Preparing for Change: Letting Go and Taking Hold

Get honest and embrace the vision God has given you

   1. Get honest with God (1:2-4)

   2. Receive God’s honesty to you (1:5-11)

   3. Be patient through the storm (1:12-2:1)

   4. Take hold of the vision God’s given you (2:2-4)

Habakkuk 1:1-2:4New International Version (NIV)

1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

2 How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
    so that justice is perverted.

The Lord’s Answer

5 “Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told.
6 I am raising up the Babylonians,[a]
    that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
    to seize dwellings not their own.
7 They are a feared and dreaded people;
    they are a law to themselves
    and promote their own honor.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,
    fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong;
    their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;
9     they all come intent on violence.
Their hordes[b] advance like a desert wind
    and gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings
    and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities;
    by building earthen ramps they capture them.
11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—
    guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?
    My God, my Holy One, you[c] will never die.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
    you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
    you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
    Why are you silent while the wicked
    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14 You have made people like the fish in the sea,
    like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,
    he catches them in his net,
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
    and so he rejoices and is glad.
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net
    and burns incense to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
    and enjoys the choicest food.
17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,
    destroying nations without mercy?
2 I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint.[d]

The Lord’s Answer

2 Then the Lord replied:
“Write down the revelation
    and make it plain on tablets
    so that a herald[e] may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it[f] will certainly come
    and will not delay.
4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;
    his desires are not upright—
    but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[g]—

Footnotes:

  1. Habakkuk 1:6 Or Chaldeans
  2. Habakkuk 1:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  3. Habakkuk 1:12 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text we
  4. Habakkuk 2:1 Or and what to answer when I am rebuked
  5. Habakkuk 2:2 Or so that whoever reads it
  6. Habakkuk 2:3 Or Though he linger, wait for him; / he
  7. Habakkuk 2:4 Or faith
New International Version (NIV)

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Daily Prayer Request ~ Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Pray that we would hunger and thirst for the things of God – for righteousness. Pray that God would confront our complacency and somehow stir and intense desire in us to draw closer to Him.

“When I shut up the heavens so there there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land…but if you turn away…then I will uproot.”

—2 Corinthians 7:13-14 & 20

Bulletin – May 28, 2017

We continue to raise money to pay for our roof repair. As of Friday, May 26, we have raised a total of $48,755.62 towards our ultimate goal of $115,000. Thank you for your ongoing generosity towards this need.

Prayer is still happening between services at the front of the sanctuary. If you’re looking for more opportunity for times of corporate prayer, you’re also welcome to join Brian Austin in the Admin Centre during the beginning of first service. Next week, you’re invited to join for prayer at 9:30 a.m. at the front of the sanctuary.

Beginning on June 4 (next week!) we will be going to one 10:00 a.m. service for the summer.

HMC EVENTS                                                                                                                   

Pastor Jason’s final Sunday is June 4. We are planning to celebrate him by enjoying a lunch together following the 10:00 a.m. service. Please plan to stay! In preparation, we are collecting stories, memories, and photos of him and his time here. If you’d like to contribute, please send your story/photo to the church office. There is a book in which you can leave a parting message of blessing for Jason and his family. There is also be a box in which you may leave a donation which can go towards a gift to bless the Mills family with as they move on to what the Lord has planned for them.

The Young at Heart are gathering for their final meeting of the season on Thursday, June 8 at 11:00 a.m. at Carrick Camp. Anna Hopkins will be providing a special picnic lunch and Wendy Donaldson will be bringing a therapy dog and sharing about this great branch of St John Ambulance. Visit Nelles in the foyer for a $15 ticket. Anyone needing a ride to the camp should contact Evelyn Howe or Gloria Burrow.

Our annual HMC Budget Meeting will be on Thursday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m. Come for a closer look at our finances, to vote on the new budget, and for an update from Ministry Council.

Blue Jay’s Once again, a bus will be going to Toronto to take in a game this summer. Mark your calendars for July 29. The $50 tickets are available in the foyer on a first come, first served basis.

Summer Slam VBS ‘Love Your Neighbour’ will be August 21-25 from 9 a.m. to noon for children in SK-grade 6. More information to come!

OPPORTUNITIES                                                                                                                                                                                                     

If you’re thinking about being a volunteer on the Summer Slam VBS team this year, let Pastor Amos or Marie know and plan to come for a brief meeting after the service on June 25.

Mom’s and Tot’s is looking for someone without small children to take on a leadership role within the ministry: to help organize childcare and coordinate events/ideas (i.e. leading craft days, cooking days, arranging a Bible study), while still including and incorporating the ideas and needs of the mother’s who attend.

PRAYER REQUESTS                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Please pray for the Men in Action crew who have given up their weekend to help with work around Camp Mishewah. Pray that it would be an enriching time, and for safe travels as they return home.

Our Condolences to Dennis & Sharon Russwurm on the passing of Dennis’ father, Lincoln Russwurm, last week. Please remember the family in your prayers as they grieve.

Please continue to remember the Pastoral Search Team in your prayers. Pray for wisdom and discernment as they make important decisions regarding the future of HMC.

There is a booklet of prayer requests specific to the needs of HMC. It is being printed in small numbers with simple formatting so your suggestions can be added. We want it to be a dynamic, living, changing document. These booklets are available in the foyer, or by speaking with Karen Schmalz or Brian Austin. Alternatively, if you’d like to receive daily prayer reminders delivered to your email, you can sign up at eepurl.com/cM9ZVj 

OTHER EVENTS                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Carrick Camp will be kicking off their season on June 4 at 7:00 p.m. Visit carrickcamp.com for a full summer calendar.

OASIS Golden Gateway at Stayner Bible Conference Grounds from Monday June 12 – Friday, June 16. Contact Donna or Ivan Preston for more information or to book your stay (519-585-7514).

WORDS OF THANKS                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Thank you to the volunteers that came out to do a spring cleanup on our trail and in our park. It was very much appreciated. Thank you again.

—Tom Karl, Manager of Hanover Parks & Recreation Facilities

MISSIONS CORNER

MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH: Stacey Bauman serving with Hockey Ministries International. 

Please pray for Tony and Larry, two coaches that have agreed to read “More Than a Carpenter” with Stacey and meet up for lunches to discuss what they are reading. Please pray for Alex and Danielle London. Alex is a new, young coach in town from Boston who comes from a Jewish/Catholic background, and Danielle comes from a Catholic background. Alex sat in on Stacey’s peewee chapel last week and made the comment that “he learned more in ten minutes than he has him whole life!” – Praise God! Alex and Danielle attended church with Stacey and Ronna last week and they were thrilled to see God continue to work. They are excited for what He has in store for this young couple. Please pray that things come together for the OKC Camp. There is need to find a new bus option. Pray that this would fall into place. There is also need of a worship leader and it would be nice to see the camp numbers increase as well.

Daily Prayer Request ~ Monday, May 29, 2017

Pray for Good to prevail over Evil. Pray for protection for our HMC church body from the attacks of the enemy. Help us be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves as we deal with the wolves around us. Show us how to test every spirit to see if it is from God. Help us recognize the enemy’s disguises and schemes so that he won’t outwit us.

Daily Prayer Request ~ Friday, May 26, 2017

Pray for our Young at Heart leaders and members. Pray that we would be wise enough to tap into their wisdom and that they would be encouraged to share. Pray that whether strong and active or increasingly frail, their lives would be a testimony of the faithfulness of God. Pray for the measureless honour that one of them would take up the challenge of praying by name for you on a regular basis. Pray that we would find ways to express our respect and our love to them.

Daily Prayer Request ~ Thursday, May 25, 2017

Pray for Pastor Jason & Erika, Shawna and Elijah as they move into a new chapter of life. Thank God for Jason’s educational opportunities. Pray for a ministry placement for Erika. Pray for wisdom as they consider questions of moving or staying, where they will worship as a family, and schooling for the kids.