First and Franklin – A Baltimore neighbor.

First & Franklin

You Belong Here

 

 

 

A Community of Worship

Our service is faithful to tradition, musically inspired, socially engaged.

 

 

 

 

 

A Community of Service

We promote peacemaking and social justice, in Baltimore and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

A Community of Fellowship

Our congregation seeks to increase our understanding of each other.

 

 

Sundays at First & Franklin

9:00a - Adult Education (Reid Chapel)
9:15a - Multi-Age Sunday School (Backus House)
10:30a - In-Person Worship Service (Sanctuary)

Lent/Easter Services at First & Franklin

Feb. 22 ~ 6:00p ~ Ash Wednesday Service (Sanctuary & Online Streaming)
Mar. 1-Mar. 29 (Wednesdays) ~ 6:00p ~ Lenten Meditation (Sanctuary)
Apr. 2 ~ 10:30a ~ Palm Sunday (Sanctuary)
Apr. 7 ~ 7:00p ~ Good Friday Tenebrae (Sanctuary)
Apr. 9 ~ 10:30a ~ Easter Sunday (Sanctuary)

We strive to be an inclusive, diverse congregation devoted to enriching our community through socially engaging and relevant preaching and an inspirational congregational music program, service to others, and fellowship that increases our understanding of one another. Our mission is to make Baltimore a better community for everyone, and we welcome anyone who comes through our doors.

ALL ARE WELCOME! 

First & Franklin Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) welcomes everyone to worship with us, regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. A member of the More Light Presbyterians since 1980, our congregation is committed to inclusivity and full participation in the Church for all individuals, including service and the clergy.

 

We believe that the affirmation of one's gender identity and sexual orientation is Scripturally based and a natural outflow of God's perfect creation and love. Here at First & Franklin, you are welcome, you are seen, and you are loved just the way God made you.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Latest Posts

Theology on Tap

“Let us not grow wearing in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if  we do not give up.” –Gal. 6:9 Join Pastor Rob Hoch and…

Read More

It Happened This Way

It Happened This Way Robert P. Hoch First & Franklin Presbyterian Church Baltimore MD 21217 December 29, 2019   Matthew 2:13-23 13Now after they had left, an angel of the…

Read More

Our Latter Glory

Our sermon from November 10th ended with the question, “What if?” What if we were to reimagine church?What might we see as its possibilities? Our primary text was from the…

Read More

So You Want to Talk About Lynching – a prayer

A Litany for Remembrance by Robert Hoch (October 24, 2019) Adapted from Michele Norris, “So You Want to Talk About Lynching?” in the Washington Post (23 October 2019) So you…

Read More

Meet our Interim

The Session of First & Franklin Presbyterian Church is very pleased to announce that it has unanimously agreed to hire the Reverend Christian T. Iosso, PhD. to serve as our…

Read More

Adult Education: Jesus and the Disinherited (Book Study)

March 12 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am

From February 26-April 2, Adult Education will be reading and discussing Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited. Thurman was a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr. at Boston University, and…

Read More

Good Friday Service of Tenebrae (with readings and motets)

April 7 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

On Friday, April 7, 2023 at 7:00pm, we will hold our annual Good Friday Service of Tenebrae. The tradition of Tenebrae is a meditation on Christ’s suffering. Readings by First…

Read More

Easter Sunday Service (featuring brass, timpani, choir, and organ)

April 9 @ 10:10 am - 11:30 am

Join us on Sunday on April 9, 2023 to experience our magnificent Easter celebration, featuring brass, timpani, choir, and organ. Please note that the Prelude will begin at 10:10am. Additionally,…

Read More

The Spire Series presents… From Elegance to Extravagance

April 21 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Read More

“At First & Franklin, we are a quirky and very independent congregation.”

“The whole community here really embraces [music] as a really integral part of the service, as a means to get the message out — the message of peace.”

“I come once a week because I want to, not because I have to. I come to church here because I belong here.”