Tag: prayer

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Greetings in Christ!

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice in having reached the mid-point of the holy season of Lent, and let us be glad for more time to get ourselves ready for what is to come during Holy Week and Easter! Like most of you, we’re iced in today. Let us hold those traveling and those working to get the roads open (and stay open!) following the freezing rain that hit our area overnight in our prayers for safety. And let us be grateful for people who are willing to brave the elements to help us be safe. It may be obvious on a day like this, but if you don’t have an urgent reason to be out-and-about, stay home and enjoy a mug of hot cocoa!

Maybe today is a good day to ponder the state of the world, and to ponder what our individual and collective role(s) might be to make things better. Our prayers for peace around the world are essential, of course, as are our prayers for those involved in active combat on all sides of the various conflicts. But our prayers for those impacted by war, natural disaster, and local strife are equally important. Our prayers for the people of Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Christians in Africa, and other places around the world matter a great deal, as do our prayers for the safety and security of cities and towns around the world who live under threat of terrorist attack. Most of you are probably aware of the attempted bombings in New York City earlier this week, carried out by self-radicalized adherents to ISIS; those misguided persons are deserving of our prayers, as are the law enforcement professionals who responded to the threats. Beyond our earnest prayers, the people living in Southwest Michigan and Indiana need our donations of money and household goods, so that they can get back up on their feet and begin the arduous process of rebuilding their lives. If it seems like the needs are almost overwhelming, it’s because they are; but almost overwhelming is a long way away from absolutely overwhelming. When we turn to God for strength and guidance, “almost” becomes “not at all,” for all things are possible with God. Peace is possible with God, relief is possible with God, love for all is possible with God. As we journey ever closer to Easter, we must never forget that God’s got this, no matter what “this” is. Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to pray without ceasing, listen intently for the voice of God telling us what to do, and keep our eyes open for opportunities to act. All in the name of Jesus Christ, who is with us always.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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 beginning of a new season of the church year and let us be glad for the opportunities it will present us with! In spite of the severe weather conditions in Northern Michigan, which have sadly forced us to cancel today’s Ash Wednesday services out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of those who would have to travel, the fact of the matter is that today marks the beginning of the Lenten season; a profoundly important time in the lives of believers. As we ready ourselves for this time of reflection and preparation, let us hold in our prayers all those who are working hard to clear away the snow and ice from our roadways, and also let us hold in our prayers the first responders who will brave the harshest elements to serve those in need; they are the true heroes amongst us.

We would like to offer our sincere thanks to you, our beloved congregations, for making it possible for us to have checked off a “bucket list” trip, and we thank you for your prayers for our safety as we traveled. As great as it is to explore new places, it is even better to be back home with those whom we love.

Today is a special day in the life of the church; Ash Wednesday (even though we can’t worship together) starts the holy season of Lent. We are asked to look inward today, to examine our hearts and souls to identify those things about ourselves that aren’t always pleasing to God, and that aren’t always pleasing to us. Ash Wednesday invites us to confess our weaknesses, and to ask for forgiveness and guidance in the days that follow, so that we can be better vessels of the Holy Spirit. We seek to be prepared to serve in whatever capacity Almighty God call us to. We bear the mark of ashes today as an outward symbol of inward struggle; struggle against complacency, against the idolatry of our age, against taking the easy way through life instead of the right way – which is at times challenging, but which is always rewarding. We bear the mark of ashes as a reminder that “from dust you came, and to dust you shall return,” and we bear the mark of ashes as a sign that the only Son of God went to the cross for our sake; which reminds us that we are of enormous value, because we are loved by the Most High God. We bear the mark of ashes today as a sign of penitence, but also as a sign of hope that we can rise from the ashes of sin and shortcomings to stand side-by-side as brothers and sisters in service of Christ and to change the world for the better. Let the holy season of Lent change you this year, starting with the mark of ashes and going on to the mark of glory that is ours to claim on Easter Sunday.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

You are dust, and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, October 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 beginnings of peace in the Middle East, and let us be glad that hostages are being reunited with loved ones. The two-year ordeal suffered by so many has come to an end, and while true and lasting peace is a fragile thing right now, we trust that God is actively at work securing a just and eternal peace for all parties. Let us pray for similar results in Ukraine, and everywhere around the world where violence abounds.

Few of us can fully understand what people in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine have endured, in spite of the images on our screens and written reports of the horrors of war. None of us want to experience what those people have known. But all of us should rejoice that families on both sides of the conflict in the Middle East are being reunited. All of us should pray earnestly for the success of the peace plan, and all of us should pray earnestly for peace in Ukraine. All of us should pray for Christians in Africa who are being persecuted by terrorists, and all of us should pray for peace in the major cities of the United States where protests and unrest are dominating the news. Right now, it seems as if the world is coming apart at the seams; right now, it seems as if there’s nothing good people can do. Of course, we can donate money and goods to relief efforts if our personal resources allow, but the most powerful thing people of faith can do is to pray. Pray without ceasing, to quote the Apostle Paul. Prayer works, even if we think it’s taking far too long. Prayer works because the God to whom we pray wants only good things for all of his children. So pray; pray for peace, pray for kindness, pray for compassion, pray for forgiveness, pray for new beginnings. God hears our prayers, and God acts.

Blessings, Karen and Greg

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

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16

Pastor’s Message

~ laurieagould ~ Leave a comment

Reaching out from Grand Lake Community Chapel

Wednesday, August 20, 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 overnight rain, that gently soaked the parched ground, and let us be glad for rejuvenated flowers and lawns!

We’ll be taking our daughter, Justice, to Louisville, KY, so that she can begin her studies at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary soon. We covet your prayers for safe travel!

While our trip will be something of a whirlwind, oddly enough the preparations aren’t a whole lot different than if we were going to be away for a week or more; we still need to select clothes, make sure our various medications are packed, and take care of whatever “business” might come up while we’re traveling. If you think about it, it’s not a whole lot different than how we should prepare for each new day as children of God and followers of Jesus Christ. We need to put on the “whole armor of God” so that we’re properly dressed for the day, we need to practice healthy self-care by eating properly and taking our prescribed medications, and we need to take care of whatever business the day presents – work, chores, social obligations, and of course, prayer time. Whether we’re just hangin’ around home, heading out for a brief overnight getaway, or leaving on a long trip, the process of getting ready doesn’t really change; every day should start with prayer, proper attire, and proper nutrition!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg


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

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2

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 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, 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, 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