Habakkuk - Defiant Joy

Minor Prophet - Major Impact

By Rev. David Bonnema, April 26, 2026

9:30am

Prelude - “Galeries Ancien” (Janzer) - Brody Bett

Welcome Rev. David Bonnema

Opening Song - “Praise” - Makenzie Payne

Time of Greeting

Children’s Time

Confirmation

Song - “Great Are You Lord”

Sermon - “Habakkuk: Defiant Joy”

Habakkuk questions God: “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not ? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?” —Habakkuk 1:2

Describe a time when you’ve wondered, “Where are you, God?”

I will stand at my and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what God will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. —Habakkuk 2:1

God’s answer— The Five Woes: Exploitation. . Violence. Humiliation. Idolatry.

But the person will live by faith… —Habakkuk 2:4a

Defiant joy: finding in God in the midst of hardship.

Evil has an expiration date, so practice defiant joy this week!

Song - “Trust in You”

Offering and Prayer

Song - “Firm Foundation”

Benediction


11:00am

Prelude - “Galeries Ancien” (Janzer) - Brody Bett

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Call to Worship - Rev. Dana Seiler

  • Leader: We come with questions we cannot answer,
  • People: And burdens we cannot carry alone.
  • Leader: We come with doubts that linger and fears that rise,
  • People: Asking that God give us faith and courage.
  • Leader: Let us worship the God who meets us in our waiting.
  • People: We worship the God who gives us strength.

Hymn - “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” - #260 - 3 Verses

Prayer of Confession
God of truth, we confess that we often pretend to have it all together. We silence our questions, hide our doubts, and fake our confidence. We grow impatient in the waiting, lose heart in the face of injustice, and struggle to trust when life doesn’t make sense. Forgive us. Give us the courage to bring our full selves, along with our grief, our anger, and our confusion, into your presence. Strengthen our faith, not by removing our questions, but by meeting us within them. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, our faithful teacher and Lord, Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Passing of the Peace

Confirmation

Anthem - “Lord, I Stretch My Hands To You” (Althouse) - Unity Choir and Handbells

Sermon - “Habakkuk: Defiant Joy” - Rev. David Bonnema

Habakkuk questions God: “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not ? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?” —Habakkuk 1:2

Describe a time when you’ve wondered, “Where are you, God?”

I will stand at my and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what God will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. —Habakkuk 2:1

God’s answer— The Five Woes: Exploitation. . Violence. Humiliation. Idolatry.

But the person will live by faith… —Habakkuk 2:4a

Defiant joy: finding in God in the midst of hardship.

Evil has an expiration date, so practice defiant joy this week!

Anthem - “Take It To the Lord in Prayer” (Eithun)

Offering and the Lord’s Prayer

Doxology

Eastertide Affirmation of Faith by Rev. Sarah A. Speed:
We believe in resurrection, mysterious, beyond our understanding, and yet, like tulips after the snow, real. We believe in Easter, in the promise of a God who would roll back every stone to return to us. We believe in Jesus, who calls us by name and asks, “Who are you looking for?” So we look for justice, for mercy, for God in our midst. And as we look, we sing, “Alleluia!” Amen.

Closing Hymn - “Be Still, My Soul” 2 Verses - see screen

Benediction

Postlude