May 2017

Happy Monday, May 22, 2017 church!

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all! Yesterday it was great to be with the family of God. It was wonderful to worship and be together. We missed many of you who were away and look forward to seeing you soon. We saw yesterday in Luke 22 how God was setting the stage for our redemption. Evil was fully unleashed in the plot to crucify Jesus. However, God’s plan before the foundation of the world was to take the everything evil had to unleash against Him and totally defeat evil and death through the cross and resurrection of Jesus. God has completely defeated evil so our victory is not something to come in the future. We live in that victory today because we have a Savior who died for us and rose from the grave to never die again. Walk today in that victory that is yours already in Christ Jesus!

Ladies, remember to put this Thursday night, May 25th on your calendar. On this night the ladies will meet at Olive Garden at 6:30 PM. Ladies are invited to come enjoy sweet fellowship and dinner. Bring a friend! Please let Carla know you are coming so she can make reservations for the group.

We want to let our young people know that this Sunday, May 28, we will be joining other youth across Madison in the worship time on Sunday morning at Bratfest. Youth will meet at the church at 7:45 AM to be at Bratfest in time for the worship service which will start at 8:30 AM. It is supposed to end at 9:45 AM and we will come back for our worship gathering here at East Madison.

We will be having the Lord’s Supper next Sunday, May 28, during our morning worship gathering.

On Sunday evening, June 4, we will have a time of fellowship and outreach and Hiestand Park on Milwaukee Street near our property. We will start at 5:30 PM so plan on coming and invite a friend.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Happy Monday, May 22, 2017 church! Read More »

Happy Monday, May 15, 2017 church!

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all! Our college students are in the middle of semester tests, finals, and graduations. Some are home from college and some are finishing finals and will be home soon. Congratulations to those who have or will graduate and/or receive degrees. Congratulations also to those who will graduate from high school soon. Way to go East Madison students!

We had a good day yesterday as we gathered. I hope the message was helpful as we seek to live by faith in the face of life’s uncertainties and catastrophes. We live not focusing on signs but seeking to be faithful to Jesus, seeking the expansion of His Kingdom and carrying out His mission until He returns. We know that throughout history there will be wars, tragedies and catastrophes. Those things are a part of living in this fallen world. We should not live in fear but in faith because of the certainty that God is in control and Jesus’ word will be fulfilled. His promise will not fail even if heaven and earth pass away! Jesus will return physically and bodily to earth!

We want to let out youth know that on Sunday, May 28, we will be joining other youth across Madison in the worship time on Sunday morning at Bratfest. Youth will meet at the church at 7:45 AM to be there in time for the worship service which will start at 8:30 AM. It is supposed to end at 9:45 AM and we will come back for our worship gather here at East Madison.

Ladies, remember to put Thursday night, May 25th on your calendar. On this night the ladies will meet at Oliver Garden at 6:30 PM. Ladies are invited to come enjoy sweet fellowship and dinner and to bring a friend!

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Happy Monday, May 15, 2017 church! Read More »

Happy Monday, May 8, 2017 church!

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all! We had a fantastic day yesterday as we worshiped and learned together. I hope the message helped us all to see true beauty from the eyes of Jesus. Beauty from God’s perspective is seen in living a sacrificial lifestyle for His glory and to help others. Our love for God enables us to give sacrificially of our money, time and selves for His Kingdom as we serve others. Real beauty is not in outward adornment but in inward character. Don’t be fooled by superficial beauty but learn to see truly beautiful things from Jesus’ perspective. Also, last night at the hymn sing was wonderful! I was surprised even at my own emotions as we sang some of the wonderful hymns of the faith and heard some of your stories of how you came to faith in Jesus. I think most of us came away with a desire to do this again sometime soon. And besides all that happened at East Madison, I got in a good bicycle ride! Yes, it was a great day!

I want to thank all those who came and helped us on our work day last Saturday. If we are honest, most of us don’t look forward to those kinds of events. We come because we think we should. But as we get there and work side by side, it is invigorating! We visit with each other and our relationships deepen. (I think this is one of the most important things that happen as we work side by side.) Then we see some things cleaned up and improved and we are glad we came and participated. Thank you, Brian, for organizing this event.

Remember ladies to put Thursday night, May 25th on your calendar to go to eat and fellowship together.

Love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Happy Monday, May 8, 2017 church! Read More »

Happy Monday, May 1, 2017 church!

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday, May 1st to all! It is May and I am wearing a sweatshirt! We know that Spring will break through sometime soon. I just hope we have more than a few days of Spring before the heat of summer arrives.

What a great day we had yesterday in worship and fellowship! I especially loved singing and being reminded that Christ will hold me fast!

“When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last

He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast.

[Original Words vv 1-2 by Ada Habershon, New Words and Music by Matt Merker©2013 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Matt Merker Music (BMI) (admin by MusicServices.org)]

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for holding us fast!

Remember that we will have a work day this Saturday. May 6, at the EMBC building beginning at 8:30 AM. Hope you can help for at least part of the time as we work together to make the facilities useful and inviting.

Next Sunday night, May 7th, at 6:30 PM we will have a hymn sing and testimony night. I want to encourage you to pray about sharing the story of how you were saved. Someone will hear your story and will connect with you. Paul often shared his testimony because He knew it was a powerful weapon in spreading the gospel and encouraging believers. In fact Revelation 12:11 reminds us. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” We want to keep these testimonies to ten minutes or less so you won’t be able to share every detail. Thank about your story and prepare to bless others by sharing it.

Brothers and sisters, I love you and love being your pastor!

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Happy Monday, May 1, 2017 church! Read More »