Tag: hope

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 3, 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 beauty of newly-fallen snow, and let us be glad for those good folks who clear the newly-fallen snow off of the roads!  And let us also be glad for the good folks who clear our driveways and parking lots, especially if those good folks are our loved ones!  True, we got quite the dumping after Thanksgiving, and true, our lives were disrupted a bit, but here we are, safe and warm and ready for the next go-round of winter weather!

Most importantly, we are fully into the blessed Season of Advent!  The first candle on the Advent wreath, the candle of Hope, has been lighted, shining its warm glow into our sanctuaries, homes, and hearts.  The first step in our preparations for remembering of the birth of the Christ Child has been taken; we’re looking forward with absolute confidence and trust to our celebration of this world-changing event.  The challenge for us, in these trying and frightening times, is to truly embrace the hope that the candle represents; the news of the day is so often bereft of hope, yet we are called to live into hope for a joyous tomorrow, because such joy is promised to us by God Almighty.  As we walk the path towards Christmas Day, let us remember the candle of Hope; let it illuminate your way forward, let it fill you with determination to resist the voices that would turn you from light into darkness, by succumbing to fear.  Rejoice and be glad for the holy Season of Advent that beckons us to celebrate this time of preparation!

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 surely a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18:

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 16, 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, sun-shiny day, and let us be glad for the hope and the promise of the Resurrection that will be ours on Easter Sunday! We are so very near to the greatest day of the year, and yet we still have to wait; patience is indeed a virtue, especially when it comes to waiting on God to reveal the glories that await us!

We hope that by now most of you are fully restored to power and heat, and that the cleanup activities are going smoothly for you. We see the hand of God at work in countless acts of generosity following the ice storms, generosity of time, talent, treasure, and spirit; and it seems to us that this generosity is the perfect celebratory act of the closing days of Lent. Lent is intended to bring us closer to God, to enrich our relationships with the Almighty and with one another, and to make us attentive to the ways in which we live out our faith. From the heroic actions of utility workers to the small acts of kindness that we witnessed, it’s obvious that God’s people fully understand the call to love our neighbors as ourselves. And now we stand on the cusp of a series of events that are both tragic (at the start) and incredibly good (at the end). When we gather on Maundy Thursday to remember the Last Supper, as we pray on Good Friday, and as we sit in vigil on Easter Saturday, it is with anticipation of coming to the empty tomb and raising our voices with shouts of “He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed!!”

Truly, Easter is the greatest day of the year, and we look forward to sharing it with all of you, our beloved church families.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, December 18, 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 last days of the Season of Advent, and let us be glad for Christmas Day being only one week from today! The season of Advent blessed us with the gift of time, time to prepare for the coming birth of the Christ Child, and of course Christmas Day will bless us with the gift of the Light of World!

We’re close enough to the end of the Season of Advent that Merry Christmas is the greeting of the day, and we hope the sentiment in all of our hearts. One week from today, the world will become brighter and filled with love, joy, peace, and hope; the circle of the Advent wreath will be complete, with the Christ candle burning brightly at its center for all to see. One week from today, voices will be raised in song, as beloved carols will fill the air. One week from today, families and friends will gather to celebrate the true reason for the season. One week from today, all the planning and preparation will be behind us, and our efforts will be rewarded with faces glowing with the presence of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that visited Mary, the same Spirit that guides our steps (if we’re willing to follow). As the popular song says, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, and so let us embrace this last week of Advent and the first days of the Christmas Season with wonder and amazement, and a whole lot of love and joy!

We wish each of you a Merry Christmas!

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


And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling
cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

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

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, May 1, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  On this first day of May, let us rejoice and be glad in the day that the Lord has given us!  Let us rejoice in a new month, full of promise and anticipation, and let us be glad that we can continue our celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord!  While the weather Up North is a bit on the gloomy and damp side, the faithful know that our lives are full of brightness and joy.  Let us keep our focus on that which truly matters; Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!

The first day of a new month always brings with it excitement for the possibilities that lie ahead, and if we’re honest about it, sometimes brings with it a bit of trepidation.  The merry month of May brings us the celebration of the Day of Pentecost and the unofficial beginning of summer, with the arrival of Memorial Day at the end of the month; good things!  May also brings us graduation season, getting our gardens and yards ready for outdoor recreation, vacation planning, and for some among us medical procedures and unwelcome tasks related to unplanned life changes.  The month of May is a month of transitions, which makes it a month of opportunities; opportunities that we can both embrace and celebrate, even if they’re hard, or opportunities that we can resist or avoid entirely.  Our pastoral guidance to all is to embrace the opportunities, intentionally inviting the presence of the Holy Trinity to join with you in whatever it is you’re facing.  If it’s something delightful, God in all three persons will delight with you and enhance your joy.  If it’s something hard, God in all three persons will give you the strength and courage to get through the hard things, so that you’ll be able to look back on what you’ve done with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, because you did a hard thing, did it well, and are free to look forward to brighter days ahead.  You see, with God all things are possible; nice and easy, and tough and hard.  No matter what it is that must be dealt with, all will be better (and ultimately all will be accomplished) if we first turn to God in prayer.  Always remember that God is good, all the time; and all the time, God is good!

Blessings to you!

Karen and Greg

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

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14