound effects imitating the rush of a violent wind, and at least a few efforts to combine all of these displays into one presentation, with mixed results at best; and a couple of epic fails.  Rest assured that neither the Chapel nor Westminster will be parties to such over-the-top demonstrations – we’ll be letting the Scriptures speak for themselves; and the Scriptures tell us that Jesus will be sending us a helper, the Spirit of truth directly from God the Father, to guide us through life.  Praise be to God!  We all need helpers in life, and what could be better than a helper straight from God Almighty?  We don’t always appreciate the Holy Spirit as a co-equal member of the Divine Trinity, focusing instead on God or Jesus (which is not a bad thing), but the Spirit is often the clearest indication of the presence of Divine guidance that we’re likely to get in any given day.  The gentle nudge to take a particular road, or make a certain phone call, or to send a card to a friend in need is, in fact, the Holy Spirit operating in our lives.  Rarely flashy, rarely loud, rarely earth-shaking; just quiet guidance to make the right choices.  Let us be attentive to the leadings of the Spirit today, and every day.

And speaking of helpers, Dr. Greg wants to extend his heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all the helpers that have come from all quarters to make his pre-operative and post-operative world far more comfortable and easily navigated than he imagined it might be.  Whether you prepared a meal (or two), loaned out equipment, sent a card, a text, or a phone call, your loving outreach has been a true example of the Spirit in action.  Rev. Karen is also deeply grateful for all the support.  It is good to have friends.

Blessings to you on this beautiful day!

Karen and Greg

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

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  In this 7th week of the Easter season, let us rejoice and be glad in this day that the Lord has given to us!  Indeed, there is so much in which to rejoice! Through the night and on into the morning we received a glorious, life-sustaining rain, which cleansed tender stretching and unfurling leaf buds and carried nourishment to fresh life peeking up through the soil with plans to flourish this summer. Ah, what a sweet smell in the air as this afternoon’s sun nudged away the remaining drizzle! As we write this, we must blink at the brightness of the sun reflecting off of our forsythia hedge, so vivid and intense is the yellow! Isn’t spring wonderful!
Yes, our hearts are rejoicing. Greg has received a new knee! Just saying these words would have astonished folks 100 years ago—a new knee! We live in a time when modern medicine can provide comfort and mobility never before available. On Monday, Greg’s doctor provided an opportunity for him to continue to live actively. The surgery went well, and we both were supported throughout the overnight process by the excellent care of the My Michigan Hospital staff who work so selflessly with their patients. Today, he had his first outpatient rehab session, and has already been up and down steps and in and out of cars!  Please hold caregivers in your prayers and live thankfully for all that these dear people give to us with their loving care.
    We thank God for the abundant blessings we have received; and you are chief amongst them! How meaningful it is to hear the sweet words, “I am holding you in my prayers!” What a cherished and significant gift this is! Thank you for walking with us in this healing journey. Thank you for your support, your understanding, your care, and your prayers. We rest easier in this because we not only travel with our Lord and Savior, but also with you. 
     Yes, we are mindful of the plentiful gifts we have been given and live with grateful hearts. In what remains of this Easter season, let us all live with hearts overflowing with joy because of all that we have received!

Blessings to you on this beautiful day!

Karen and Greg

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

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches

in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19:

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 3, 2024


Blessings to you!

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  This first Wednesday in the Season of Easter started out with incredible winds and torrents of rain, and then settled down into an overcast and chilly day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice that reported power outages from the high winds are few in our area, and let us be glad that we’re able to stay warm and dry on these early spring days.  It’s a little bit unclear if we’re going to be seeing heavy, wet snow in the next couple of days in Presque Isle County or if it’s going to be kinda’ sunny, but we know that sometime in the foreseeable future it will be warm enough to get outside without boots and heavy coats!  Yayyy!!!

Wasn’t Easter Sunday magnificent?  The sun crested the horizon at the Sonrise Service to the delight and inspiration of all in attendance, and the day only got better from there!  Worship in our sanctuaries filled our hearts and brightened our spirits, preparing all to go out into the world praising God and sharing the familiar (and powerful) greeting of “He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!”  And now we are blessed with the opportunity to live as free and forgiven people, strengthened by the Holy Spirit and accompanied by Christ Jesus our Lord in all that we do.  What an amazing gift we have received, and what an amazing gift we are called to share. During these next 50 days, until the day of Pentecost, let our focus be on fully embracing the new lives we have been given, so that nothing can separate us from the love of God in the person of Jesus Christ, to borrow a bit from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.  The stone has been rolled away, not only the stone that sealed the tomb of our Savior, but the stone that has kept our hearts sealed from expressing our true nature to the world – a nature of love, joy, compassion, and peace.  Easter makes us all new; the Season of Easter allows us to embrace that newness.  Let’s not miss out on this incredible opportunity!

Karen and Greg

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

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and

with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30