LaGrave Live, April 26, 2026

LaGrave Live LIVE Morning Worship Service 04-26-2026 Stepping Out About The Service: It's GEMS Sunday, the Sunday when our GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) help lead the service. Pastor Jonker will be preaching, and he will preach on the GEMS text, Deuteronomy 7:19 and their theme, “Walk on Water.“ Order of Worship: https://lagrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-4-26-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 Stepping Out: A Celebration of Faith and Growth LaGrave Live: Stepping Out A spiritual roadmap on trusting God’s faithfulness amidst life's storms. 1 GEMS Celebration "Walk on Water" theme focusing on youth trust. 2 Public Profession Commitment of faith by Charlie & Will. 3 The Call Peter's choice to leave the boat in the storm. 4 Divine Assurance Jesus is ahead, behind, and all around us. Sermon Core: Matthew 14 "Stepping out is hard because there is nothing between you and the icy depths... but Jesus is already out there." ✔The Risk: Faith requires leaving the "safety" of the boat (comfort/stagnation). ✔The Scale: Stepping out is often small/daily (e.g., including a difficult classmate). ✔The Safety: Success isn't guaranteed, but being "okay" in Christ is. 1,000Generations of faithfulness (Deut 7:9) Avoid Pitfalls The voice of "Reasonable Safety" Keywords #GEMS #Faith #Resurrection #Community Duration: ~87 mins | Speaker: Pastor Peter & Tina LaGrave Avenue CRC Introduction On April 26, 2026, La Grave Avenue Christian Reformed Church held a vibrant service centered on the theme of "Stepping Out." The congregation celebrated the GEMS girls' ministry, witnessed the public profession of faith of two new members, and explored the biblical call to trust God’s faithfulness amidst life's storms. Detailed Points of Reflection 1. GEMS Sunday: Walking on Water The service highlighted the GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) program, a youth ministry for girls in kindergarten through eighth grade. This year’s theme, "Walk on Water," focused on stepping out to trust a faithful God. Hailey Cornolia and Annalee Vandenberg shared "ministry moments," describing a year filled with Bible stories, creative crafts, and community-building events like the Lake Michigan overnighter and a father-daughter Western line-dancing night. The program aims to create a space of belonging where girls learn to rely on Jesus to stay afloat through life's challenges. GEMS 2025-2026: "Walk on Water" 🌊 Theme: Stepping out in faith and trusting God's covenant. 🎨 Activities: Bible character reenactments, craft coordination, and outdoor games. ✨ Highlights: Lake Michigan retreat, Orchard hayrides, and Father-Daughter dance. "God is our refuge, our lighthouse, and our peace." 2. Public Profession of Faith The congregation witnessed Charlie Cornolia and Will Sadler make their public profession of faith. Both men, joined by their wives Haley and Jenny, were welcomed into the full life and mission of La Grave. By answering the liturgical questions, they affirmed their belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, their trust in the Word of God, and their commitment to the work of the Lord within the church community. The congregation in turn promised to support them through prayer and encouragement. 3. Sermon: The Call and the Storm Pastor Peter delivered a sermon based on Matthew 14, focusing on Peter’s attempt to walk on water. He challenged the common perception that Peter "failed" by sinking, noting that Peter was the only disciple brave enough to leave the boat. The sermon outlined four core truths: everyone is called to step out by the Holy Spirit; internal voices of "safety" often discourage us; stepping out is usually found in small, daily acts of inclusion or sacrifice; and we need not fear because Jesus has already gone ahead into the storm. The Four Pillars of "Stepping Out" Universal Call: No matter your age or ability, the Spirit pushes you to move. The "Boat" Voice: Recognizing the inner urge to choose comfort over risk. Daily Bravery: It’s often about small acts, like inviting a lonely peer. Divine Presence: Jesus is ahead, behind, and all around us in the storm. 4. Community Prayer and Global Mission The service concluded with a comprehensive prayer for the community. This included gratitude for recent marriages and building project progress, as well as intercessions for members recovering from surgery, those serving in the military, and missionaries working abroad. The prayer emphasized resting in the "resurrection power" of Easter during the spring season. Key Data Primary Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 (Jesus walks on water) and Deuteronomy 7:9 (God’s faithfulness). GEMS Scope: Serving girls from Kindergarten through 8th grade. New Members: Charlie & Haley Cornolia, Will & Jenny Sadler. To-Do / Next Steps Visit the multipurpose room after the service for GEMS-provided cookies and a slideshow of the year's activities. Connect at the Welcome Desk in the narthex if you have questions about church happenings or membership. Support GEMS by continuing to pray for the leaders and the girls as they navigate "waves of doubt and pressure." Reflect on daily "Step Out" moments, such as choosing to answer a stressful phone call or including a difficult acquaintance in social plans. Conclusion The service at La Grave Avenue CRC provided a powerful reminder that faith is not a static state of safety, but a courageous movement toward Christ. Whether through the eyes of a GEMS student or a new member making a profession of faith, the message remains clear: because God is faithful to a thousand generations, we can step out of the boat with confidence.