June 2019

Brothers and sisters,

Happy Monday to all!  It is wonderful to be part of the family of God at East Madison!  Yesterday we discovered this once again as we observed the Lord’s Supper and remembered that Jesus gave His body and shed His blood for us, so that our sins could be forgiven.  As we took communion together we were reminded that we are part of one another, joined together by Jesus and all He has done for us.  We celebrated the high school graduations of Emily, Kayt and Savannah as their church family.  We looked from Matthew 12 how we avoid rule-keeping religion.   Truly following Jesus frees us from rule-keeping religion and provides rest and peace. Rule-keeping religion focuses on others supposed failures instead of our personal need for forgiveness and rest. Rule keeping religion loses sight of the hurts and needs of people and emphasizes rules and rituals.  Rule-keeping religion cares more about defending itself than about helping those crushed by life. Rule-keeping religion ultimately crushes and destroys us and others.  Truly resting in Jesus and His forgiveness and seeking to love Him more and love others more helps us avoid rule-keeping religion.

Love being your pastor! 

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church

Sisters and brothers,

Happy Monday to all! It was wonderful to be together yesterday in worship of our Savior and in feasting together as the family of God.  We sang about our Redeemer’s great love and care for His people.  We thought about coming to Jesus at every stage of life. We asked if we would go to Jesus in the face of life’s doubts and injustices.  We considered if we would run to Jesus when most continue to reject Him.  We contemplated whether we will seek Jesus even when the intellectuals and elite of our day continue to mock those who seek Jesus.  We realized that Jesus invites us to continually come to Him.  Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  We can go to Jesus and should go to Jesus because Jesus, with open arms, bids the weary to come to Him!  All of us need to come to Jesus and live!

We will be recognizing our graduating high school seniors this coming Sunday, June 9 during our morning worship.  We have three young ladies we will recognize:  Kayt Smith, Emily Juhlin and Savannah Kopf. 

We will also have the Lord’s Supper this coming Sunday, June 9, during morning worship.

Love being your pastor! 

Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church