JEFFREY SWAINSTON, CHAPLAIN
872 S. Waverly Road
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
(616) 405-6921
revjeff82@gmail.com
"COME TO ME, ALL WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST." - MATTHEW 11:28 IN MEMORIAM 2014
Geraldine Bailey - North Adrian #721
Philip Clipfell - Colon #215
James Hazel - Home #129
George Huffman - Home #129
Margaret Wetzel - Home #129
Richard Kelley - Rome #293
Kenneth Murray - Fredonia #1713
Rita Orlowski - Barnard Grange #689
Doris Ely - Lime Creek Grange #712
Marge Wagner - Summit City Grange #672
Gary Hallock - Burns Grange #160
Mary Carson - Burns Grange #160
Dick Wooters - Summit City Grange #672
Alvin Thelen - Capitol Grange #540
Jerry Dennert - Oceana Center Grange #1047
Alice Beebe - Rome Grange #293
Charles Johnson - North Adrian Grange #721
David Armstrong - Adams Grange #286
IN MEMORIAM 2013
Ed Schwartz - Fredonia #1713
Joanie Miller - Fredonia #1713
Eva Grant - Home #129
Esther Pfister - Rome #293
June Ohlman - North Adrian #721
John Baldwin - Oceana Center #1047
Margaret Beardslee - Community #1675
E. Marie Dean - Summit City #672
Eva Grant - Home #129
Ruth Strebbing - Plymouth/Westand #389
Donna Jean Hauri - Studley #1174
Dean Yoder - Torch Lake #1840
Vivian Foor - North Adrian #721
Jody Barnes - Gratiot #1898
Peg Brown - Burr Oak #1350
MAY/JUNE 2026 GRANGE NEWS
In the next couple of months, we will honor parents by reflecting on God’s sacrificial love, focusing on nurturing, guidance, and grace. Mother’s Day highlights selfless nurturing, while Father’s Day celebrates sacrificial guidance. Both days offer opportunities to thank God for parental figures who mirror divine love, acknowledging that earthly parenting is a calling supported by grace.
A godly father takes pride in seeing children walk in wisdom and righteousness. This mirrors the Heavenly Father, who welcomes his children with open arms and celebrates their return. Fatherhood is a calling to protect, guide, and love, reflecting God the Father's steadfast nature. Even when children stray, the father’s heart, like God's, remains open, ready to offer grace and mercy. It's about building a home anchored in the Lord.
God does not ask parents to be perfect; He asks them to be present and loving. Thank God for the hard work, sacrifices, and nurturing that parents and parental figures do. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are opportunities to honor those who have played a parental role in our lives, recognizing that family extends beyond biology.
Honor Our Parents
In the next couple of months, we will honor parents by reflecting on God’s sacrificial love, focusing on nurturing, guidance, and grace. Mother’s Day highlights selfless nurturing, while Father’s Day celebrates sacrificial guidance. Both days offer opportunities to thank God for parental figures who mirror divine love, acknowledging that earthly parenting is a calling supported by grace.
A mother’s love is often sacrificial, reflecting Christ’s love through relentless service and care. Like the mother who sacrifices the best for her children, God uses mothers to demonstrate unconditional love and nurture. "Mom" is a title that reflects the love given by Jesus to the children entrusted to her care. It’s a call to be a representative of Christ, not a perfect parent. Whether through biological birth, adoption, or spiritual mentorship, Christian mothers represent God's tenderness.
A godly father takes pride in seeing children walk in wisdom and righteousness. This mirrors the Heavenly Father, who welcomes his children with open arms and celebrates their return. Fatherhood is a calling to protect, guide, and love, reflecting God the Father's steadfast nature. Even when children stray, the father’s heart, like God's, remains open, ready to offer grace and mercy. It's about building a home anchored in the Lord.
God does not ask parents to be perfect; He asks them to be present and loving. Thank God for the hard work, sacrifices, and nurturing that parents and parental figures do. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are opportunities to honor those who have played a parental role in our lives, recognizing that family extends beyond biology.
JULY/AUGUST 2026 GRANGE NEWS
Summer has a way of forcing us to slow down. While we may or may not appreciate the heat, it reminds us that even our bodies need rest, water, and time to recover.
Our spiritual lives are no different. Jesus often stepped away from the crowds to pray and encouraged His disciples to "come away...and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). In a world that constantly tells us to keep moving, God invites us to pause, breathe, and spend time in His presence.
Perhaps this summer's heat can become a holy reminder. Every time you reach for a glass of water or seek a patch of shade, remember that Christ offers living water to satisfy our deepest thirst and His presence to refresh weary souls.
May we find moments this summer to slow down, rest in God's grace, and be renewed for the work He has called us to do.
Too Hot to Hurry
There are certain things we simply don't do in the heat of summer. We don't sprint across a parking lot in flip-flops. We don't leave chocolate in the car. And we quickly learn that mowing the lawn at two o'clock in the afternoon is probably not our brightest idea!
Summer has a way of forcing us to slow down. While we may or may not appreciate the heat, it reminds us that even our bodies need rest, water, and time to recover.
Our spiritual lives are no different. Jesus often stepped away from the crowds to pray and encouraged His disciples to "come away...and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). In a world that constantly tells us to keep moving, God invites us to pause, breathe, and spend time in His presence.
Perhaps this summer's heat can become a holy reminder. Every time you reach for a glass of water or seek a patch of shade, remember that Christ offers living water to satisfy our deepest thirst and His presence to refresh weary souls.
May we find moments this summer to slow down, rest in God's grace, and be renewed for the work He has called us to do.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ~ Psalm 46:1 ~
