Produced and Delivered Web-TV Programming
LaGrave Live
LIVE Morning Worship Service 05-17-2026
The Frivolous Miracle
About The Service:
May 17 is our last Sunday with two services. For the rest of the summer there will be one morning service at 10am. We will celebrate communion so Pastor Jonker will preach on John 2:1-12, the story of the wedding feast at Cana.
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-5-17-AM-Order-of-Worship.pdf
About the Church:
We are a traditional CRC church in the middle of Downtown Grand Rapids, MI, worshipping at 8:40am, 11:00am, and 6:00pm. (10:00am and 6:00pm during the summer months)
We'd love to hear from you:
Connection: https://www.lagrave.org/contact
Let us pray for you:
Prayer: https://www.lagrave.org/prayerrequest/
Giving: https://www.elexiogiving.com/App/Giving/lagr107178
The April special offering is for Family Promise. Family Promise partners with local congregations, individuals, families, foundations and corporations to provide emergency shelter and case management for families with children facing a housing crisis.
Listen on the go:
Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
Soundcloud: / lagravecrc https://soundcloud.com/lagravecrc
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
Follow us!
Facebook: / lagravecrc https://www.facebook.com/lagravecrc
Instagram: / lagravecrc https://www.instagram.com/lagravecrc
Website: https://www.lagrave.org
#LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
The Frivolous Miracle: Cana, Communion, and the Joy at the Table of the King
Ascension Sunday Worship and the Reign of Christ
The service opens on Ascension Sunday with worship, a greeting centered on the risen and ascended Lord Jesus, and the affirmation that Christ is risen. The liturgist welcomes the congregation, provides announcements about the final 10 o’clock hour before summer scheduling begins, and introduces confession through a psalm describing the holy life of those who dwell near God. The congregation confesses its failures and receives assurance that those once far from God have been brought near through Christ.
Children Invited to the Table of the King
In the children’s message, the leader asks the children to imagine King Charles arriving at their home for a meal, then turns the illustration toward Communion. Jesus, the children are told, is the ascended King who invites his people to sit at his table, feeds them, assures them of his love, and promises that they will one day feast with him forever. The image prepares the congregation for the service’s Communion emphasis.
Prayer for the Church and Those in Need
The congregational prayer praises Jesus as King over history, nations, creation, neighborhoods, churches, families, and individual lives. The leader asks God to strengthen people serving in difficult places, gives thanks for recent baptisms and a milestone birthday, and prays for grieving families, people facing procedures, recovery, and chronic pain. The prayer connects the ascended reign of Christ with the church’s present joys and burdens.
Cana as a Miracle That Initially Seems Small
The preacher reads John 2:1–12, the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. He admits that this first sign can appear less weighty than healings, deliverance from evil spirits, or the raising of Lazarus, because the immediate problem is that a wedding celebration has run out of wine. He therefore asks why John begins Jesus’ signs with a miracle that seems to rescue a party rather than confront a more obvious crisis.
The Wedding Feast as a Foretaste of Final Joy
The sermon answers by connecting the wedding at Cana with the wedding supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19. Cana’s restored joy is presented as a foretaste of the everlasting celebration awaiting God’s people when death, sorrow, and evil are finally overcome. Before the disciples enter the conflict and suffering of Jesus’ ministry, he gives them a glimpse of the promised ending; in the same way, Communion gives believers a taste of final joy before they enter the difficulties of another week.
Communion in Valleys, Solitude, and Daily Life
The preacher illustrates Communion’s sustaining power through the account of an archbishop identified unclearly in the transcript as Francis Xavier, who celebrated Communion while imprisoned in Vietnam, and through pastoral visits bringing Communion to members whose worlds have grown smaller through isolation or illness. The table of the ascended King assures worshipers that their valleys do not define them and that their true home is with Christ. The service concludes with the Lord’s Supper and the blessing of the ascended King.
LIVE Morning Worship Service 05-17-2026
The Frivolous Miracle
About The Service:
May 17 is our last Sunday with two services. For the rest of the summer there will be one morning service at 10am. We will celebrate communion so Pastor Jonker will preach on John 2:1-12, the story of the wedding feast at Cana.
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-5-17-AM-Order-of-Worship.pdf
About the Church:
We are a traditional CRC church in the middle of Downtown Grand Rapids, MI, worshipping at 8:40am, 11:00am, and 6:00pm. (10:00am and 6:00pm during the summer months)
We'd love to hear from you:
Connection: https://www.lagrave.org/contact
Let us pray for you:
Prayer: https://www.lagrave.org/prayerrequest/
Giving: https://www.elexiogiving.com/App/Giving/lagr107178
The April special offering is for Family Promise. Family Promise partners with local congregations, individuals, families, foundations and corporations to provide emergency shelter and case management for families with children facing a housing crisis.
Listen on the go:
Amazon Music: https://bit.ly/LGPodAmazonMusic
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3tuOdwQ
Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/LGPodGoogle
Soundcloud: / lagravecrc https://soundcloud.com/lagravecrc
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3yXDFaT
Follow us!
Facebook: / lagravecrc https://www.facebook.com/lagravecrc
Instagram: / lagravecrc https://www.instagram.com/lagravecrc
Website: https://www.lagrave.org
#LaGrave #LaGraveCRC
The Frivolous Miracle: Cana, Communion, and the Joy at the Table of the King
Ascension Sunday Worship and the Reign of Christ
The service opens on Ascension Sunday with worship, a greeting centered on the risen and ascended Lord Jesus, and the affirmation that Christ is risen. The liturgist welcomes the congregation, provides announcements about the final 10 o’clock hour before summer scheduling begins, and introduces confession through a psalm describing the holy life of those who dwell near God. The congregation confesses its failures and receives assurance that those once far from God have been brought near through Christ.
Children Invited to the Table of the King
In the children’s message, the leader asks the children to imagine King Charles arriving at their home for a meal, then turns the illustration toward Communion. Jesus, the children are told, is the ascended King who invites his people to sit at his table, feeds them, assures them of his love, and promises that they will one day feast with him forever. The image prepares the congregation for the service’s Communion emphasis.
Prayer for the Church and Those in Need
The congregational prayer praises Jesus as King over history, nations, creation, neighborhoods, churches, families, and individual lives. The leader asks God to strengthen people serving in difficult places, gives thanks for recent baptisms and a milestone birthday, and prays for grieving families, people facing procedures, recovery, and chronic pain. The prayer connects the ascended reign of Christ with the church’s present joys and burdens.
Cana as a Miracle That Initially Seems Small
The preacher reads John 2:1–12, the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. He admits that this first sign can appear less weighty than healings, deliverance from evil spirits, or the raising of Lazarus, because the immediate problem is that a wedding celebration has run out of wine. He therefore asks why John begins Jesus’ signs with a miracle that seems to rescue a party rather than confront a more obvious crisis.
The Wedding Feast as a Foretaste of Final Joy
The sermon answers by connecting the wedding at Cana with the wedding supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19. Cana’s restored joy is presented as a foretaste of the everlasting celebration awaiting God’s people when death, sorrow, and evil are finally overcome. Before the disciples enter the conflict and suffering of Jesus’ ministry, he gives them a glimpse of the promised ending; in the same way, Communion gives believers a taste of final joy before they enter the difficulties of another week.
Communion in Valleys, Solitude, and Daily Life
The preacher illustrates Communion’s sustaining power through the account of an archbishop identified unclearly in the transcript as Francis Xavier, who celebrated Communion while imprisoned in Vietnam, and through pastoral visits bringing Communion to members whose worlds have grown smaller through isolation or illness. The table of the ascended King assures worshipers that their valleys do not define them and that their true home is with Christ. The service concludes with the Lord’s Supper and the blessing of the ascended King.
Signs of Life - Medium Insights with Host Roman Karpishka
Spirit Art, Evidential Mediumship, and the Healing Power of Consciousness Beyond Life
Guest: #FFFCertifiedMedium Joseph Shiel
Joseph Shiel is a highly regarded Evidential Medium and Spirit Artist internationally known for his accuracy and integrity, Joe is considered one of the foremost authorities on Spirit Artistry and is recognized the world over for his Spirit Portraits, referred to by many as "Portraits from Heaven." Joe shares his remarkable talents with students and audiences worldwide, and his talents are also expressed in his Fine Art, Music and Poetry. It is through creativity that he has come to understand the language of Spirit in a deeply unique and vibrant way. Joe is the author of "Edge of Wilderness - You are My Poems, Prayers and Songs."
Introducing Joseph Shiel and Spirit Art
In this episode of Signs of Life, host Roman Karpishka welcomes evidential psychic medium, spirit artist, teacher, and speaker Joseph Shiel. The conversation introduces Shiel’s background as someone who has sensed spirit since childhood, later leaving the Catholic seminary and developing his mediumship and artistic abilities. Roman highlights Shiel’s unusual gift of drawing people who have crossed over, noting how striking and accurate many of the portraits appear. Shiel explains that his drawings began almost accidentally, sometimes producing many faces in one sitting, and that over time the process became a deeper part of how he communicates with spirit.
Drawing as a Way to Deepen Communication
Shiel describes spirit drawing as more than a visual demonstration; for him, looking into the eyes of the person he is drawing helps him make a stronger connection and receive more information. He explains that not every drawing is exact, but that the process often brings through enough recognizable detail for the sitter to identify the loved one. He also discusses his “Soul Journey” artwork, which uses symbols, colors, animals, lines, textures, and life-path imagery to help people consider their options and directions. Rather than telling people exactly what will happen, he sees this work as a way of showing possible paths and helping people make more conscious choices.
Family, the Afterlife, and Continuing Bonds
A major listener question asks whether family life continues after death and whether loved ones who have passed will reunite with those still living when they eventually cross over. Shiel answers from his own experience as a medium, saying he has come to know within himself that consciousness continues. He reflects on losing his mother as a child and wondering who his father would be with in heaven after remarrying, then explains that his readings have shown him a larger understanding of love, family, and togetherness beyond earthly separation. In his view, the spirit world reveals why life unfolded as it did, what lessons were learned, and how love continues in a broader, more unified way.
Integrity, Evidence, and the Medium’s Role
The episode spends significant time discussing the importance of integrity in mediumship. Shiel says he does not see his role as proving something to the sitter or performing for them, but as serving the spirit world for the sake of the person receiving the reading. He describes himself as an instrument through which information, emotion, physical impressions, mannerisms, voices, and sometimes even foreign words may come through. Roman and Schiel also discuss certification through Forever Family Foundation, the rigor of testing, and the danger of fraudulent online demonstrations, especially when mediums use visible names or internet searches to gather information.
Justice, Life Review, and Spiritual Responsibility
Roman asks about justice after death, especially for perpetrators of violent acts, and Shiel explains that he does not believe in a simplistic image of eternal punishment. Instead, he describes the possibility of life review, where a person sees clearly what they did and can no longer deny the impact of their actions. He shares that in some readings, spirits connected to violent deaths have identified perpetrators, and he has even sat with people he believed were responsible for deaths and encouraged them to turn themselves in. Shiel frames mediumship not only as contact with the dead, but as guidance for how the living should treat one another, take responsibility, and make better choices in this life.
Mediumship, Grief, and Living More Fully
The closing portion explores how mediumship can help people grieving profound losses, especially parents who have lost children. Shiel speaks with compassion about grief, saying he cannot fully know the pain of losing a child because he has not experienced it, but he has sat with many grieving parents and works hard to bring through evidence that their loved ones remain close. He also discusses altered states, the preparation involved in readings, how distractions can affect the connection, and a powerful story in which his own grandfather appeared during a reading to reveal a connection between his death and a client’s daughter’s death on Christmas morning. The episode closes with Roman thanking Shiel for his work and with Shiel inviting listeners to visit his website for readings, programs, and upcoming mediumship offerings.
Spirit Art, Evidential Mediumship, and the Healing Power of Consciousness Beyond Life
Guest: #FFFCertifiedMedium Joseph Shiel
Joseph Shiel is a highly regarded Evidential Medium and Spirit Artist internationally known for his accuracy and integrity, Joe is considered one of the foremost authorities on Spirit Artistry and is recognized the world over for his Spirit Portraits, referred to by many as "Portraits from Heaven." Joe shares his remarkable talents with students and audiences worldwide, and his talents are also expressed in his Fine Art, Music and Poetry. It is through creativity that he has come to understand the language of Spirit in a deeply unique and vibrant way. Joe is the author of "Edge of Wilderness - You are My Poems, Prayers and Songs."
Introducing Joseph Shiel and Spirit Art
In this episode of Signs of Life, host Roman Karpishka welcomes evidential psychic medium, spirit artist, teacher, and speaker Joseph Shiel. The conversation introduces Shiel’s background as someone who has sensed spirit since childhood, later leaving the Catholic seminary and developing his mediumship and artistic abilities. Roman highlights Shiel’s unusual gift of drawing people who have crossed over, noting how striking and accurate many of the portraits appear. Shiel explains that his drawings began almost accidentally, sometimes producing many faces in one sitting, and that over time the process became a deeper part of how he communicates with spirit.
Drawing as a Way to Deepen Communication
Shiel describes spirit drawing as more than a visual demonstration; for him, looking into the eyes of the person he is drawing helps him make a stronger connection and receive more information. He explains that not every drawing is exact, but that the process often brings through enough recognizable detail for the sitter to identify the loved one. He also discusses his “Soul Journey” artwork, which uses symbols, colors, animals, lines, textures, and life-path imagery to help people consider their options and directions. Rather than telling people exactly what will happen, he sees this work as a way of showing possible paths and helping people make more conscious choices.
Family, the Afterlife, and Continuing Bonds
A major listener question asks whether family life continues after death and whether loved ones who have passed will reunite with those still living when they eventually cross over. Shiel answers from his own experience as a medium, saying he has come to know within himself that consciousness continues. He reflects on losing his mother as a child and wondering who his father would be with in heaven after remarrying, then explains that his readings have shown him a larger understanding of love, family, and togetherness beyond earthly separation. In his view, the spirit world reveals why life unfolded as it did, what lessons were learned, and how love continues in a broader, more unified way.
Integrity, Evidence, and the Medium’s Role
The episode spends significant time discussing the importance of integrity in mediumship. Shiel says he does not see his role as proving something to the sitter or performing for them, but as serving the spirit world for the sake of the person receiving the reading. He describes himself as an instrument through which information, emotion, physical impressions, mannerisms, voices, and sometimes even foreign words may come through. Roman and Schiel also discuss certification through Forever Family Foundation, the rigor of testing, and the danger of fraudulent online demonstrations, especially when mediums use visible names or internet searches to gather information.
Justice, Life Review, and Spiritual Responsibility
Roman asks about justice after death, especially for perpetrators of violent acts, and Shiel explains that he does not believe in a simplistic image of eternal punishment. Instead, he describes the possibility of life review, where a person sees clearly what they did and can no longer deny the impact of their actions. He shares that in some readings, spirits connected to violent deaths have identified perpetrators, and he has even sat with people he believed were responsible for deaths and encouraged them to turn themselves in. Shiel frames mediumship not only as contact with the dead, but as guidance for how the living should treat one another, take responsibility, and make better choices in this life.
Mediumship, Grief, and Living More Fully
The closing portion explores how mediumship can help people grieving profound losses, especially parents who have lost children. Shiel speaks with compassion about grief, saying he cannot fully know the pain of losing a child because he has not experienced it, but he has sat with many grieving parents and works hard to bring through evidence that their loved ones remain close. He also discusses altered states, the preparation involved in readings, how distractions can affect the connection, and a powerful story in which his own grandfather appeared during a reading to reveal a connection between his death and a client’s daughter’s death on Christmas morning. The episode closes with Roman thanking Shiel for his work and with Shiel inviting listeners to visit his website for readings, programs, and upcoming mediumship offerings.
