Produced and Delivered Web-TV Programming
LaGrave Live
LIVE Morning Worship Service 02-22-2026
Cross Words: Foreshadowings
About The concert:
We will start a new sermon series called Cross Words. These sermons will go through the Bible and look at what the Bible teaches us about the cross. We will begin by looking at how the Old Testament points towards the cross. Pastor Jonker will preach on Genesis 3: 21-24.
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-2-22-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 February special offering is for The Bridge. The Bridge is part of Arbor Circle, which offers emergency shelter for youths, and additional counseling for youths and their families.
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
Cross Words: The Foreshadowing of Grace
Cross Words: Foreshadowings
First Sunday of Lent | LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church
SERMON ABSTRACT
Feb 22, 2026 • 82 min read
Core Theological Argument
"God does not have the heart of an accountant; He has the heart of a Father. He has a cross-shaped heart."
The Moral Accounting
Standard justice demands the offender pays the debt. Common sense suggests "demolition and a new build" for a broken creation.
The Divine Absorption
God breaks the rules of accounting by seeking the offender, absorbing the misery, and paying the cost Himself.
đźš—The Cadillac Illustration
A daughter crashes her father's prized 1955 Cadillac into the garage. Instead of anger, the father gives her money for her youth event—absorbing the cost and misery to preserve the relationship. This mirrors the Gospel.
Biblical Roadmap
•Genesis 3:21-24: The first "garments of skin"—God's first act of covering human shame.
•The Wilderness: Israel "crashes the car" with the golden calf; God continues to provide manna.
•The Cross: The ultimate absorption where Jesus weaves "clothes of righteousness."
Liturgical Highlights
#LentBeginnings#Communion#Genesis3#Grace#Atonement
Community Note: Welcomed the Karsten family. Prayers offered for Caleb Vandenberg (surgery) and the family of Yvonne Pileman.
Speaker: Rev. Peter Jonker (Speaker_4)
"Go in peace, clothed in His grace."
This worship service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church marks the beginning of the Lenten season and a new sermon series titled "Cross Words." The service explores the profound theme of God’s "cross-shaped heart," tracing how the Old Testament anticipates the sacrifice of Jesus through God’s consistent choice to absorb the cost of human sin. The gathering culminates in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing grace for the imperfect.
Detailed Summary
Community Milestones and Lenten Observance
The service opens with a warm welcome to both long-time members and first-time guests, specifically introducing the Karsten family—Neal, Natalie, and Lydia—as new members of the congregation. This week is particularly significant as the church celebrates its 139th anniversary of ministry. As the first Sunday of Lent, the congregation is reminded of the upcoming noontime Wednesday Lenten services and encouraged to participate in anniversary activities detailed in the bulletin. The community also joins in prayer for those grieving, particularly the family of Yvonne Pileman, and for those facing health challenges, including Caleb Vandenberg following his recent surgery.
The Divine Decision: Redemption over Demolition
Centering on Genesis 3, the sermon challenges the "moral accounting" of human logic through a metaphor of "Common Sense Consulting." From a purely business or structural perspective, a corrupted creation and a "unreliable workforce" (humanity) would warrant demolition and a fresh start. However, the narrative of the Fall reveals a God who does not follow the rules of maximum profit and minimum pain. Instead of abandoning Adam and Eve, God seeks them out, providing "garments of skin" to cover their shame. This act establishes a recurring Old Testament pattern where God repeatedly absorbs the misery and pays the debt of His people's failures, from the golden calf in the wilderness to the era of the kings.
The "Consultant" vs. The Father
Human Logic
Maximum profit, minimum pain. Recommend "demolition" due to significant corruption and poor ROI.
Divine Grace
The "Cross-Shaped Heart." Choosing to rebuild and absorb the cost of the "wreckage" personally.
The Cadillac Parable and the Heart of Grace
To illustrate the practical manifestation of a cross-shaped heart, the pastor shares the story of Tom DeGroat and his daughter, Sherry. After Sherry accidentally caused significant damage to her father’s prized 1955 Cadillac and the family garage, Tom responded not with anger, but by giving her money to continue her day at a youth event. By absorbing the financial and emotional cost of the accident, Tom mirrored the character of the Heavenly Father. This "gracious intuition" is what ultimately leads to the cross, where Jesus absorbs all human pain and pays the ultimate cost to clothe humanity in righteousness.
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
The service concludes with the celebration of Communion, described as a "place of grace" for those who feel they have "crashed the car" of their lives. The liturgy emphasizes that even the disciples who betrayed, denied, or doubted Jesus were invited to His table. The bread and wine serve as tangible reminders that Christ’s body was broken and His blood shed for the complete forgiveness of sins. The congregation is sent forth with a prayer that God’s cross-shaped heart would take root in them, transforming them into joyful and giving people.
The Moral Accounting of the Cross
📉 The Debit: Damaged relationships and the "wreckage" of sin.
⚖️ The Human Way: The offender must pay the debt and initiate the apology.
✨ The Way of the Cross: The offended party (God) seeks the offender and pays the total cost.
Key Data
Church Anniversary: 139 years of ministry.
Significant Birthdays: Annette Haverkamp (90), Clarence Van Dyken (95), and Paul Byden (91).
Memorial: Yvonne Pileman passed away at age 95.
To-Do / Next Steps
Attend the noontime Wednesday Lenten services beginning this week.
Check the church bulletin for activities related to the 139th anniversary.
Submit prayer requests using the cards found in the pew racks to be dropped in the wood box by the chapel.
Participate in the 10:00 AM hour activities following the main service.
Conclusion
The service serves as a powerful reminder that the cross was not an afterthought but was present in the heart of God from the beginning of time. By moving from the "moral accounting" of the law to the radical "grace" of the Father, the congregation is invited to live out of a sense of being fully forgiven and clothed in Christ’s righteousness.
LIVE Morning Worship Service 02-22-2026
Cross Words: Foreshadowings
About The concert:
We will start a new sermon series called Cross Words. These sermons will go through the Bible and look at what the Bible teaches us about the cross. We will begin by looking at how the Old Testament points towards the cross. Pastor Jonker will preach on Genesis 3: 21-24.
Order of Worship:
https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-2-22-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 February special offering is for The Bridge. The Bridge is part of Arbor Circle, which offers emergency shelter for youths, and additional counseling for youths and their families.
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
Cross Words: The Foreshadowing of Grace
Cross Words: Foreshadowings
First Sunday of Lent | LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church
SERMON ABSTRACT
Feb 22, 2026 • 82 min read
Core Theological Argument
"God does not have the heart of an accountant; He has the heart of a Father. He has a cross-shaped heart."
The Moral Accounting
Standard justice demands the offender pays the debt. Common sense suggests "demolition and a new build" for a broken creation.
The Divine Absorption
God breaks the rules of accounting by seeking the offender, absorbing the misery, and paying the cost Himself.
đźš—The Cadillac Illustration
A daughter crashes her father's prized 1955 Cadillac into the garage. Instead of anger, the father gives her money for her youth event—absorbing the cost and misery to preserve the relationship. This mirrors the Gospel.
Biblical Roadmap
•Genesis 3:21-24: The first "garments of skin"—God's first act of covering human shame.
•The Wilderness: Israel "crashes the car" with the golden calf; God continues to provide manna.
•The Cross: The ultimate absorption where Jesus weaves "clothes of righteousness."
Liturgical Highlights
#LentBeginnings#Communion#Genesis3#Grace#Atonement
Community Note: Welcomed the Karsten family. Prayers offered for Caleb Vandenberg (surgery) and the family of Yvonne Pileman.
Speaker: Rev. Peter Jonker (Speaker_4)
"Go in peace, clothed in His grace."
This worship service at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church marks the beginning of the Lenten season and a new sermon series titled "Cross Words." The service explores the profound theme of God’s "cross-shaped heart," tracing how the Old Testament anticipates the sacrifice of Jesus through God’s consistent choice to absorb the cost of human sin. The gathering culminates in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing grace for the imperfect.
Detailed Summary
Community Milestones and Lenten Observance
The service opens with a warm welcome to both long-time members and first-time guests, specifically introducing the Karsten family—Neal, Natalie, and Lydia—as new members of the congregation. This week is particularly significant as the church celebrates its 139th anniversary of ministry. As the first Sunday of Lent, the congregation is reminded of the upcoming noontime Wednesday Lenten services and encouraged to participate in anniversary activities detailed in the bulletin. The community also joins in prayer for those grieving, particularly the family of Yvonne Pileman, and for those facing health challenges, including Caleb Vandenberg following his recent surgery.
The Divine Decision: Redemption over Demolition
Centering on Genesis 3, the sermon challenges the "moral accounting" of human logic through a metaphor of "Common Sense Consulting." From a purely business or structural perspective, a corrupted creation and a "unreliable workforce" (humanity) would warrant demolition and a fresh start. However, the narrative of the Fall reveals a God who does not follow the rules of maximum profit and minimum pain. Instead of abandoning Adam and Eve, God seeks them out, providing "garments of skin" to cover their shame. This act establishes a recurring Old Testament pattern where God repeatedly absorbs the misery and pays the debt of His people's failures, from the golden calf in the wilderness to the era of the kings.
The "Consultant" vs. The Father
Human Logic
Maximum profit, minimum pain. Recommend "demolition" due to significant corruption and poor ROI.
Divine Grace
The "Cross-Shaped Heart." Choosing to rebuild and absorb the cost of the "wreckage" personally.
The Cadillac Parable and the Heart of Grace
To illustrate the practical manifestation of a cross-shaped heart, the pastor shares the story of Tom DeGroat and his daughter, Sherry. After Sherry accidentally caused significant damage to her father’s prized 1955 Cadillac and the family garage, Tom responded not with anger, but by giving her money to continue her day at a youth event. By absorbing the financial and emotional cost of the accident, Tom mirrored the character of the Heavenly Father. This "gracious intuition" is what ultimately leads to the cross, where Jesus absorbs all human pain and pays the ultimate cost to clothe humanity in righteousness.
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
The service concludes with the celebration of Communion, described as a "place of grace" for those who feel they have "crashed the car" of their lives. The liturgy emphasizes that even the disciples who betrayed, denied, or doubted Jesus were invited to His table. The bread and wine serve as tangible reminders that Christ’s body was broken and His blood shed for the complete forgiveness of sins. The congregation is sent forth with a prayer that God’s cross-shaped heart would take root in them, transforming them into joyful and giving people.
The Moral Accounting of the Cross
📉 The Debit: Damaged relationships and the "wreckage" of sin.
⚖️ The Human Way: The offender must pay the debt and initiate the apology.
✨ The Way of the Cross: The offended party (God) seeks the offender and pays the total cost.
Key Data
Church Anniversary: 139 years of ministry.
Significant Birthdays: Annette Haverkamp (90), Clarence Van Dyken (95), and Paul Byden (91).
Memorial: Yvonne Pileman passed away at age 95.
To-Do / Next Steps
Attend the noontime Wednesday Lenten services beginning this week.
Check the church bulletin for activities related to the 139th anniversary.
Submit prayer requests using the cards found in the pew racks to be dropped in the wood box by the chapel.
Participate in the 10:00 AM hour activities following the main service.
Conclusion
The service serves as a powerful reminder that the cross was not an afterthought but was present in the heart of God from the beginning of time. By moving from the "moral accounting" of the law to the radical "grace" of the Father, the congregation is invited to live out of a sense of being fully forgiven and clothed in Christ’s righteousness.
The Metaphysical Hour with Julia Cannon and Tracie Mahan and Question Master Tiffanny
Navigating the Saturn-Neptune Conjunction: Frequencies, Self-Sovereignty, and the Language of the Body
This episode of The Metaphysical Hour explores the spiritual transition from 3D to 5D frequencies, emphasizing the importance of self-trust and discernment during major astrological shifts. Hosts Julia Cannon and Tracey Mahan discuss how to interpret life's triggers and physical symptoms as guidance for soul evolution.
The Saturn-Neptune Conjunction and New Beginnings
The discussion opens with a significant energy update regarding the Saturn-Neptune conjunction at zero degrees Aries, occurring on February 20, 2026. This rare event marks the beginning of a new 36-year cycle in the Zodiac, signaling a time for bravery and the initiation of new paths. The hosts highlight that this period requires individuals to embody self-sovereignty and responsibility (Saturn) while leaning into spiritual intuition and soul missions (Neptune).
The Frequency Shift: Moving from 3D to 5D
A central theme of the conversation is the collective movement into higher frequencies. Julia Cannon shares a vision of this transition as moving through a film or filter; anything that does not resonate with the higher 5D frequency is essentially "squeezed out" of the soul and body. This process often brings old patterns and behaviors directly into one's "face" to be dealt with [163-176]. The hosts explain that if these lessons are ignored, they will continue to reappear—sometimes as a "psychic two-by-four"—until the individual chooses to look at the behavior and release it.
Triggers as Mirrors for Growth
The hosts emphasize that external triggers, especially those found in the news or social media, are mirrors for internal work. When an individual reacts strongly to an event, it indicates an area of insecurity, doubt, or unworthiness that is ready for healing [229-246]. Staying in a state of love requires asking, "What is this teaching me?" and maintaining discernment rather than blindly following a "bandwagon".
SoulSpeak: The Language of the Body
The Q&A segment addresses physical symptoms as subconscious messages. For instance, losing one's voice is interpreted as the body's way of forcing a "break" that the individual refused to take consciously [675-678][741-751]. The body often uses illness as an "excusable" reason for rest when the ego continues to push through exhaustion [741-755]. Additionally, the hosts clarify that in QHHT (Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique) sessions, "knowing" or "feeling" information is just as valid as "seeing" it, as everyone processes spiritual data differently.
The current energetic climate is one of profound transition, demanding that individuals shed old "3D" baggage to align with higher frequencies. By treating life's challenges as mirrors and physical symptoms as messages, one can navigate this 36-year cycle with greater ease, self-love, and spiritual clarity.
Navigating the Saturn-Neptune Conjunction: Frequencies, Self-Sovereignty, and the Language of the Body
This episode of The Metaphysical Hour explores the spiritual transition from 3D to 5D frequencies, emphasizing the importance of self-trust and discernment during major astrological shifts. Hosts Julia Cannon and Tracey Mahan discuss how to interpret life's triggers and physical symptoms as guidance for soul evolution.
The Saturn-Neptune Conjunction and New Beginnings
The discussion opens with a significant energy update regarding the Saturn-Neptune conjunction at zero degrees Aries, occurring on February 20, 2026. This rare event marks the beginning of a new 36-year cycle in the Zodiac, signaling a time for bravery and the initiation of new paths. The hosts highlight that this period requires individuals to embody self-sovereignty and responsibility (Saturn) while leaning into spiritual intuition and soul missions (Neptune).
The Frequency Shift: Moving from 3D to 5D
A central theme of the conversation is the collective movement into higher frequencies. Julia Cannon shares a vision of this transition as moving through a film or filter; anything that does not resonate with the higher 5D frequency is essentially "squeezed out" of the soul and body. This process often brings old patterns and behaviors directly into one's "face" to be dealt with [163-176]. The hosts explain that if these lessons are ignored, they will continue to reappear—sometimes as a "psychic two-by-four"—until the individual chooses to look at the behavior and release it.
Triggers as Mirrors for Growth
The hosts emphasize that external triggers, especially those found in the news or social media, are mirrors for internal work. When an individual reacts strongly to an event, it indicates an area of insecurity, doubt, or unworthiness that is ready for healing [229-246]. Staying in a state of love requires asking, "What is this teaching me?" and maintaining discernment rather than blindly following a "bandwagon".
SoulSpeak: The Language of the Body
The Q&A segment addresses physical symptoms as subconscious messages. For instance, losing one's voice is interpreted as the body's way of forcing a "break" that the individual refused to take consciously [675-678][741-751]. The body often uses illness as an "excusable" reason for rest when the ego continues to push through exhaustion [741-755]. Additionally, the hosts clarify that in QHHT (Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique) sessions, "knowing" or "feeling" information is just as valid as "seeing" it, as everyone processes spiritual data differently.
The current energetic climate is one of profound transition, demanding that individuals shed old "3D" baggage to align with higher frequencies. By treating life's challenges as mirrors and physical symptoms as messages, one can navigate this 36-year cycle with greater ease, self-love, and spiritual clarity.
