An Open and Affirming, Just Peace, Green Justice, Global Mission Congregation

No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!

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First Church, Its Mission, and Its Ministry

Youth Group 2026 - 2027

The First Church Youth Group will have our first meeting of the year on Sunday night, August 30 at 7:00 in the JFO Room. This will be followed by a meeting with parents and youth at 8:00. Carisma will be discussing her plans for the upcoming school year and welcoming feedback.

Folk and Bluegrass Song Circle

Fourth Wednesday of each month, this month on August 26, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Folk, Bluegrass, and Gospel music in the JFO, Fellowship Hall, or Cooper Terrace depending on number of attendees and weather.

Come prepared to play, sing, or just enjoy.

All ages and skill levels are welcome. 

Are you interested in Creation Justice and our Environment?

Join our next First Church FIRST GREEN TEAM meeting! New date: Wednesday, September 2, at 4 PM, Reading Room. See you there! Questions? Call Kathleen at (440) 503-0123.

SAVE THE DATE!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2 - 3:30 pm in the JFO Room - “GOOD PLANTS GONE BAD and Some Alternatives,” by Jennifer Windus of Ohio Invasive Species Council. Co-sponsored by Oberlin Native Plants Club & First Church Green Team.

Ever Wanted to Play the Steel Drum?

O Steel, Oberlin College's steel drum band, will be offering an ExCo course this fall. The ExCo or Experimental College is run by college students and offers a variety of free classes that are led by students, faculty, and community members. Registration is not until early September but you can contact O Steel for more information by emailing either sgorby@oberlin.edu or osteel@oberlin.edu to learn more. O Steel performed at First Church as part of our Spring Festival in 2026. They will also be at the ExCo Fair. 

COFFEE HOUR THROUGH THE SUMMER

We’ve been loving after-church coffee hours! Good fair trade coffee, packaged cookies or home made and great conversation. Simple is best. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board outside the kitchen. If you want to sign-up but need to learn how to make coffee and set up, let Alana Kelley know and she can help you. It’s easy peasy. Promise!

OR if you want to help out by delivering 2 dozen homemade cookies or pastries packed for the freezer in the kitchen, we will happily accept those donations!

Thank you in advance!

Job Opening at Oberlin Weekday Community Meals

Oberlin Weekday Community Meals, a program of Christ Episcopal Church, seeks a full-time Program Coordinator to oversee daily operations and to help implement our vision of a more collaborative, joyful, and truly community-based organization. For more details and to apply, please see the job listing on Indeed.com.

Summer Storytime Sign-up!

Come get to know the church's wonderful kids - by reading a story to them during the sermon portion of worship this summer! Stories will be provided, or you can bring your own, and our wonderful childcare workers will be there to lend a hand. A sign-up sheet is in the gallery. Thanks in advance for taking the time to get to know the children of the church!

Oberlin Review Seeks Community Voices

Dear First Church community,

My name is Zosia Mateja and I am the Opinions Editor for the Oberlin Review. I am reaching out because the Review is seeking to expand our Opinions section this year to include more voices from the broader Oberlin community. The Oberlin Review serves the entire Oberlin community, not just Oberlin College and Conservatory students, thus, we aim to be more reflective of this diversity in our section. 

I am writing to invite members of First Church to submit pitches to the Review this coming year. Submitting a pitch for an article to the Opinions section is simple, and every idea, no matter how simple one may believe it to be, is valuable. 

I have attached some instructions for submitting a pitch to this email.

Your opinions are valuable! Please forward this to any other Oberlin community members who would like to share their voices in the Review.  I look forward to hearing from you and working with you soon!

Zosia Mateja 

Opinions Editor

The Oberlin Review

Community Policing Survey

Please consider participating in this survey. 

The Wider Community

FEATURED THIS YEAR:

This year, with an emphasis on strategies for building community relationships toward meaningful climate action, we are pleased to welcome Pastor Ryan Grace as our keynote on the topic "Caring ABOUT Creation vs Caring FOR Creation", motivating church leaders to inspire the kind of faith community that cares for both people and the plant in very tangible ways. 

Mariellyn Grace, Director of Mission Engagement and trainer for UMC Creation Care Ministries, will facilitate engaging activities that lift the keynote to practical heights.

After lunch and time in nature, our afternoon will be facilitated by programming staff of the Community Life Collaborative for northeast Ohio. This nonprofit represents a unique approach to elevating environmental justice, beginning with local partnerships. They will support us in taking steps for building relationships that lead to mutual action.

The Wider Community

Rev. David T. Hill, Pastor

If you are searching for ways to become more fully engaged in the life of the church, please contact Rev. David T. Hill by calling the church office at (440) 775-1711 or by sending an email to the church office.

Songs and music reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-711734. All rights reserved.