Joint Easter Celebrations at First Baptist Church of Malden & Maplewood Baptist Church

  First Baptist Church of Malden and Maplewood Baptist Church invite the Malden community to join us for a special joint, family-friendly Easter Worship Service on Sunday, April 9 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Malden (corner of Salem and Main Streets). “Our plan for this service is to keep our focus on celebrating our Savior’s decisive win over death and the grave. Members of both congregations, though, I’m sure will be remembering that it was just one year ago, Easter 2022, that our two faith communities worshiped together for the first time!” said Pastor Gary McClenthen. “My biblical text for this service, out of the Apostle Paul’s letter to a church in Thessalonica, will remind worshipers that the Resurrection narrative didn’t end with our Lord’s empty tomb. Christ, referred to in the Bible as ‘the first fruits of them that sleep,’ rose as a ‘preview’ of what is in store for all who know Him. Message title: ‘Prepare for Takeoff!’”

  Plan on joining us before the service for a free family-friendly Continental Breakfast beginning at 9:30 a.m. Come and enjoy a light breakfast of assorted muffins, pastries, fruit, coffee, tea and juice. There will be some Easter crafts and activities for kids to enjoy that remind them of the true meaning of Easter.

  Our Holy Week celebrations begin on Palm Sunday, April 2 with our Palm Sunday Worship Service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Delving into Luke’s account of Jesus’ triumphal ride into Jerusalem, Pastor McClenthen will be sharing on the theme “Lessons from the Donkey.” At 3:00 p.m., First Baptist Malden will host the 35^th Annual Ecumenical Palm Sunday Concert, “Olivet to Calvary” by John Henry Maunder. Under the direction of Rosalind Mohnsen, Director of Music and Organist at Immaculate Conception Church of Malden/Medford, members of choirs from different denominations throughout Malden will share in song Christ’s journey to the cross. All are welcome to attend this community concert. Please enter through the church doors on the parking lot side (493 Main St.) behind the church.

  On Thursday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m., we will be celebrating the “Last Supper” during our Holy Thursday Service. “On the Thursday of that first Holy Week, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. We will move through selected Biblical texts during this service and see that the Scriptures have much to say about feet: the disciples’, those of the Savior – and even a few things about ours today,” explained Pastor McClenthen.

  On Friday, April 7  at 7:00 p.m., we will join with other Malden churches at the Freedom Hill Community Church (77 Kennedy Dr.) for a combined evening of reflection and readings with a theme of “Stains,” remembering the sacrifice of what Jesus gave for us. Together we’ll share a powerful time of praise and Christian community as we lay down denominational names and distinctions and remember that in Him we are one. The Lord’s Supper will be served.

  For more information about the ongoing joint services and ministries of First Baptist Malden and Maplewood Baptist Church, Pastor Gary McClenthen can be reached directly at 781-322-2636 or visit MBCMalden.net. For more information about First Baptist Church of Malden, visit fbcmalden.org.