Lent & Easter at Franklin First UMC

Ash Wednesday Service
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent—a time of reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter. On this day, we acknowledge our mortality and confess our sins before God in the community of faith.

Join us for a brief service on Wednesday, February 18 at 6:30 PM, which will include the Imposition of Ashes, an ancient symbol of humility and repentance used in Jewish and Christian worship for generations.

Lent invites us to prepare our hearts and souls as we journey toward the remembrance of Christ’s death and the celebration of His resurrection.

Lenten Worship Series: The Seven Last Words of Christ

This Lent, experience worship in a fresh and meaningful way. Beginning February 22, join us on Sundays at 10:45 AM as Jeff Sams and Pastor Laura lead a dynamic dialogue series exploring the seven final statements Jesus spoke from the cross.

These powerful words reveal the depth of Christ’s love and the heart of the Gospel. Each week, we’ll reflect on one of these statements and discover how they speak to our lives today.

Come and journey through the season of Lent with us—engaging, thought-provoking, and centered on the message of hope found in Christ.

  During Lent beginning March 9th, our children will once again be collecting change in the Noisy Bucket to benefit Heifer International. This program provides animals to impoverished families around the world to give them a hand up to supplement their income and better their community. Friends, you are invited to start hoarding your change. Our smiling children will be asking you to contribute during Worship later this month.

 During this Lenten season, we begin a new series: Seven Words — A Journey to the Cross.  

We’ll focus on one of Jesus’ final statements from the cross—words that continue to shape our faith, our relationships, and our hope.

This week, we begin with The Word of Forgiveness.

May these daily reflections help your heart slow down, listen deeply, and draw closer to Christ. Follow along on Facebook, 

Monday–Saturday, for Scripture, guided reflection, and prayer. We’re so glad to walk this journey with you. 

 Jesus prays for forgiveness in the very moment the soldiers cast lots for His clothing. He doesn’t wait for an apology … He offers grace first. 

Luke 23:32–34 -- Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.  When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing.

Reflect: Notice that Jesus prays for forgiveness while the soldiers are casting lots for his clothes. He doesn't wait for an apology to offer grace. Is there someone you are waiting on to "say sorry" before you let go of your resentment?

 Jesus acknowledges that His executioners acted out of ignorance—“they know not what they do.” Sometimes those who hurt us are acting from their own brokenness. 

Acts 3:17–19  -- And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.  In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.  Repent, therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out

Reflection: Jesus notes that his executioners "know not what they do." How does viewing someone’s hurtful actions as a result of their own spiritual blindness or brokenness change how you feel toward them?

Paul reminds us that we forgive because God forgave us first. Our ability to extend grace flows from the grace we’ve already received.

Colossians 3:13: Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Reflection:  We forgive because we have been forgiven. Spend 5 minutes today simply thanking God for the specific ways He has shown you mercy this week.

Forgiveness is a gift we give others. Trust is a bridge that must be rebuilt. They are not the same—one is offered freely; the other takes time.

Romans 12:18:  If it is possible, Colossians 3:13: Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Reflection: Forgiveness is a gift we give others; trust is a bridge that must be rebuilt. Pray for the wisdom to distinguish between the two as you navigate difficult relationships. Where is God inviting you to forgive? Where is He inviting you to set healthy boundaries?

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive … is ourselves. Yet Scripture promises that when we confess, God is faithful to forgive—every time.

1 John 1:9:  If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Reflection:  Sometimes the "they" in "forgive them" includes ourselves. Is there a past mistake you are still punishing yourself for? Imagine Jesus saying these words over your specific situation.

Is there a mistake or regret you’re still carrying? Imagine Jesus speaking His words of forgiveness over that very place in your life.

 Before worship, before offering, before anything else—Jesus calls us to seek reconciliation when possible. Peace prepares the heart to hear God clearly.

Matthew 5:23–24:

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

Reflection:

As we prepare for tomorrow’s service and the second "word," ask God to clear any lingering bitterness from your heart so you can hear His voice clearly.

 This week we turn to the Second Word from the Cross:  Salvation.

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

These words were spoken not to a disciple, not to a religious leader, but to a criminal — someone society had written off. Yet Jesus opened the door of grace wide enough for him to walk through, even in his final moments.

As we journey through Week 2, may we discover again that God’s mercy reaches further than we think and embraces those we often overlook — including ourselves.

Follow along on Facebook, Monday–Saturday, for Scripture, guided reflection, and prayer. We’re so glad to walk this journey with you. 

Even in His final breath, Jesus welcomed the one who dared to call out to Him. No one is too late. No one is too far gone.

Lord, help me notice the unexpected companions beside me today.

Luke 23: 39-43:   One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in[c] your kingdom.”  He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. 

Reflection:

On that hill outside Jerusalem, Jesus did not hang alone. Two criminals hung beside Him—one hurling insults, the other reaching out in a moment of desperate honesty. And Jesus, in the very hour of His deepest suffering, still made room for one more person. The cross was not a place of exclusion but a doorway of grace. 

 Salvation isn’t earned. It’s received.

Sometimes the most sincere prayer is simply, “Jesus, remember me.”

Romans 10: 9-10:   If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes  with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 

Reflection:

The thief had no résumé, no time to make amends, no list of accomplishments to offer. All he had was a heart awakened to who Jesus truly was. Salvation has never been about our works—it has always begun with belief and trust.

God’s grace isn’t postponed. It’s present.

What part of my life needs a “today” promise from Jesus?

2 Corinthians 6: 2:  At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you. 

Reflection:

Jesus didn’t offer the repentant thief a distant hope—He offered a present one. “Today…” Grace doesn’t wait. God meets us in the now, in the urgent and imperfect places where we need Him most.

 Jesus leads us toward restoration—toward the world God intended from the beginning.

Lord, renew in me a hope for Your coming paradise.

Revelation 21: 1-4:   

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,  “See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them and be their God; he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”

Reflection:

When Jesus spoke of “paradise,” He offered more than comfort—He offered restoration. A return to God’s original intention: intimacy, peace, wholeness. In Christ, paradise isn’t just a place we wait for; it’s a promise that shapes our hope today.

 You are never alone in your suffering. Jesus understands, and He draws near.

Where do I need to approach the throne of grace today?

Hebrews 4: 15-16:   For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Reflection:

Jesus didn’t save from a distance; He saved from within our suffering. He knows what pain feels like. He knows what fear feels like. He meets us in our human weakness with compassion, not condemnation.

 Jesus still welcomes those at the margins.

Lord, open my eyes to the ones waiting for a door of grace.

John 10: 9:    I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 

Reflection:

Jesus is the door—always open, always welcoming, always ready to bring people into the abundant life of God. Who around us is standing at the edges, waiting for an invitation or a glimpse of hope?

This week, we linger at the foot of the cross—where Jesus spoke a word of love, care, and community. 

In His final moments, He didn’t build walls; He built family.

As we step into Week 3 of Lent, may we notice the people God has placed beside us and learn to love them as Christ loves us.

Join us each day as we explore this Word of Relationship. 

Follow along on Facebook, Monday–Saturday, for Scripture, guided reflection, and prayer. We’re so glad to walk this journey with you. 

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive … is ourselves. Yet Scripture promises that when we confess, God is faithful to forgive—every time.

1 John 1:9:  If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Reflection:  Sometimes the "they" in "forgive them" includes ourselves. Is there a past mistake you are still punishing yourself for? Imagine Jesus saying these words over your specific situation.

Is there a mistake or regret you’re still carrying? Imagine Jesus speaking His words of forgiveness over that very place in your life.

Who has God given you as spiritual brothers, sisters, or parents?

Matthew 12:46-50

 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. 

Reflection:

 Jesus redefines family here. It’s not just about biology; it’s about those who stand together in faith. Who has God placed in your life as "spiritual family"—people who aren't related to you but carry your burdens? 

Pure faith always makes room for the vulnerable.
Lord, open my eyes to someone I need to “behold” today.

James 1:27:  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. 

Reflection:

In the ancient world, a widow without a son was incredibly vulnerable. Jesus ensured that Mary would be cared for. Is there a widow, an orphan, or someone       living alone in our congregation who needs you to "behold" them       this week?

Love becomes real when it becomes shared space.
Who is God asking me to welcome more fully?

 Galatians 6:2:  Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 

Reflection:   

John (the beloved disciple) immediately took Mary into his home. He didn't just offer "thoughts and prayers"; he offered a seat at his table. What is one practical way you can share your resources or space with someone in need? 

I place my loved ones into Your hands, Lord—because You care for them even more than I do.

1 Peter 5:7:  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 

Reflection:

Jesus was entrusting the person He loved most to someone else. As we prepare  for Week 4, practice the "prayer of entrustment." Give the names of your family members to God, trusting His provision over their lives.

This week we journey with Jesus into the hardest of His seven last words — a cry that echoes the pain, confusion, and longing every human heart has known:
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”

Jesus stepped into the deepest darkness so that none of us would ever be alone in ours.
As we walk through Week 4, may we discover that God is not threatened by our questions, our ache, or our “Why?”

He meets us there.
He holds us there.
And He does not let go. 💜

You don’t have to hold it together for God.  Your lament is safe with Him.

Matthew 27:45–46: “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?
that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Reflection:

Jesus isn’t quoting poetry — He is crying out in real agony. Faith does not mean “staying positive.” God gives you permission to bring your true pain honestly before Him.

What “Why?” have you been holding back from God?

Even our hardest questions can become worship when we bring them to God.

Psalm 22:1–5:  “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me…
But thou art holy…
Our fathers trusted in thee… they cried unto thee, and were delivered.”

Reflection:

Jesus quotes the first line of Psalm 22, a prayer that begins in anguish but ends in hope. Even in our “Why,” we speak to God, not away from Him.
The cry of abandonment is still the cry of a heart turned toward God.