Friday, March 27, 2020

Good Friday Crosswalk: Changes in response to COVID-19

Franklin District NewsNotes 3-12-2015





The Franklin Christian Ministerium, which sponsors The Community Good Friday Crosswalk in Franklin, has decided in the interest of public health, to cancel the event for this year.  Good Friday is April 10, 2020.  In keeping with the tradition of carrying the Cross of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, the Franklin Ministerium will be offering two alternatives to the live event.

The pastors of the Franklin churches will gather prior to Good Friday to record a video of the walk.  The pastors will share in the readings at each of the 14 stations of the walk.  The video of this walk will be shared on websites, Facebook pages, and YouTube channels of our Franklin churches.

The Franklin churches will also be sharing the booklet that has been traditionally used for the Crosswalk event.  The public has the option of downloading the booklet (link below) to read along as they watch the Crosswalk video or of using the booklet to individually perform the walk in-person on Good Friday.  Check a local church website or Facebook page to download the Crosswalk booklet and view the map of the station locations.  In addition, a supply of the physical booklets will be placed at the front steps of St. Patrick Church (station #1), if you use one, please retain it and don’t return it to the box. If one chooses to perform the walk, we insist in following the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and our governments for social distancing.  If you feel ill in any way, please stay home.

We are blessed in Franklin with a vibrant ecumenical spirit, which will continue, despite the temporary loss of one of the ways in which we show that we belong to one Lord, one faith, one baptism.  Jesus walked the road to Calvary alone, this year we will each feel isolation like the isolation he experienced as he prepared to take the sins of the world upon his shoulders.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Homemade Beef Vegetable Soup and Cookies: Free to those harmed economically by COVID-19 - Thursday April 2nd 3-6 PM

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Given the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, 1st Baptist Church of Franklin (1041 Liberty St, Franklin PA, 16323) is making 125-150 16 oz. portions of homemade beef vegetable soup to be distributed in sealed styrofoam containers in our parking lot on Thursday, April 2nd from 3-6 PM (or until our supply runs out: limit 1 container per person, up to 4 for a larger household).

This distribution is targeting those who have had their hours cut, been laid off, or lost their job due to the ongoing pandemic.  We will not be asking for any proof, so PLEASE show kindness to your neighbors by self-limiting to those hard hit by the economic shutdown.

Given the health hazard from the risk of spreading COVID-19, precautions will be taken regarding the food preparation.  We ask that you simply drive into our parking lot on Buffalo Street, receive your pre-packaged homemade soup, and then exit.  As a bonus, homemade cookies will be included as well.  Those without a car are welcome to walk to our parking lot.

Pastor Powell will be there to take prayer requests.  We will pray for all requests during our Sunday worship service (live streamed on our church Facebook page).

A free Bible will be available for any household that needs one.


Matthew 25:34-40 New International Version (NIV)

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’


Saturday, March 14, 2020

Sunday Worship closed to the public (FB live); Wednesday prayer group and Bible Studies go online only as well

In consultation with the church board in light of the deteriorating Covid-19 circumstances; 1st Baptist will close its Sunday morning worship service to the public.

Rest assured,Worship will still take place in our same sacred space, utilizing our same order of worship, but with only the half-dozen involved in leading the music in attendance along with Pastor Powell.  Everyone else will worship with us online.  The service will be broadcast at 10:45 on Facebook Live on the 1st Baptist Facebook Page.

This will continue for the foreseeable future.  Please call the office, email Pastor, or text Pastor with your prayer requests prior to 10:30 on Sundays, we will pray for them as always.

To the people of 1st Baptist.  YOU are the church.  When this church prays, worships, and hears God's Word preached, you NEED to be there.  If you need technical help figuring out how to watch the service, please call the church office.  If you don't have internet access, please tell us so that we can make sure receive an audio CD in the mail.

The Wednesday 10:30 AM prayer group will meet via phone, and 11 AM & 7 PM Bible studies will be conducted via Facebook Live.

If you are unable to follow the Facebook Live broadcast, you can watch the week's sermon here: Pastor's Blog and the podcast of the Bible studies here: Bible study podcasts.  New sermons are typically posted by Tuesday morning, new Bible studies podcasts typically by the end of each week.


If you need help with childcare or food because of the school closure or lack of work at this time, please call the church office 432-8061 from M-F 8-3, or call Pastor's cell phone 616-552-2103.  We will do our best to help you find resources.

1. The office will still be open during our regular M-F 8-3 hours.

2.  Pastor Powell is available for counseling, conversation, and prayer either at the office or via the phone.  With the normal routine of visiting shut-ins suspended; Pastor Powell will endeavor to call his way through our directory on a regular basis to check in with the congregation.

3.  Please don't neglect to support the church during this crisis; you can mail your donation to 1041 Liberty St.  Franklin, PA 16323.

AA meetings held on Tuesdays at 7 PM will continue to meet

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Apologies if you saw an announcement of cancellation; that was a miscommunication.

AA will CONTINUE to meet here at 1st Baptist every Tuesday at 7 PM

AARP tax preparation at 1st Baptist suspended

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The AARP headquarters has ordered our local tax preparation site to shut down until further notice.  It is unknown at this time if they will be able to resume prior to the tax filing deadline.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Fairy Enchanted Evening: Postponed, rescheduled for August 29th


A note from event organizer Nicole Powell (Pastor Powell's beautiful wife, he's typing this so you know its true):

In light of the current epidemic and the health concerns regarding large event gatherings, we feel that it is in the best interest for the safety and peace of mind of all of our guests to postpone our 4th annual Princess Ball to a later date. Our decision was based on the current recommendations and guidelines from our government and health officials. In light of our local schools cancelling and postponing all nonacademic/instructional activities, we feel that it is best to follow suit.

Please note that the event is NOT CANCELLED. Refer to the new date and location we've posted. Please also note the following:
1. If you purchased a ticket for the 3/28 date, your ticket is still
valid for the new date. Just present it at the door as you
would have at our 3/28 event.
2. If you find you cannot attend the new date, you have three
options available to you can:
(A) give your tickets to someone else.
(B) donate the cost of your tickets to The Magic Yarn
Project. We encourage you to consider this
option, as 100% of our ticket proceeds go directly
to the charity and do NOT fund the event.
(C) request a refund for your tickets. More
information on how to get a refund coming soon.

Thanks for your understanding in our current situation. These are clearly very extraordinary circumstances, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Questions?  Call the church at 432-8061

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Cancelled Event: County-wide Palm Sunday Service, April 5th

The previously scheduled Palm Sunday service, sponsored by the VCCM, has been cancelled in accordance with precautionary measures being taken in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Our hosts, the Cranberry school district, have cancelled all extra-curricular activities indefinitely, that includes the use of the building by VCCM.  While saddening, this decision is in keeping with our desire to protect the most vulnerable among our community.  




County-Wide Palm Sunday Service
April 5th, 2020     6:00 p.m.

Cranberry High School
1 Education Drive
Seneca, PA 16346

Sponsored by:
Praise led by: Franklin Church of the Nazarene

Featured Speaker: Pastor John Seth


Offering to benefit:


Please Share: Palm Sunday Flyer