Residents invited to help Franklin Federated reach fundraising goal

Franklin Federated Church nears $500,000 Restoration Campaign Goal

Church is asking the community to help close the fundraising gap

Just over a month after launching a capital campaign dedicated to funding substantial repairs and updates to its historic buildings, the Franklin Federated Church is closing in on its $500,000 goal.

As of December 28, $485,515 had been pledged to the campaign by church members and friends, to be paid over the next three years. More than $113,500 in contributions have been received and work has begun on several much-needed projects.

We are excited to be so close to achieving our goal," said campaign co-chair Allan Sawyer. "At this point, we are asking the community to help us get there." Campaign co-Chair Tom Pfeifle added that "the Franklin Federated Church is a tangible symbol of Franklin's history, providing a continuous link to the town's origins."

Situated on the southwest corner of the town common at 171 Main Street, the church has long been an important center of activity in the town. Meals on Wheels uses the kitchen, Temple Etz Chaim uses the sanctuary for high holidays, and Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and various support groups also meet there. The church hosts a popular annual yard sale and a Christmas concert, and has opened its doors in times of need, such as following the vigil for Lexi and Sean Munroe on Franklin Common.

Franklin Federated Church

The congregation is a Welcoming and Affirming congregation, meaning that all people are invited to be a part of the mission and ministry of the church. The congregation supports organizations locally and around the world, such as the Franklin Food Pantry, the Santa Foundation, New Hope, the Boston Grow Clinic and Church World Service.

In keeping with the Franklin Federated Church's mission to give back to the community, a portion of the funds raised will be donated to the New Hope RESPECT programs. The RESPECT programs reach out to, and help restore, families in our community that are broken down by violence.

Franklin residents who have benefited from using the building over the years are invited to consider helping with the restoration effort. Contributions can be made via the website: ffcrestoration.weebly.com or checks made out to Franklin Federated Church can be mailed to Franklin Federated Restoration Campaign, 171 Main St., Franklin, MA 02038.

The church's history is entwined with the town's founding. The First Congregational Church was formed in 1738, when it broke off from the Congregational Church of Wrentham. This effectively marked the beginning of the Town of Franklin, which had previously been considered the West Precinct of Wrentham. The First Congregational Church joined with the First Baptist Church in 1941, forming the Federated Church. The two congregations had begun worshiping together after the hurricane of 1938 destroyed the First Baptist Church's building on School Street.

The current church building, constructed in 1895, features a sanctuary with a high vaulted ceiling, exposed wooden beams and large stained glass windows. The church building needs substantial work to repair damage from age and the elements, and to improve the accessibility and functionality of the space. Some necessary improvements include replacement of the heating system, work to both roof and foundation to stop the incursion of water, and the installation of upgraded fire safety and electrical systems. The parsonage, which sits next to the church and which was built in 1868, is also in need of new heating and drainage systems. The parsonage houses the pastor, Rev. Charley Eastman, and his family.

Franklin Federated Church is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches, USA.

For more information, contact the campaign co-chairs: Allen Sawyer, allen.sawyer@comcast.net or 508-346-3120; and Tom Pfeifle, nashpfeifle@gmail.com or 508 361-1954.

Franklin Federated Church: Christmas Concert - Dec. 12

Franklin Federated Church will present this year's Annual Christmas Concert, Peace on Earth, on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7:00 PM at the church at 171 Main Street.

The concert will feature an arrangement of classical music and Christmas melodies performed by "Quartet Duviteux," a string quartet of young, talented musicians who met as students at the New England Conservatory of Music.The quartet has been described as "proficient, passionate, gifted, international, irreverent, flexible, experimental, and joyful."

Quartet Duviteux

The group hails from all points on the compass. Maria van der Sloot, violin, is from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; Luther Warren also plays violin, and comes from Minneapolis, Minnesota; Linda Numagami plays viola, and comes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Cellist Marza Merophi Wilks was born in Peru and spent her high school years in Ithaca, New York.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling the church office at 508-528-3803.

Franklin Federated Church launching $500,000 restoration campaign

Historic buildings to get needed repairs, better accessibility

The Franklin Federated Church will launch a $500,000 capital campaign in November aimed at funding substantial repairs and updates to the church's historic buildings.

The campaign: Restoring our Church, Building our Future, will officially kick off with a celebration event at the church at 171 Main St. on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 10 AM. A festive worship service will be followed by activities throughout the church building, including a family photo booth with props, tours of the church, a variety of food and more. Anyone in the community is warmly invited to attend.

The 300-member Franklin Federated Church has an active worship life and Christian Education program and its members and friends participate in a variety of small groups – from movie, book and art groups to a youth group and two women's groups. The congregation is a Welcoming and Affirming congregation, meaning that all people are invited to be a part of the mission and ministry of the church.

The congregation supports organizations locally and around the world, such as the Franklin Food Pantry, the Santa Foundation, New Hope, the Boston Grow Clinic and Church World Service. The church also hosts a variety of organizations in its building: Meals on Wheels uses the kitchen, Temple Etz Chaim uses the sanctuary for high holidays, and the Girl Scouts and other organizations meet within its walls. The congregation also mentors a student pastor from Andover Newton Theological School each year.

The Franklin Federated Church became "federated" in 1941 when the First Congregational Church and the First Baptist Church came together as one. The two congregations began worshiping together after the hurricane of 1938 destroyed the First Baptist Church's building on School Street.

The First Congregational Church's history is entwined with the town's founding. The church was formed in 1738, when it broke off from the Congregational Church of Wrentham. This effectively marked the beginning of the Town of Franklin, which had previously been considered the West Precinct of Wrentham.

The current church building, constructed in 1895, features a sanctuary with a high vaulted ceiling, exposed wooden beams and large stained glass windows. The church building needs substantial work to repair damage from age and the elements, and to improve the accessibility and functionality of the space.  Some necessary improvements include replacement of the heating system, work to both roof and foundation to stop the incursion of water, and the installation of upgraded fire safety and electrical systems. The parsonage, which sits next to the church and which was built in 1868, is also in need of new heating and drainage systems. The parsonage houses the pastor, Rev. Charley Eastman, and his family.

 "Our spiritual home represents more than a Christian church structure.  It is a tangible symbol of Franklin's history; a place to find fellowship and God waiting for our hopes, celebrations, concerns and cares," said Tom Pfeifle, a member of the church and co-chair of the campaign.

Franklin Federated Church

The church voted unanimously on Sept. 27 to undertake the campaign, after a feasibility study projected that the church can raise $500,000 over the next three years. Each person pledging to the campaign will also be invited to dedicate a portion of that pledge to the RESEPCT program of New Hope, whose mission is to end domestic violence in 54 communities, including Franklin. The RESPECT program works to hold individuals accountable for their abusive behaviors and to help them learn non-violent communication skills.

"As we restore our home, we will also help to restore families through the New Hope RESPECT program," Pfeifle said.

Franklin Federated Church is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches, USA.

For more information, contact the campaign co-chairs: Allen Sawyer, allen.sawyer@comcast.net or 508-346-3120; and Tom Pfeifle, nashpfeifle@gmail.com or 857 362 2935.