Session one of two on discussing how our worship practices, formational ministry, and missional outreach are formative for the whole of our spiritual life. Presented by Rev. Chris Schoon, Director of Faith Formation Ministries for the CRCNA, Rev. Joyce Borger, Director of Worship Ministries for the CRCNA, and our own Rev. Mike Hoogeboom, Minister of Faith Formation.
Growing U is part of our adult education program. It meets at 10am on Sundays. Location is either in the Fellowship Hall or Multipurpose Room.

Growing U | Loving God And Neighbors: Integrating Worship, Formation, And Mission (Session 1)

Forbearance, a cartilage virtue, is sorely needed in today's society. Instead of cancel-culture, callout-culture, or zero tolerance culture, we need a culture that bears with one another.
Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service as we continue our Fall Sermon Series. The Scripture passage is Ephesians 4:1-6.

Bear With One Another | 10/17/21 AM

A phrase in Scripture can give us a moment of pause. Bashing a baby against the rock is such a phrase. However, this passage is also about identity and appropriate anger against injustice.
Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The Scripture passage is Psalm 137.

By The Rivers Of Babylon

Music holds a special place in all of our hearts. It speaks to us. So what is so special about music, and especially Psalms and hymns?
Rev. Kristy Manion leads our service as we continue our Fall Sermon Series. The Scripture passage is Ephesians 5: 15-20.

Psalms, Hymns, And Songs From The Spirit | 10/24/21 AM

Our Comfort and Care Committee introduce themselves and present their ministry, how they care for those grieving, and their future direction.

Growing U | Growing With One Another: Comfort And Care For The Grieving

Ephesians lays out many blessings of God. We look at them within three categories and connected to time and a person of the Trinity.
Guest minister, Rev. Jon Opgenorth leads our service. The Scripture passage is Ephesians 1:1-14.

How Many Blessings? | 10/24/21 PM

Forgiveness is actually a much longer and involved process than we practice. We look at four elements to full Biblical forgiveness.
Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service as we continue our Fall Sermon Series. The Scripture passage is Colossians 3:12-14.

Forgive One Another | 10/31/21 AM

Our ministers lead this session. We discuss where the Christian Reformed Church is coming from with the Biblical foundation found in the 1973 Synodical Report. Then we discuss the 2002 Report based on Pastoral Care. Followed by the impact on and ministry to our youth. Wrapped up by the 2016 Report and how LaGrave is handling this topic.

Growing U | Growing With One Another: Human Sexuality Report In Context

We look at what it mean to be a "catholic" church. What does that word mean and how does it apply to us as the church?
Guest minister, Dr. Laura Smit leads our service. The Scripture passage is Ephesians 2:11-3:12.

One Holy Catholic Church | 10/31/21 PM

As Christians, does agreement mean 100% of the things, 100% of the time? Or is there something more fundamental going on in this passage?
Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service as we continue our Fall Sermon Series. The Scripture passage is 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.

Agree With One Another | 11/07/21 AM

Our discipleship is often focused on our intellect. However, we need emotional discipleship in order to express our emotions better. We practice the emotion of sadness in this service.
Rev. Jonker leads our service and the Scripture passage is Psalm 42.

Service Of Remembrance Meditation | 11/07/21 PM

Confession is one part of praying for one another. It is not meant to bring shame and guilt, though those are present. Confession brings believers together at the foot of the cross.
Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service as we continue our Fall Sermon Series. The Scripture passage is James 5:13-16.

Confess To One Another | 11/14/21 AM

Have you experienced God's grace in ordinary, daily items? We witness this in the list of items Paul asks Timothy to bring to him whole in prison.
Guest minister, Rev. Galen Meyer, leads our service. The Scripture passage is 2 Timothy 4:9-22.

An Old Coat, Books, And A Friend | 11/14/21 PM

Love wraps up our Fall Sermon Series. We are easily taught one type of love by the world. But the Scriptures teach a love more foundational and necessary for all relationships.
Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service as we conclude our Fall Sermon Series. The Scripture passage is Romans 13:8, 1 John 4:7-12.

Love One Another | 11/21/21 AM

Our passage is the preparation for going out to the mission field. Prayer is how we should prepare for most situations in life.
Pastoral Care Associate and CTS seminarian, Chad Boorsma, leads our service. The Scripture passage is Matthew 9:35-38.

First Things First | 11/21/21 PM

We hear a two-part meditation on the separate parts of Thanksgiving. Our thankfulness stems from all the wonderful things from God. And our giving nature stems out of that transforming thankfulness.
Rev. Peter Jonker leads our Thanksgiving service. He will give a two-part meditation and the Scripture passages are 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 and Romans 12:1-2.

Thanks. Giving. | Thanksgiving 2021

As begin our "Preparing the Way" series, we first look at Matthew. In order to see what comes before Jesus' birth, we start with the first two words of the book and the genealogy of Christ.
We begin the Advent Season as we wait for the birth of our Savior. Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The Scripture passage is Matthew 1: 1-17.

Preparing The Way - Matthew | 11/28/21 PM

We look at two forms of power, Roman authority and the Evil One. Notice Christ's power over these two forces, but also, what Christ's true power is.
We await the coming of our Savior as our Advent Series "Preparing The Way" continues. Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The Scripture passage Mark 1:1-8.

Preparing The Way - Mark | 12/05/21 AM

We all have an image of the angel's proclamation to Mary. But, does that image match what Scripture says? How does Mary respond to the news?
We await the coming of our Savior as our Advent Series "Preparing The Way" continues. Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The Scripture passage is Luke 1:26-38.

Preparing The Way - Luke | 12/12/21

Rev. Chris Schoon, CRCNA Director of Faith Formation Ministries, leads us in a presentation centered on Advent. How do we think about and participate in the Advent season? Does that participation carry beyond the season?
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Growing U is part of our adult education program. It meets at 10am on Sundays. Location is either in the Fellowship Hall or Multipurpose Room.

Growing U | Remembered Anticipation: Engaging Advent As A Way Of Life

With so many heavy topics these days, it is hard to follow Psalm 150 and sing our hallelujahs. However, the Psalms are exactly the place for us to turn.
Seminarian, Jodi VanWingerden, leads our service. The Scripture passage is Psalm 150.

Collective Hallelujah | 12/12/21 PM

John paints the most powerful perspective of Jesus at his birth. John also asks the very personal question, "What will you do with Jesus?"
We come to the end of our Advent Series "Preparing The Way". Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The Scripture passage is John 1:1-18.

Preparing The Way: John | 12/19/21 AM

This Christmas Eve, we are reminded that Christ's light shines brightest in the deep darkness.
We wait in the last hours of anticipation for Christ's birth. Rev. Mike Hoogeboom leads our service. The title of the service is "When Half Spent Was The Night" and the Scripture passages are Isaiah 11:1-9, Micah 5:1-4, Luke 2:1-14, and John 1:1-14.

Christmas Eve: When Half Spent Was The Night | 12/24/21 11pm

It is the day after Christmas. Christ is born. Nothing really changed.
Guest minister, Rev. David Bast, leads our service. The Scripture passage is Matthew 2:13-23.

The Dark Side Of Christmas | 12/26/21

Most of us interpret this story with Jesus doing the teaching. Does Scripture depict that? Jesus seems to be participating in the religious institution of his day.
We begin the season of Epiphany and our Epiphany Sermon Series: Windows On The Word. Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The Scripture passage is Luke 2:40-52.

Windows On The Word: Jesus In The Temple | 01/02/22

Jesus responds differently to two groups of people, those in the general crowd and those who are to be disciples. Are you one of the crowd? Or are you a disciple?
We continue our Epiphany Sermon Series: Windows on the Word. Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The Scripture passage is Luke 5:1-11.

Windows On The Word: Leaving Your Nets | 01/09/22 AM

A new year often brings the desire to change habits. Prof. James K.A. Smith presents that growth in the Christian life is a matter of “rehabituation”: re-“habit”-ing our hearts to love what God loves. But we can’t think our way to new habits. Instead, new habits of the heart are shaped by disciplines and practices that recalibrate our affections. We explore why the embodied, communal practices of worship are the hub of the Spirit’s sanctification.

Love Takes Practice: Practice Takes Community

Epiphany is the official end to the Christmas celebration, and the start of the Epiphany season. We usually don't hold a baptism during this particular service. However, Christmas, Epiphany, and baptisms all bear witness to God's faithfulness to his covenant promises.
We celebrate Epiphany together with a candlelight service. Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The title of the sermon is "Baptism and Christmas" and the Scripture passage is Isaiah 59:20-60:6.

Baptism And Christmas | 01/09/22 PM

The mustard seed and tree reveal the kingdom of God. If you only focus on the seed, you lose an intricate part of the parable.
We continue our Epiphany Sermon Series: Windows on the Word. Rev. Peter Jonker leads our service. The Scripture passage is Matthew 13:31-32.

Windows On The Word: The Mustard Seed | 01/16/22 AM

We continue our discussion about re-habiting our lives. Our spiritual life is formed by our daily practices. Is there something you'd like to adjust? Have you looked at how you're formed? Rev. Mike Hoogeboom and Growing U Coordinator Emily Redder lead our discussion.

Heart Habits: Examining Your Life Liturgy

When Jesus is tempted, we hear that he was prepared in two ways from his time of fasting: 1. Savoring God's presence, and 2. Meditating on God's Word.
Seminarian and Pastoral Care Associate, Chad Boorsma, leads our service. The Scripture passage is Matthew 4:1-11.

Into The Wilderness | 01/16/22 PM

Join us for our annual Christmas Eve services, "A Christmas Hallelujah", celebrating our Saviors birth.

12/24/19 - A Christmas Hallelujah

We are a traditional style church in downtown Grand Rapids, MI. We want to share our community and God's message.

LaGrave Ave CRC

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