The First Reading: Mark 7:1-15

The First Reading is a weekly vlog that looks at the scripture and themes coming up in our worship together at Franklin United Methodist Church. The reading for Sunday, January 24, 2021, comes from Mark 7:1-15. We hope you’ll consider joining our worship together on Sunday, January 24, 2021, at 10am ET as we continue …

The First Reading: Mark 4:35-41

The First Reading is a five-minute (or less!) vlog that looks at the scripture and themes coming up in our worship together at Franklin United Methodist Church. The reading for Sunday, January 17, 2021, comes from Mark 4:35-41. We hope you’ll consider joining our worship together on Sunday, January 17, 2021, at 10am ET as …

A Communal Lament in COVID-times

This lament was written as part of our Life Together small group discussion on October 1. We had spent three weeks discussing the Book of Lamentations and were modeling our final lament after the final lament in the book. Lamentations 5 is the only lament spoken by the community and the community’s cry is addressed …

Devotional || Psalm 29

By Beth Ferguson, Lay Leader and Member to the Annual Conference. You, divine beings! Give to the Lord—    give to the Lord glory and power!2 Give to the Lord the glory due his name!    Bow down to the Lord in holy splendor! 3 The Lord’s voice is over the waters;    the glorious God thunders;        the Lord is over the mighty waters.4 The Lord’s voice is strong;    the Lord’s voice is majestic.5 The Lord’s voice breaks cedar trees—    yes, …

Devotional || Psalm 8

By Beth Ferguson, Lay Leader and Member to the Annual Conference. Lord, our Lord, how majestic    is your name throughout the earth!    You made your glory higher than heaven![b]2 From the mouths of nursing babies    you have laid a strong foundation    because of your foes,    in order to stop vengeful enemies.3 When I look up at your skies,    at what your fingers made—    the …

Devotional || Psalm 104:24-34

By Beth Ferguson, Lay Leader and Member to the Annual Conference. 24 Lord, you have done so many things!    You made them all so wisely!The earth is full of your creations!25 And then there’s the sea, wide and deep,    with its countless creatures—    living things both small and large.26 There go the ships on it,    and Leviathan, which you made, plays in …

Devotional || Psalm 33:12-22

By Beth Ferguson, Lay Leader and Member to the Annual Conference. 12 The nation whose God is the Lord,    the people whom God has chosen as his possession,    is truly happy!13 The Lord looks down from heaven;    he sees every human being.14 From his dwelling place God observes    all who live on earth.15 God is the one who made all their hearts,    the one who knows everything …

Devotional || Psalm 99

By Beth Ferguson, Lay Leader and Member to the Annual Conference. The Lord rules—    the nations shake!    He sits enthroned on the winged heavenly creatures—    the earth quakes!2 The Lord is great in Zion;    he is exalted over all the nations.3 Let them thank your great and awesome name.    He is holy! 4 Strong king[a] who loves justice,    you are the one who established what is fair.    You worked justice …

Devotional || Psalm 47

By Beth Ferguson, Lay Leader and Member to the Annual Conference. Clap your hands, all you people!    Shout joyfully to God with a joyous shout!2 Because the Lord Most High is awesome,    he is the great king of the whole world.3 He subdues the nations under us,    subdues all people beneath our feet.4 He chooses our inheritance for us:    the heights of Jacob, which …

Devotional || Psalm 93

By Beth Ferguson, Lay Leader and Member to the Annual Conference. The Lord rules!    He is robed in majesty—    the Lord is robed,    clothed with strength.Yes, he set the world firmly in place;[a]    it won’t be shaken.2 Your throne is set firm for a very long time.    You are eternal! 3 Lord, the floods have raised up—    the floods have raised up their voices;    the floods raise up …