Serve at Franklin First UMC
There are many ways to connect and serve at Franklin First. The ministry of Franklin First UMC relies heavily on our volunteers like yourself. Thank you for being a part of how Franklin First UMC impacts our community both locally and around the world.
Click for a Quick Jump to Each Area
Hospitality
We place a high value on hospitality and creating a welcoming environment for our guests to experience worship and find a connection with others. Our hospitality teams include Coffee Team, Greeter Team, Golf Cart Team, Weekday Office Volunteers. and the Good Vibes Team.
Your Teams Are:
Coffee Brewing Team:
Arrive early on scheduled Sundays to brew and set out coffee for the congregation. Maintain and refill as needed. The ideal serving commitment would be one Sunday a month but more frequently is always welcome.
Requirements to serve: None
Greeter Team:
We’re looking for people who love to smile and invite people into the church. Greeter teams stand at the outer doors and serve on a rotating basis. Greeter teams also assist with check-in, provide a bridge for visitors to learn about the church and its ministries, and assist in welcoming new members. The ideal serving commitment would be one Sunday a month but more frequently is always welcome.
Requirements to serve: None
Golf Cart Team:
Assist guests from their cars to the front door during special events.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary Training, Background Check, Motor Vehicle Report
Weekday Office Volunteer:
If you have availability during the week, consider being an office volunteer. It’s a simple way to serve and you’ll meet so many new people along the way. Share a smile and be a part of our office volunteer team.
Requirements to serve: Background Check
Good Vibes Team:
This team loves to bring smiles to the congregation and community. ex: helping at community events, photo booths, etc…
Requirements to serve: None
Congregational Care
There are times when you need someone, to listen, to be present, to be an advocate. It is the Congregational Care Ministry’s mission to provide care and support to people in a personal and compassionate way.
Your Teams Are:
Bus Team:
Serve as a bus driver or assistant for our bus ministry, which provides rides to church each Sunday morning.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary Training, Background Check, Motor Vehicle Report
Funeral Guild:
Serve with our Funeral Guild, which helps to provide care for church members as they hold funerals for their loved ones.
Requirements to serve: None
Wedding Guild:
Needs Details
Requirements to serve: None
Meal Train:
Join this group of compassionate cooks who show God’s love with warm meals for church members after surgeries, new babies, and other situations.
Requirements to serve: None
Prayer Team:
Each week we send out a prayer chain email with the first names of those in our church family and beyond who are in need of prayer. Our prayer team lifts these names to God in prayer.
Requirements to serve: None
Stephen Ministry:
Our Stephen Ministers are trained and equipped to serve their fellow church members as compassionate listeners during life transitions and challenging times.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary Training, Background Check
Congregational Care Minister:
The Congregational Care Ministers serve their church by visiting and praying with church members, often those in assisted living facilities.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary Training, Background Check
Creation Care:
Creation Care regularly hosts educational and service events that highlight and maintain the gift of the outdoors at our church’s Main Campus, and seek to lead our church in practices that care for God’s creation.
Requirements to serve: None
First Kids Children’s Ministry
At Franklin First UMC, we believe our children are integral to the life of our church. Be a part of how our children discover and learn more about God in ways that are fun and relevant.
Your Teams Are:
Sunday School Teacher:
Sunday School Teachers share lessons prepared from our Orange Curriculum. We provide all the materials you provide a love of sharing the word of God with our youngest disciples.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Small Group Leader:
Small Group Leaders assist our teachers in the classroom by greeting families as they enter, passing out materials and caring for the kids during class. Small Group Leaders often serve one Sunday a month. No prep work is needed, just a desire to guide children in their faith journey.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Children’s Event Coordinator:
We have events year-round that need coordinators. If you are organized and love to plan, this is the job for you!
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Children’s Support Teams:
Maybe you prefer to help in a less visible way. Would you like to serve on our Decorations Team, our Volunteer Appreciation Team, or our Connections Team? These teams are vital in helping us make ministry work for families.
Requirements to serve: None
Best Buddy:
Youth or adults for children who need an advocate or a buddy and act as a helper.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Special Friend:
Adults who serve as a one-on-one aide for those who have special needs.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Sensory Room:
Adults who serve one-on-one in our Sensory Room helping children who benefit from this focused environment.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
415 Youth Team
415 Youth focuses on building and maintaining relationships as they become that place where young people belong; where they are accepted and loved for who they are, and see that they have an important place and part to play in a much larger story.
Your Teams Are:
Small Group Leader Sunday Morning:
Following the message discussed each week, small group leaders sit with students to chat about what they’ve just heard and explore what that means for them that day. It’s a safe place to talk, share thoughts and questions, and connect with and learn from each other. Commitment: 1 hour, 1-2 times per month.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Sunday Night Event Volunteer:
The Sunday night events build community. They give us a place to celebrate, and build relationships and are a great places for youth to bring their friends. Volunteers at these events help with a variety of tasks that are specific to each event. Examples of past events include: Back to School Bash, The Fall Hayride, Christmas Party, Guys vs. Girls Night, Discovery Weekend, etc…
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
D-Group Leader Wednesday Nights:
During our Wednesday Night Live Semester, these small group leaders are present to build relationships with the youth attending in a casual atmosphere. The unique team approach to Wednesday nights makes it easy for adults to lean into the other D-Group leaders if they cannot be here every week. Commitment: 1.5-3 hours per week. Weekly long-term commitment.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Fundraiser Team Member:
Each year we host our annual youth fundraiser. This event includes an online auction, chili tasting, and team trivia. We need adults and youth to join the team to coordinate the event. The team meets monthly from October to February. Our youth can earn credits towards youth trips by serving on the team.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Confirmation Leader Team Member:
Confirmation is a 16-week program through teaching, small group activities and conversations, and retreats, 415 Youth students are challenged to own their faith and participate in community with each other.
A Confirmation Team Member joins the team that plans, leads, and teaches confirmation. Commitment: 2-3 hours per week for 18 weeks.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Confirmation Shepherd Team:
A Shepherd Team member participates in Confirmation as a small group facilitator and assists the leaders with activities.
Commitment: 1 hour per week. 1-2 times per month.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Adult Discipleship Ministry
Adult Discipleship at Franklin First UMC incorporates many areas from adult Sunday school classes, to mid-week small groups, ministry to out older adults and more.
Your Teams Are:
Adult Sunday School Leader:
Lead a small group of adults in meaningful Bible study on a Sunday morning at our Main Campus at Mack Hatcher.
Requirements to serve: Background check and Safe Sanctuary Training
Small Group Leader:
Lead a small group of adults in meaningful Bible study either on campus or in homes on varying days and times.
Requirements to serve: Background check and Safe Sanctuary Training
Adult Ministry Plus Team:
This team plans and supports ministry to our 55 and over age group.
Requirements to serve: None
Women’s Ministry Team:
Facilitate a group or study for women only.
Requirements to serve: Background check and Safe Sanctuary Training
Men’s Ministry Team Team:
Facilitate a group or study for men only.
Requirements to serve: Background check and Safe Sanctuary Training
Wednesday Night Live Team:
Facilitate a group or study on Wednesday nights during Wednesday Night Live’s Fall and Spring semesters.
Requirements to serve: Background check and Safe Sanctuary Training
Live Well Live Whole Team:
Facilitate a group or study for our Live Well, Live Whole ministry that meets on varying times and days but it focused on the interest of living our best lives.
Requirements to serve: Background check and Safe Sanctuary Training
Music Ministry
Our Music Ministry is designed to help lead others to worship Christ. We have different groups for all ages. Anyone with a love for God and a love for singing or playing an instrument is welcomed and encouraged to participate in any of our choirs or worship teams.
Your Teams Are:
Worship Band:
Our modern worship services help create that sacred space for worship. Our modern worship team plays on Sunday mornings at our 8:30 and 11:15 a.m. worship services and practices each Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Requirements to serve: None
Chancel Choir:
Meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Choir room for practice. The Chancel Choir provides music at the 10:00 a.m. service each Sunday. In addition, this choir presents major musical works during the church year and during special seasonal events.
Requirements to serve: None
Chancel Handbells:
We practice on Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. and play for worship monthly. We ring early intermediate to intermediate music and welcome ringers of all experience levels, including beginners.
Requirements to serve: None
Orchestra:
We practice on Sundays at 12:15 p.m. We play various times of the year mid-September through May.
Requirements to serve: Play woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion or keyboard.
Children’s Choirs:
Practice on Wednesday nights from 6:30 – 7:15 p.m. Worship and special programs at various times throughout the year.
- Cherub Disciples Choir, Choir for 3’s – Kindergarten
- Angel Chorus, Choir for 1st-6th Grade
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Worship Team
Our worship teams serve communion, acolyte, read scripture, serve in the tech booth, design stage sets and altar scapes and so much more as we think about what it means to worship together.
Your Teams Are:
Audio/Visual Team:
Needs Details.
Requirements to serve: 18 Yrs +
Acolyte:
Our acolytes help in our worship services by assisting in the lighting of candles and baptisms.
Requirements to serve: None
Communion:
Serve in two different capacities. Our communion prep teams set up and remove our communion elements before and after services. Our communion serve team will serve during the worship service at specific stations and offer communion as directed by the pastor.
Requirements to serve: None
Liturgical Arts Team – Stage Sets & Altar Scapes:
Serve on the Liturgical Arts team and help design stage sets and altar scapes that enhances the way our congregation connects with the message.
Requirements to serve: None
Missions
We are all in service to serve as Christ served. When it comes to missions, Franklin First engages with local and international mission partners in a variety of ways.
Your Teams Are:
The Giving Garden:
The Mission of the Giving Garden is to share the bounty of God’s gifts by feeding our neighbors and those in need. We partner with over 15 community partners to deliver organically grown produce. But a lot more than food is shared in this garden. While working together to pull weeds, plant seeds, or harvest vegetables, relationships are formed. Groups from all over the country come to serve in this garden alongside our church members. In general, volunteers serve during morning hours and days vary.
Requirements to serve: Varies depending on the role
Planting or Harvesting: None
Driving Equipment (tractor, golf carts, ATV, truck): Safe Sanctuary, Background Check, Motor Vehicle Report
God’s Little Acre: Safe Sanctuary
Giving Garden on the Go:
Giving Garden on the Go is yet another way our church seeks to feed the hungry in our community. Members of this team work with the farmers of the Franklin Farmers Market to collect unsold produce. Along with Giving Garden produce, these items are taken to local neighborhoods and shared freely. Volunteers serve on Saturdays between noon and 2 p.m.
Requirements to serve: Varies depending on the role
Market Pick up or Neighborhood Distribution: None
Driving Truck: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check, Motor Vehicle Report
Room in the Inn:
Room in the Inn is a Nashville-based ministry serving men, women, and children who are experiencing homelessness. During the months of November through March, our church hosts a group of 12 individuals on Thursday evenings. Serving may include providing meals, hospitality, or transportation.
Requirements to serve: Varies depending on the role
Clothes & Toiletry Closet Hospitality Team: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Providing a Meal: None
Nightly Hosts: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Bus Driver: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check, Motor Vehicle Report
Franklin Community Meals on Wheels:
Meals on Wheels was started at Franklin First in 1975 when several church members noticed the need to provide warm meals to the elderly or homebound in our neighborhood. Through the years, this small group grew into a community movement including several other faith-based organizations. Today, 11 groups come together to cook meals for around 130 guests following the 8 routes the drivers follow.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
Take the Reins:
Take the Reins at White Fawn Farm is a 501c3 therapeutic riding ministry on the south side of Franklin serving children 4-18 years of age. Interaction with the horses helps children with emotional and physical needs experience love and build confidence. Certified PATH therapeutic riding instructors lead while volunteers help with various activities. FFUMC assists with work days to provide support for staff and volunteers.
Requirements to serve: None
Project Transformation TN:
Project Transformation is a non-profit with a mission to transform communities by engaging children, college-age young adults, and churches in purposeful relationships. We help with PT by serving as reading buddies in the summer, providing items from their Amazon Wish List, and dinner for the 30 interns.
Requirements to serve: Background Check, Safe Sanctuary (highly encouraged)
Liberty Elementary School Partnership:
Our partnership with Liberty Elementary began when school leaders reached out to FFUMC in need. These needs take different shapes but over the past few years, Franklin First has sought to love our neighbors by responding to these needs. Our partnership with this local elementary school is based on a larger mission for all churches in our community to partner with and support the youth in our schools.
Requirements to serve: Safe Sanctuary, Background Check
ACD Guatemala:
Franklin First has a long history of serving in Guatemala dating back to 1999. Our visits to Guatemala have taken many different shapes and many organizations. Today, we continue our love for Guatemala with a partnership with
ACD Guatemala.
Requirements to serve: Varies depending on the projects associated with each trip and will be made known to participants at that time.
The Blessing Box:
The Blessing Box is a free little panty that is located as you enter our campus at the intersection at Mack Hatcher. The Blessing Box is filled by individuals. Using the list of suggested items, the boxes are filled and monitored throughout the month.
Requirements to serve: None
Kairos Prison Ministry:
Kairos Prison Ministry is a 501c3 that hosts retreat weekends. Franklin First supports these weekend retreats with prayer, financial support, and collection of retreat supplies.
Requirements to serve: Males only for those interested, Training through Kairos
