What’s Happening – May 8th, 2026

Newsletter

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and there is something deeply right about taking time to honor mothers. Long before it became a cultural tradition marked by cards and flowers, Scripture rooted this practice in the very heart of God’s design for human relationships. The command to “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12) is not just a suggestion but a reflection of God’s desire for life, order, and blessing within His people. To honor a mother is to recognize the God-given role she plays in nurturing life, shaping hearts, and pointing the next generation toward truth.

Throughout the Bible, we see motherhood held in high esteem. From Eve, called “the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20), to Hannah, who entrusted her long-awaited son to the Lord, to Mary, who humbly bore and raised Jesus, mothers are woven into the story of redemption itself. Their faith, sacrifice, and perseverance often unfold quietly, yet their impact echoes through generations. Proverbs 31 paints a portrait of a woman whose strength and dignity are rooted in her fear of the Lord, and whose children rise up and call her blessed. This is not merely poetic praise but a recognition of a life lived in faithful devotion.

Yet, Scripture is equally honest about the sorrow that can surround motherhood. The pages of the Bible are filled not only with celebration, but with longing, loss, and lament. Women like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah knew the deep ache of infertility, crying out to the Lord in seasons where hope felt distant and prayers seemed unanswered. Others, like Naomi and the mothers of Israel who wept for their children, knew the grief of death and separation. These stories remind us that the experience of motherhood, or the longing for it, is often marked by both joy and pain. God does not ignore these wounds. He meets His people in them, hears their cries, and draws near to the brokenhearted.

And for those who have lost their mothers, this day can carry a different kind of weight. It can feel like a reminder of absence rather than a reason for celebration. Scripture gives us language for that grief as well. The people of God have always remembered and mourned those they love, even as they cling to hope. To honor your mother may now look like remembering her faith, giving thanks for the ways God worked through her life, and entrusting your sorrow to the Lord who promises never to leave or forsake His children. Even in loss, we are not left alone. The Lord Himself draws near, and within His church He gives us a family of faith, where older women become spiritual mothers and no one walks in isolation.

Because of all of this, honoring mothers must be done with both gratitude and gentleness. We celebrate the women who have poured themselves out in love, but we also make space for those carrying quiet grief, whether from infertility, miscarriage, estrangement, or loss. The God who commands us to honor our parents is also the God who comforts His people like a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13), and who promises that every tear is seen and remembered.

As we recognize Mother’s Day, we do so not merely as a cultural observance but as a biblical opportunity. It is a chance to give thanks, to speak words of encouragement, and to extend compassion. In doing so, we reflect the heart of God, who values the work of mothers, walks with His people through sorrow, and holds both joy and grief within His redeeming hands.

Online Giving

It’s easy for even the best intentions to get lost in the busyness of a Sunday morning, and sometimes what we planned to give simply slips through the cracks. One simple way to stay consistent in worshipful generosity is to give online through Redeemer Baptist Church online giving page, where you can give one time or set up monthly recurring donations. This allows your giving to remain faithful and intentional, not dependent on the distractions of a given week, but rooted in a steady rhythm of trust and stewardship as you support the work God is doing through our church.

Upcoming Events

Men’s and Ladies Breakfasts – TOMORROW! Saturday, May 9th at 9am

Once a month, we gather for a good breakfast, real conversation, and time in God’s Word together. No pressure, no pretending, just a chance to slow down, be encouraged, and grow alongside others who are walking the same road. Come hungry, leave encouraged. Men will meet in the Fellowship Hall at the church while Ladies will meet at the Gray’s house.

Special Business Meeting – Next Sunday, May 17th after Morning Service

We need everyone to vote on something important, so look out for some information this week to review then next week after morning worship we will have a very short special business meeting to vote on this change.

Business Meetings often feel formal or unexciting, but they are actually an important part of our life together. They give us the opportunity to celebrate God’s work, affirm new members, and seek wisdom as we plan for the future of our church.

Ladies Night – Tuesday, May 19th at 6:00 PM

Ladies, you’re invited to gather together for dinner. Bring a dish to share with others. This will be an evening of encouragement and growth as you walk through Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges.

This is a rich and convicting study that helps uncover the “acceptable” sins we often overlook and brings them into the light of the gospel. Come ready for honest conversation, encouragement, and time together in the Word.

The Bridge

Last week, we stood in the streets of Nineveh and watched something remarkable unfold. A city known for its violence and wickedness heard a simple message from a reluctant prophet, and everything began to turn. From the greatest to the least, they humbled themselves. They fasted, they mourned, they turned from their evil, and they cried out to God with that humble, uncertain plea, “Who knows? God may turn and relent.” It was not polished, it was not perfect, but it was real. It was repentance. A people brought low before a holy God, casting themselves on whatever mercy He might show.

And that leaves us with a question that hangs in the air as we turn the page. What will God do with that kind of repentance? Will He carry out the judgment He promised? Will He overlook their sin? Will He respond with justice, or with mercy? That tension is intentional. Because repentance does not force God into a corner. It does not obligate Him. It simply brings a people to the place where they are no longer defending themselves, but depending on Him. And this Sunday, as we step into the next verses, we will see the answer.

God sees their repentance… and He relents. He does not destroy the city. He shows mercy. And that should be the moment where the story resolves into joy. That should be the moment where the prophet rejoices, where the people of God celebrate along with the angels of heaven that sinners have turned and God has been gracious. But instead of celebration, we are met with something we did not expect. Instead of gratitude, we find anger. Instead of worship, we find resistance. Because while Nineveh has been brought low in repentance, Jonah’s heart is about to be exposed in a completely different way.

And that is where the story turns from being about what happens in a city… to what is happening in a heart. Last week we saw what repentance looks like when a people are confronted with their sin. This week, we are going to see what happens when mercy confronts a heart that does not want to accept it.

Pastor Logan

Weekly Life Together

Wednesday Night Dinner, Kids, and Prayer

Join us each Wednesday evening as we gather for a shared family meal and time together.

Sunday Morning Bible Study and Worship

Sundays at 9:30 is our Bible Study hour. From children to adults, each class is focused on helping us grow in understanding of God’s word and encouraging one another to live out our faith.

Then at 10:45, we come together for corporate worship as one body. Our aim is simple: to humble ourselves before the throne of Jesus our King and to joyfully worship Him side by side as families. Kids and adults all share in this time as we sit under the same truth and fix our eyes on Christ together.

Breaking Bread Groups

Throughout the week, we gather in homes to discuss God’s Word and to pray for each other as we do life together. We currently have groups that meet on Sunday afternoons and Thursday nights. If you are interested in joining or starting a group, please talk to someone in leadership.

Looking Ahead

Upward Flag Football (Registration Open Now!)

We’re excited to be launching Upward Flag Football this fall as a way to serve and connect with families in our community.

  • Our league is open to boys and girls K5 – 5th grade.
  • Early registration cost per child is $80;
  • More than one child? Save an extra $10 on additional registrations.
  • After 7/5/2026, the cost goes up to $100.
  • Deadline for registration is 8/8/2026.

Want to Coach, Referee, or just volunteer to help make this season great? Sign up here!

Pray that this becomes not just a sports league, but a bridge for relationships and gospel conversations.

Re:Generation

We are praying through launching Re:Generation, a Christ-centered recovery and discipleship ministry. This is for anyone who wants to walk in greater freedom in Christ, whether dealing with addiction, patterns of sin, or deeper struggles of the heart. We’ll begin with a pilot group from within our church before opening it more broadly. If you are interested, please email [email protected]

Ways to Serve

As we grow, so do our opportunities to serve one another. We could use help in the following areas:

  • Nursery (Newborn – 2 years)
  • Sunday School Teachers and Helpers
  • Counting Team (after Sunday service)
  • Kitchen Prep and Cleanup
  • Sound Booth

If you’re looking for a place to jump in, now is a great time!

At Redeemer Baptist Church our mission is to Glorify Jesus by Growing in Holiness and Loving Generously. Please leave a quick Google review and like or follow us on social media. It’s a small thing that helps more people in our community find us.

Redeemer Baptist Church | 20545 SW 5th Pl, Dunnellon, FL 34431

(352) 489-1788 | RedeemerRomeo.com

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