Join Us This Lenten Season

Opportunities for Everyone to Reflect, Connect, and Grow

What is Lent?

Lent is a sacred season that invites us to deepen our connection with God, with one another, and with the roots of our faith. It calls us to step away from the routines of daily life and embrace a time of intentional reflection and renewal. Lent grounds us in the unchanging foundation of God’s love—a steadfast core that never fails. Through its spiritual practices, we journey together with the global church toward renewal, walking with the One who leads us back to grace, hope, and home.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday invites us to return to the paths we may have wandered from and to refocus on the purpose and direction of our life’s journey. It reminds us of our mortality and calls us to live with greater intention and grace. While often seen as a time of self-denial, Ash Wednesday can also be a moment to realign our hearts with God’s Word, allowing its transformative power to renew us. It’s a sacred call to prayer, to worship, and to draw near to Christ, who gently invites us to come.

Please join us for Ash Wednesday services on Wednesday, March 5:

  • Historic Sanctuary at Fifth Avenue South at Noon
  • Main Campus at Mack Hatcher at 6:30 p.m. 
  • Livestreaming from our Main Campus at:  https://live.franklinfumc.org

Some Class Options for Your Lenten Journey

Pastor’s Bible Study with Pastor Bryan Brooks.

All Semester, 6:30 – 7:15 pm – Led by Dr. Bryan Brooks

Join Pastor Bryan in continuing to dive into the Hebrew Scriptures in the book of Joshua. Bring your Bible, an open mind, and a notepad. Meets in Asbury Hall.

Lenten Study: The Gospel of John: A Beginners Guide to The Way, The Truth and The Life

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. with Pastor Sarah Carty (March 19 – April 30) HYBRID – Zoom and in-person

6:30 – 7:30 pm with Pastor Sarah Carty (March 19 – April 30) HYBRID – Zoom and in-person

Join Pastor Sarah to discuss New Testament Scholar Amy-Jill Levine’s book on the Gospel of John. Unpack the stories of Jesus in their original context, along with examining how the sacred text is read today. From the wedding at Cana to Mary Magdalene the tomb and meetings with the risen Christ, open your heart and mind to a deeper faith in Jesus this Lenten season.  Meets in Room A-114. Books are available for $14.00 and can be purchased AT THIS LINK.

Lenten Study: And the Angels Were Silent - First UMC Men's Group

Gentlemen, join us for a Lenten Study: And The Angels Were Silent: The Final Week of Jesus. In the last week of his life, Jesus deliberately sets his face toward Jerusalem—and certain death. This is no ordinary week. Even the angels are silent as they ponder the final days of Jesus Christ.

This is no ordinary walk. Jesus doesn’t chatter. He doesn’t pause. He is on his final journey. Master storyteller and best-selling author Max Lucado invites you: “Let’s follow Jesus on his final journey. For by observing his, we may learn how to make ours. And discover what matters to God.” Purchase your own book from a retailer of your choice. We begin this study on Tuesday, March 18 at 7:30 AM. If you’d like to join our group, CLICK HERE.

We meet each Tuesday morning from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at our Franklin First UMC Main Campus for study, fellowship, and service at our morning Men’s Group.

The Respite Healing Art for Lent

Open sessions each week on Fridays from 10 a.m. – noon & Second Sundays from 1-3 p.m. at the Franklin First UMC Historic Sanctuary at Fifth Avenue

Join us for Lent at The Respite – Healing Art Studio. Lent is a season that calls us back to our center. Lent enables us to face ourselves, to see the weak places, to touch the wounds in our soul, and to focus our attention on the Way. Join us at The Respite during Lent to give a space for this journey. As always, our commitment at The Respite is simply to be present and let the creative work bring balance back to your week.

For additional details about The Respite and our regular open session times, click here for The Respite web page.

What is Holy Week

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and continues until the Easter feast. Throughout the events of the Holy Week, we see the stage set for the events to come. The first reminds us of what seems to be the height of Jesus’ public acceptance on Palm Sunday, then transfers into the events of His public betrayal, arrest, death, and ultimate resurrection.

Walk Through Holy Week

Experience the journey of Jesus in a profound and reflective way with Walk Through Holy Week, a self-guided outdoor walk through the Stations of the Cross. Set against the peaceful backdrop of Franklin First UMC’s beautiful main campus, this immersive experience invites you to engage with Christ’s path to the cross in a whole new way.

The walk begins at the tree-lined drive, leading you through a series of thoughtfully designed stations that encourage prayer, contemplation, and connection to the sacred story of Holy Week. Whether you walk alone or with loved ones, this journey offers a meaningful space to pause, reflect, and prepare your heart for Easter.

Available April 13-20. Open to all.

Palm/Passion Sunday

Palm/Passion Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, starting with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. As He entered, the crowds gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration waved palm branches and proclaimed Him as the Messiah. This day not only reflects the joyous reception of Jesus as King, but also sets the tone for the events leading up to Maundy Thursday. It begins a week filled with moments of great significance, including Jesus’ teaching in the temple, His confrontation with the religious leaders, and the deepening tension that would culminate in His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Palm/Passion Sunday invites us to enter into the full journey of Holy Week, reflecting on both the triumph and the suffering that would soon unfold.

Please join us for Palm/Passion Sunday services on Sunday, April 13:

  • Main Campus at Mack Hatcher at 8:30, 10:00 & 11:15 a.m. 
  • Historic Sanctuary at Fifth Avenue at 8:30 a.m.
  • Livestreaming from our Main Campus at:  https://live.franklinfumc.org

Community-Wide Easter Egg Hunt

Who’s ready for the best Easter Egg Hunt in Williamson County?

Please join us on Sunday, April 13 at 3 PM! 

It’s going to be the best day ever. Join us as we go on the hunt for thousands and thousands of brightly colored eggs. We’ll get started at 3:00 p.m. at our Main Campus at Mack Hatcher. The Egg Hunt itself will begin around 3:30 p.m. This event is free and there is no registration. So, invite your neighbors, friends and co-workers for this big extravagant egg hunt right here in your community.

And….we are also bringing back our Egg-sessible Egg Hunt for those with limited mobility or other special needs. This special egg hunt will begin at 2:45 p.m. Pass the word that this unique hunt is a part of our big day!

Maundy Thursday

On Holy Thursday, we remember the night Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples, those who had walked with Him throughout His ministry. Maundy Thursday centers on the theme of remembrance through the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. Just as Jesus and His disciples honored the instructions of the Torah to recall God’s saving acts during the Passover meal, Jesus now calls us to remember a new act of deliverance—the salvation that unfolds in the sacred days of Holy Week.

Please join us for a special Maundy Thursday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m.

If you would like to serve at this service, CLICK HERE.

Good Friday

Good Friday is a solemn day when we reflect on the depth of Christ’s sacrifice—His arrest, trial, crucifixion, suffering, death, and burial. Join us for a deeply moving Tenebrae worship service that journeys through the events of Holy Week with the musical work entitled, “The Seven Last Days” by Joel Raney. Featuring the beautiful voices of our Chancel Choir and the rich sounds of a small chamber ensemble, and narration, this service invites you into a powerful and meaningful experience of remembrance and hope.

Please join us for a powerful Good Friday service on April 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is the day that transforms everything. The empty tomb declares the ultimate truth: death is not the end, and the life we know is just the beginning of something far greater. With hope renewed and hearts rejoicing, we proclaim: He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Come celebrate the resurrection with us and experience the power of new life through Christ. Easter changes everything—let it change you, too.

Please join us on Sunday, April 20 for our Easter Services:

  • Sunrise Service in the Glade at our Main Campus at Mack Hatcher at 6:00 a.m. *Pro Tip: Bring a lawn chair!*
  • Main Campus at Mack Hatcher at 8:30, 10:00 & 11:15 a.m. 
  • Historic Sanctuary at Fifth Avenue for services at 8:30 & 10:00 a.m.
  • Live-streaming from our Main Campus at:  https://live.franklinfumc.org

Have questions? Our team can help.

Let us know how we can help you. Email John or call 615-794-2734, ext. 102.

It’s my first time in-person. Help me get the lay of the land.