From the Church Council:
Last Tuesday, the church council met and expressed interest in getting all the East Madison Baptist Church body together to talk through several important issues related to the church building, Pastor Bob’s retirement, the search for an interim and/or permanent new pastor, etc. We wanted a time where everyone could be here to participate without having to make a special trip. Since we are usually all here on Sundays for our worship service at 10:45, that seemed like a good time for this. So, beginning Sunday August 9 and continuing through the rest of August, we will be switching our worship and Sunday School times to allow our members and regular attenders time together to have these discussions.
This coming Sunday, August 2, we will meet for Sunday School and our worship service at the normal times. But on August 9, 16, 23 and 30, we will meet for worship during our normal Sunday School time at 9:30 AM, and then during our normal 10:45 worship time we will meet in the sanctuary to discuss these issues together. We are currently planning two discussion sessions, on August 9 and 16. If we need more time, we can continue the discussions through August 23 and 30. If not, we will just have our regular Sunday School classes at that time. We intend to switch back to the normal 9:30 Sunday School and 10:45 Worship time again in September.
Pete Pokrandt on behalf of the EMBC Church Council
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we worshipped and contemplated the massive love of God for sinful people like us. We looked at Luke 7 when Jesus was a guest in the home of Simon the Pharisee, who was checking Jesus out. An immoral woman came and stood behind Jesus as he was reclining and eating. She began to weep profusely as she stood, wetting Jesus’ feet with her tears. Then she wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair, kissed Jesus’ feet repeatedly, and anointed His feet with costly ointment. Jesus responded with acceptance. We saw that sinful people felt welcomed around Jesus. Simon, however judged both the woman and Jesus without really even looking at either of them. We asked ourselves, “Who are like we today?” Are we the religious and respectable Simon who does not think he needs forgiveness? Jesus is at the table with us, and we are inspecting Him to see if He matches up to our expectations. We do not need to examine Jesus. We need to examine ourselves! Jesus has already examined all of us and all of us are sinners who need forgiveness. Or are we the sinful woman? We know we are sinners and are not trying to excuse ourselves. Jesus knows all things, He knows us, and we can approach Him in our sinfulness with our need for forgiveness. We as sinners, as outcasts, can approach Him with our sin and he will tenderly, graciously, lovingly receive us as we come to Him realizing our sinfulness and turning from our sin to Him. Jesus has absorbed our debt of sin in Himself. Jesus did this when He died on the cross in our place. There is no sin we have committed that He will not forgive if we come to Him. Jesus is near at us today and inviting us to Himself! Jesus will not reject or reproach but will lovingly accept and forgive. Chris Rice sang this: “Weak and wounded sinner, Lost and left to die, O, raise your head, for love is passing by. Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus, and live!” I pray all of us will come to Jesus today and live.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church