Brothers and sisters,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we worshipped Almighty God and thought about how He uniquely made each of us. God made us to follow Him, walk with Him, become more like Jesus continually in our character, and be on mission with Him. God placed us individually and collectively in a certain place and a certain time in history. God did not place us in 1950 America but in 2019 America. God did not place us in some small rural setting but in the crazy city of Madison, Wisconsin. That was not an accident but a divine plan. He wants to use us here and now in specific ways to bear witness to Jesus. We don’t have to be High Point Church, Door Creek Church or New Beginnings Church. We can thank God for other believers and bodies of Christians and work alongside them to take the gospel to Madison and our world. However, we recognize God works through us in ways that are unique to His plan for us. Yes, let us learn as much as we can from others who came before us and others who are our contemporaries. But let us remember that learning from them does not mean being them. God has made us His unique people and a unique church seeking to carry out His Great Commission to our world in 2019. You and I, filled with God’s Holy Spirit, can be used as the individuals that we are. East Madison, led by God’s Holy Spirit, can be the body of Christ where God placed us and obediently carry out the work of Christ He has given us. Believers seek to allow God’s Holy Spirit to lead them specifically as they carry out the work God has called them to do.
Jean Holmes’ memorial service will be this Saturday, May 4, at 11:00 AM at the East Madison building. There will be a visitation time with the family from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Also, we will be providing a meal for the family and those who attend immediately after the service.
We will observe the Lord’s Supper during worship next Sunday, May 5.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church