Tag: jesus

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 2, 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 truly spectacular Up North day, and let us be glad for crisp morning air and comfortable afternoon temperatures (and for working furnaces…). This is one of those incredible early autumn days when the trees are showing off the beginnings of their seasonal color change, brightly illuminated by the sun against a cobalt blue sky. God has quite the artists’ touch, eh?

Unfortunately, much of the rest of God’s good Creation isn’t in particularly good shape today; death and destruction in the Middle East and Ukraine dominate the news, the political divisions in the United States and other nations around the world are driving heated exchanges and violence, and the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene is almost beyond comprehension. People of faith are left wondering what to do? The “easy” answer is to pray, which we’re confident is happening, but is there more? Yes, there is; there are relief agencies that can receive donations of money and supplies, if you are able to make a contribution. Some communities are organizing drives to collect much-needed articles of clothing and basic supplies. A few people are able to volunteer in the hardest-hit areas, to provide relief to government and private sector crews who are working beyond the point of exhaustion. And we can all pray, and pray fervently for those directly impacted by the above mentioned events; this coming Sunday presents us with a unique opportunity to join with Christian brothers and sisters on World Communion Sunday, sharing the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper in a display of solidarity. These are hard times, to be sure, but the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit will see us through to a bright tomorrow.

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

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

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

John 15:12

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, July 31, 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 wonders of an Up North summer, and let us be glad that this weekend gives us the opportunity to enjoy the Nautical Festival in Rogers City!  The annual Nautical Festival brings artists, classic cars, carnival rides, and fun food choices to Rogers City for all to enjoy.  Add in the parade on Sunday and strawberry shortcake treats offered by the Deacons at Westminster Presbyterian Church and there’s something for everyone at the Festival!  As an added bonus, if you’re looking for someplace to put your lawn chairs for optimal viewing of the Sunday afternoon parade, the pastors just happen to have lots of space in front of their house on 3rd Street that they’re quite happy to share!

Speaking of sharing, have you ever thought about how central to our faith sharing is?  In Acts 4:32-35, we read of the apostles sharing everything they had equally, having no concern about who owned what.  Now, we’re not suggesting that everybody reading this note get together and put all of our possessions in a giant pole barn somewhere, so that any person can take anything that catches their fancy and use it as they wish; but we are suggesting that some of us could do a better job of practicing charity and sharing generously from the abundance that we’ve been blessed with – your pastors included.  The phrase “sharing is caring” has come into common usage in recent years, and it’s true (if a bit jaded at times); sharing from our abundance, without putting ourselves in a challenging position as a result, is a way of expressing care and concern for those who have need.  We are called to share because God first shared with us, from the first acts of creation through caring for the Hebrews in the wilderness to sharing his Son; so let us give generously and joyfully, for God loves a cheerful giver – and cheerful sharers 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


A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

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, 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, 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, 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

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  We pray that this crisp Up North morning inspires you to rejoice and be glad in the day that the Lord has made; as we write this message, the sky is crystal-clear, the temperature is around 30, and the snow (yes, we said snow!) that fell in the early morning hours has pretty much melted away.  None of us should be surprised, it’s Michigan after all, but the irony of seeing boats on trailers being towed by snow-covered vehicles isn’t lost on us.  At least what fell on the ground wasn’t shovelable!

Tomorrow, April 25th, marks the halfway point between Easter and the Day of Pentecost, which makes it the perfect day to look back and remember the glories of Easter Sunday, and to look forward to the joy of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit will fill all believers with its eternal and powerful presence.  This is not a day to begin to forget Easter; much better to take a moment to reflect on how our lives were changed that day, and to recommit to living every day as Easter people.  People filled with the hope and promise of the Resurrection, people dedicated to loving one another, to generosity and compassion and forgiveness.  These 50 days of the Season of Easter are such an important time, so we encourage you to make good use of them to strengthen your relationship with God and Christ Jesus in anticipation of the arrival of the third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit.  Let these days continue the transformation into complete Christian brothers and sisters, so that from this point forward we live with the unlimited confidence of the children of God.
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


“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Greetings in Christ!

He is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!!  Our journey from Easter to Pentecost continues, and so the traditional greeting of the season remains fully in force!  On this breezy Up North day, let us rejoice and be glad in the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice that the damaging winds of last week are considerably calmer today, and let us be glad that the forecast is free from any hint of snow!  Maybe, just maybe, it’s safe to put away the snow shovels and window scrapers – but don’t put them too far into the back of the garage!

    While it may seem as if the winds of Pentecost have arrived a few weeks ahead of time, rest assured that there’s still plenty of time to cement our relationship with the Risen Lord before the Holy Spirit arrives, which is the core reason that the Season of Easter is 50 days long.  Each Sunday, we’re presented with a passage from the Acts of the Apostles that recounts the incredible works done by our ancestors in faith, and are reminded each week that the apostles did nothing on their own; they performed the miraculous works through their reliance and trust in Christ Jesus, which is a pretty big hint that we are able to do some pretty awesome things if we rely on and trust in Christ Jesus as well!  We’ve said it many times before, but it bears repeating on this windy day; miracles happen every day, and every day ordinary believers are part of those miracles.  Every day, believers in the medical professions use their skills and gifts to relieve pain, cure illnesses, and save lives.  Every day, believers in all manner of uniforms serve and protect their fellows, preventing harm and providing immediate relief.  Every day, believers find ways to support those in need through action, donations, and prayer.  Don’t think these are miraculous acts?  Think again; any time any person shifts their attention away from themselves and onto another, sacrificing their time, talent, and treasure to make a positive difference in the life of another, a small miracle has taken place.  Everyone reading this note has the potential to be a miracle worker, because we believe in a higher power than ourselves.  Thanks be to God for all the miracles that will be performed today!


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

   “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23