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The most important commandment is this: "...Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second commandment is this, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." (Mark 12:30-31) "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me...Whenever you did this to one of the least important members of my family, you did it to me!" (Matthew 25:35-36, 40). How do we show our love for God and our neighbors? The above quote from Matthew illustrates some basic ways we can do this. Members of our congregation - both individually and collectively - regularly contribute time, money and energy to a wide variety of outreach and mission endeavors for our neighbors next door and around the world. Often our contributions may seem insignificant, but when they are combined with the gifts from others, many great things can happen. The Board of Directors of the Tri-City Community Action Program (Tri-CAP) recently recognized our congregation with its highest annual award for our service to the community. In presenting the award, the following was cited: "We have been nourished, strengthened, and inspired by First Baptist's mission of service to address community needs for affordable housing, food pantries and free meal sites, and affordable preschool programs. First Baptist has been at the forefront of welcoming newcomers to the City of Malden...Tri-CAP wishes to acknowledge and thank the leadership of First Baptist Church - its Minister and Trustees - and its community of worshipers for outstanding service and dedication to the low income residents of Malden, Medford and Everett." While we deeply appreciate this recognition, there is so much more we can be doing. Malden is a changing community, and we need to seek out additional ways that we can love and serve our Lord and neighbors.
Pastor Martha Dominy |
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