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
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 GRANGE NEWS
Sometimes we resist change because we are comfortable with what we know. Yet the changing seasons remind us that God is present in every season of our lives, not only in the bright, warm seasons, but also in times of transition, uncertainty, and letting go.
As we move from summer into fall, may we welcome the changes God is bringing into our lives. May we have the wisdom to know what to hold onto, the courage to let go of what needs to fall away, and the faith to trust that God is preparing something new.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1~
From Summer to Fall
As summer slowly gives way to fall, we are reminded that change is a natural part of God’s creation. The days become shorter, the air grows cooler, and the leaves begin to change from green to brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. What looks like an ending is actually part of a greater rhythm of renewal.
Sometimes we resist change because we are comfortable with what we know. Yet the changing seasons remind us that God is present in every season of our lives, not only in the bright, warm seasons, but also in times of transition, uncertainty, and letting go.
As we move from summer into fall, may we welcome the changes God is bringing into our lives. May we have the wisdom to know what to hold onto, the courage to let go of what needs to fall away, and the faith to trust that God is preparing something new.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1~
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 GRANGE NEWS
Christmas reminds us that we are deeply loved. The birth of Jesus is God's answer to a world longing for light, peace, and hope. In the humble setting of a Bethlehem manger, God entered our world not with earthly power or great fanfare, but as a child. Through Jesus, we are reminded that God is not distant from our struggles. God comes near to us. Christmas invites us to share that love with others through generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. The greatest gift of Christmas is not found beneath a tree, but in the Savior born for us.
The New Year encourages us to move forward in faith. As one year ends and another begins, we naturally look back at what has happened and wonder what lies ahead. Some of us will enter the new year with excitement and anticipation. Others may carry grief, disappointment, or uncertainty. Whatever the coming year holds, we do not walk into it alone. The same God who sustained us yesterday will be with us tomorrow. We may not know what the future brings, but we can trust the One who holds the future in His hands.
Perhaps these three occasions offer us a simple pattern for living our faith. Thanksgiving teaches us to look back with gratitude, Christmas teaches us to live in God's love, and the New Year teaches us to look ahead with hope.
As you gather with family and friends, celebrate the birth of Christ, and prepare for the year ahead, remember that every season offers an opportunity to grow closer to God. Let gratitude shape your attitude, let Christ's love guide your actions, and let faith give you courage for whatever lies ahead.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~Psalm 107:1~
Grateful Hearts, Hopeful Spirits, and Faithful Beginnings
As we move through Thanksgiving, celebrate Christmas, and prepare to welcome a new year, we find ourselves in a special season of reflection, gratitude, and hope. These holidays may seem different in their purpose, but each one reminds us of an important truth. God has been faithful in the past, is present with us today, and will lead us into the future.
Thanksgiving invites us to remember our blessings. In the busyness of life, it is easy to focus on what we lack rather than what we have. We worry about unfinished tasks, financial pressures, family concerns, and the uncertainties of tomorrow. Yet Thanksgiving calls us to pause and recognize God's goodness. We give thanks not because every day has been easy, but because God has walked with us through both our joys and our struggles. Even the smallest blessings such as a shared meal, a kind word, a warm home, or the presence of a loved one, can remind us of God's abundant grace.
Christmas reminds us that we are deeply loved. The birth of Jesus is God's answer to a world longing for light, peace, and hope. In the humble setting of a Bethlehem manger, God entered our world not with earthly power or great fanfare, but as a child. Through Jesus, we are reminded that God is not distant from our struggles. God comes near to us. Christmas invites us to share that love with others through generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. The greatest gift of Christmas is not found beneath a tree, but in the Savior born for us.
The New Year encourages us to move forward in faith. As one year ends and another begins, we naturally look back at what has happened and wonder what lies ahead. Some of us will enter the new year with excitement and anticipation. Others may carry grief, disappointment, or uncertainty. Whatever the coming year holds, we do not walk into it alone. The same God who sustained us yesterday will be with us tomorrow. We may not know what the future brings, but we can trust the One who holds the future in His hands.
Perhaps these three occasions offer us a simple pattern for living our faith. Thanksgiving teaches us to look back with gratitude, Christmas teaches us to live in God's love, and the New Year teaches us to look ahead with hope.
As you gather with family and friends, celebrate the birth of Christ, and prepare for the year ahead, remember that every season offers an opportunity to grow closer to God. Let gratitude shape your attitude, let Christ's love guide your actions, and let faith give you courage for whatever lies ahead.
May we enter the new year with thankful hearts, renewed spirits, and a deeper commitment to serving God and loving our neighbors.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~Psalm 107:1~
