WORSHIP BEGINS EVERY
SUNDAY AT 11:00 AM
Dear Members and Friends of Maplewood Baptist Church,
Not long ago, we held our annual meeting at Anthony's in Malden. The meeting was encouraging and forward-thinking. All in attendance agreed that God is telling us that we have work yet to do for His glory and the furthering of His message of forgiveness and grace.
We approved a budget at that meeting which included monies for the rental of space for us to use for worship as we entered the Fall and Winter seasons. Even as our leadership was looking for a space, a space was looking for us.
Members of the greater body of Christ who worship at the First Baptist Church of Melrose approached some of our members, and knowing that we were in need of a place to meet, mentioned a space in their building that might be ideal for us during this season. This space they'd offered is right off of the main entrance of the building and has just been completely remodeled. The fee we would be paying each week would be considerably under what we had budgeted.
Our leadership has been united in believing that the space in Melrose, for as long as we would have it, would provide us with the opportunity to begin meeting again regularly, face-to-face on Sundays – and, as we do, to more fervently be seeking the Lord's face as we surrender once again to Him and His plan and purposes for us.
We are in transition. We sense that we are in an in-between place, and we view our decision to accept the gracious offer from MBC, Melrose as a “stop” on our way to where God wants to plant us and have us serve Him.
Until then, we will be meeting in a building that will have four congregations meeting to praise God. These communities are diverse, each having its own unique cultural expression of adoration for the Savior, and each doing exciting things within the metro-north area to make Christ known. We look forward to worshiping occasionally with some/all of these folks as well as serving our communities together jointly as opportunities arise. The days ahead could be some of the richest, and yet most “stretching” days of ministry for us as a faith community.
Beginning this coming Sunday, September 19th, we will begin meeting for worship in a beautiful space at the First Baptist Church of Melrose. Our service will begin at 11 AM. The church is at 561 Main Street in Melrose. There will be parking on Main Street, as well as on Upham Street (along one side of the church building). For those who don't mind a very short walk, there is also parking in the lot behind the Melrose Memorial Hall (which is across the street from the church.). We will continue to offer services live on ZOOM as well as a recorded version on our website each week. We will do our best to “distance” ourselves as we meet, and hand-sanitizer and masks will be available for those who wish to use them.
Please be praying about all of this. I am excited to be meeting again. I am asking God to deepen our commitment to the praise of His person, obedience to His Word, and boldness in proclaiming His gospel in this season. Looking forward to Sunday...
PASTOR GARY
Not long ago, we held our annual meeting at Anthony's in Malden. The meeting was encouraging and forward-thinking. All in attendance agreed that God is telling us that we have work yet to do for His glory and the furthering of His message of forgiveness and grace.
We approved a budget at that meeting which included monies for the rental of space for us to use for worship as we entered the Fall and Winter seasons. Even as our leadership was looking for a space, a space was looking for us.
Members of the greater body of Christ who worship at the First Baptist Church of Melrose approached some of our members, and knowing that we were in need of a place to meet, mentioned a space in their building that might be ideal for us during this season. This space they'd offered is right off of the main entrance of the building and has just been completely remodeled. The fee we would be paying each week would be considerably under what we had budgeted.
Our leadership has been united in believing that the space in Melrose, for as long as we would have it, would provide us with the opportunity to begin meeting again regularly, face-to-face on Sundays – and, as we do, to more fervently be seeking the Lord's face as we surrender once again to Him and His plan and purposes for us.
We are in transition. We sense that we are in an in-between place, and we view our decision to accept the gracious offer from MBC, Melrose as a “stop” on our way to where God wants to plant us and have us serve Him.
Until then, we will be meeting in a building that will have four congregations meeting to praise God. These communities are diverse, each having its own unique cultural expression of adoration for the Savior, and each doing exciting things within the metro-north area to make Christ known. We look forward to worshiping occasionally with some/all of these folks as well as serving our communities together jointly as opportunities arise. The days ahead could be some of the richest, and yet most “stretching” days of ministry for us as a faith community.
Beginning this coming Sunday, September 19th, we will begin meeting for worship in a beautiful space at the First Baptist Church of Melrose. Our service will begin at 11 AM. The church is at 561 Main Street in Melrose. There will be parking on Main Street, as well as on Upham Street (along one side of the church building). For those who don't mind a very short walk, there is also parking in the lot behind the Melrose Memorial Hall (which is across the street from the church.). We will continue to offer services live on ZOOM as well as a recorded version on our website each week. We will do our best to “distance” ourselves as we meet, and hand-sanitizer and masks will be available for those who wish to use them.
Please be praying about all of this. I am excited to be meeting again. I am asking God to deepen our commitment to the praise of His person, obedience to His Word, and boldness in proclaiming His gospel in this season. Looking forward to Sunday...
PASTOR GARY
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