Oct. 1, 2025
Habakkuk 1:1-6 shows the prophet’s complaint to God about the rampant injustice and wickedness within his own community, which God does not seem to address. In verses 12-13, Habakkuk acknowledges God’s supreme holiness and unchanging nature, questioning how such a God can tolerate evil. God’s reply in 2:1-4 reveals his plan to use the Babylonians as an instrument of punishment, and Habakkuk is instructed to write this vision down and wait patiently for its fulfillment, as “the righteous live by their faith”. Finally, Habakkuk 3:17-19 expresses unwavering confidence in God, finding joy and peace even in desolate circumstances, trusting that God will provide salvation and guide him through difficult times.
Habakkuk 1:1-6: The Complaint
- A Cry Against Injustice:
The passage begins with Habakkuk’s desperate plea to God, expressing his sorrow over the violence, oppression, and general lawlessness prevalent in his society.
- Questioning God’s Silence:
Habakkuk questions why God, who is pure and holy, appears to be inactive and indifferent to the suffering and sin around him.
Habakkuk 1:12-13: God’s Nature
- God’s Unchanging Holiness:
Despite his distress, Habakkuk affirms God’s absolute holiness, recognizing Him as the “Holy One” who cannot approve of evil or look with favor on wickedness.
- A Paradoxical Question:
This affirmation of God’s pure nature leads to a further, more pointed question: how can God, being so pure, allow wickedness to persist?
Habakkuk 2:1-4: God’s Answer and a Call to Faith
- The Watchman on the Wall:
God instructs Habakkuk to act as a watchman, diligently looking for and recording the divine revelation.
- The Vision of Punishment:
God reveals his plan to use the Babylonians, a powerful and evil nation, as his instrument to bring judgment upon the wicked.
- Live by Faith:
Habakkuk is commanded to write down the vision clearly and wait patiently for it to unfold, as the righteous will find life through their unwavering trust in God.
Habakkuk 3:17-19: The Response of Faith and Joy
- Trust in God’s Salvation:
The passage concludes with Habakkuk’s profound statement of faith, declaring that even when crops fail and there is no livestock, his joy and hope are found in the Lord.
- Confidence Amidst Chaos:
Habakkuk expresses ultimate trust in God’s power and guidance, confident that God will provide strength and set him firmly on high places, above the difficulties of life.
- Peace in God:
The prophet finds peace and joy not in his circumstances, but in his relationship with God, who will bring salvation and deliver him from all trouble.
Worship Calendar
Oct. 5 / When the World Doesn’t Make Sense / Habakkuk 1:1-6, 12-13. 2:1-4; 3:17-19 / Rev. Eric Lee
Oct. 12/ I AM the Bread of Life / Exodus 3:13-15/John 6:25-35 / Rev. Eric Lee
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Reminder
The sacrament of Holy Communion will be served on Sunday, Oct. 5. The elements will be served by intinction. All are welcome to the Lord’s Table. In addition, there will be a short Baptism and Membership ceremony added to our Communion worship service.
Ward Funeral Homes
Ward Funeral Homes will be providing a complimentary 1-hour pre-planning presentation, at Graceview on Wednesday, October 8 at 11:00 AM. This presentation will offer practical information on the benefits of pre-arranging funeral services, provide insight into the process, and give our members the peace of mind that comes from knowing their wishes are documented and understood.
As an additional gesture, we are pleased to offer a donation to your church for allowing us to present. This is our way of giving back to the community and supporting your church’s mission while providing your members with helpful, valuable information about pre-planning.
During the session, we will:
- Discuss the advantages of pre-planning and pre-funding funeral services.
- Address common questions and concerns about the funeral process.
- Guide attendees through options for personalizing their funeral plans.
We understand the importance of being sensitive to the needs of your community, and our team is committed to delivering this presentation in a compassionate and respectful manner.
Couch Needed – If anyone has a couch that they have been thinking about donating, please contact Nancy McPherson.
Help Wanted
Graceview needs someone to undertake leading a small team of people to decorate the church for special times in our liturgical year. (Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Advent/Christmas, Lent/Easter etc.). Lynne Bishop will assist in letting you know where everything is kept and what has been done in the past. Please let either Kathy Twynam of Susan Chopp know if you are interested.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Outreach is organizing a food/cash drive for the St James Food Basket to provide them with selected food products for their client families. The following items have been suggested: tuna, canned tomatoes and tomato paste, pasta (500 mg), canned beans – chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, baked beans (NO PORK added), dried beans – lentils, chickpeas, etc. (smaller bags), canned soup – vegetable, mushroom, tomato (NO MEAT, INCLUDING CHICKEN), and canned vegetables. We will put a wheelbarrow at the front of the church beginning on Sept 28th to hold your items. If you prefer, you can make a cash donation (cash, cheque or e-transfer) which will be used to buy these items in bulk by the Food Basket. Please mark your donation for the Outreach account and include your envelope number. Let’s aim to fill the wheelbarrow to overflowing by Sunday, October 19th and share our blessings with those who are struggling to make ends meet.
Changing your PARS Donations
PARS program. – If you are on the PARS program for your church giving and you wish to update your monthly donation, this can be easily done by contacting Jackie Taylor either in person or by email at jacquelinet@sympatico.ca
Potluck Sign Up
Music & Worship is organizing a pot luck lunch after worship on Sunday, October 5. The sign-up sheet for this welcome back event is on the bulletin board in the entryway to the church. What a lovely way to spend time with friends and to be thankful for all that we have.
Egg Cartons
A message from St. James Food Basket: Thank you for so diligently collecting egg cartons. We have once again reached storage capacity. We will let you know when we need more egg cartons.
Saint James Food Basket – Bundle Buggies:
If anyone has a bundle buggy they no longer need and would like to donate it to the Food Basket, please leave it in the cloakroom by the Food Bank bin. There are several clients in need of a functioning cart.
A Fall Devotional Update (September 23):A new edition of These Days (October/November/December), as well as the current edition of Our Daily Bread (September/October/November) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional box on the church porch.
Book Review
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
I should know better when my dear friend, Arlene, recommends a book by Mitch Albom, that I will be crying sometime during its reading. Having read a few of his books, I know that I will need to have a hankie handy by the time I get to the end. “The Stranger in the Lifeboat” is no exception. What follows is a short synopsis of what the book is about.
Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, ten people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in. “Thank the Lord, we found you,” a passenger says. “I am the Lord,” the man whispers. So begins Mitch Albom’s most beguiling novel yet.
Albom has written of heaven in the celebrated number one bestsellers “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” and “The First Phone Call from Heaven”. Now, for the first time in his fiction, he ponders what we would do if, after crying out for divine help, God actually appeared before us? A fast-paced, compelling novel that makes you ponder your deepest beliefs, “The Stranger in the Lifeboat suggests that answers to our prayers may be found where we least expect them.”
I very rarely have a take-away message from books that I read that I can actually remember. This book supplied me with a take-away that I will remember for the rest of my life. The main character asks “the Lord”, “When someone passes, we ask why did God take them?” The “Lord” responds, “The better question is why did God give them to us? Why were they in our life? What did we do to deserve their love, their laughter and all of the sweet moments that were shared?” I was so taken with this quote that I wrote it down all the while sobbing like a baby. When talking about this with my dear friend, she had actually written down the exact same quote. I recommend this book highly. It is not overly long, but it is a good read, giving one much to ponder.
WEEKLY GIGGLE
The pastor always used the phrase, “It might be worse,” when some calamity would come his way. One day a friend said to him, “I’ve something to tell you, and you won’t be able to use your favorite phrase. I dreamt last night that I died and went to hell.” “It might be worse,” said the preacher. The friend came unglued: “man alive, how could it be worse?” to which the pastor replied: “it might be true.”