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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Holy Communion Celebrated Sunday

For those joining us virtually Sunday, this is a reminder to prepare your elements for Holy Communion prior to the service.

First Church, Its Mission, and Its Ministry

Oberlin Ecumenical Carol-sing

The First Church Outreach and Service Committee is inviting you to join us and other members of our community as we participate in Oberlin’s Ecumenical Carol-Sing on Sunday, December 14th. We will meet in Tappan Square at the flagpole at 3:00 PM. At 3:15 we will move into Oberlin’s downtown and carol in its shops and restaurants until 4:15. Anne Schaum will be our song leader! Caroling song booklets will be provided. At 4:15 PM, we will begin moving to the First Church Fellowship Hall, and we will there savor hot chocolate, apple cider, Christmas cookies, and each other’s company until 5:30 PM.

  We look forward to seeing you!

Have you enjoyed our third Wednesday night suppers this fall?

Do you have some thoughts about future themes and menus? Whether you'd like to join the Wednesday night supper planning team or just hop on to contribute some thoughts, ask Miranda, our office manager, to add you to the zoom session link for the next meeting. It's scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, at 10:00 am. Join us remotely as we plan for the third Wednesday in January and think ahead to February through May. Or, you can always speak to Linda Slocum, Joanne Bennett, Marty Buck, Carol or Brian Burke, or Sandy Matthews, to let them know you're interested. More ideas yield better results and many hands make light work.

Check out the Attached Document to See Peter Caldwell-Kepner's Call for Help with His Eagle Scout Service Project!

Coffee Hour

The Fellowship Committee is asking for volunteers to host coffee hour after church. Don’t worry if you are not sure how to make the coffee. Training can be provided. There is a sign up sheet in Fellowship Hall hallway. If you have any questions please talk with Sandy Matthews.

Donation Statements Have Been Sent Out!

If you didn't receive one and should have, contact us! We printed them on Monday 11/17/25, so anything deposited after that will not be shown on the form. Any questions about whether we received your other donations, please call us, and we can confirm or deny anything!

Thank you for your support and generosity!

2025 Advent Devotional: 

Soon and Very Soon

The Stillspeaking Writers invite you to plan your Advent observances around the theme, Soon and Very Soon, also the title of 2025's Advent Devotional. The theme acknowledges our need for radical hope, and encourages us to prepare for God's best.

The following worship resources are available as free PDF downloads:

• Advent Candle-Lighting Liturgy (on hope, peace, joy, love)
• Advent Candle-Lighting Liturgy (on the RCL texts from Matthew)
• Sermon Series ideas (3 distinct themes for Advent preaching)

Soon and Very Soon reflects the tenor of Romans 13:11-12, "Salvation is nearer to us than when we became believers. The night is far gone; the day is near."

We have several FREE copies of this book on the Welcome Table. Donations are welcomed, but not required. For those that don't get a hard copy of the book, you are also able to purchase a PDF for $3.00 and/or hardcopy version of the book for $5.00 using the link here. If purchasing the PDF version, please purchase one PDF per reader. Upon purchase, a link will be emailed to you for downloading the PDF. Any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to the office at office@firstchurchoberlin.org or (440)775-1711.

“Here I am Lord. I will be your light.”

In the past two weeks, I’ve experienced what many of you have already experienced - cataract surgery. My right eye on the 3rd and my left eye on the 10th What a marvelous experience of “light” and clarity when looking now through my new eyes!

The light that I saw before my surgery looked normal to me. I didn’t know any different. I had to wait until after my surgery to experience a new, brighter light that I saw through my backyard windows. I had a “new normal.”

Step up and become someone’s “new normal” in 2026. By this I mean, live out our theme of stewardship, say to God, “Here I am, Lord. I will be your light.”

Be part of God’s light in the world. Share your time, your talent and your treasure. They can be a blessing to others.

Pledges for 2026 are continuing to be received.

From your Stewardship Committee

Christmas Fund Offering Collected on Christmas Eve!

The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.

United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need, as reflected in the theme of this year: Be the Light! This year’s offering will be collected on December 24th, but donations may be given at any point before Christmas Eve.

"When They Saw the Star, They Were Filled with Joy"

- Matthew 2:10

It is possible to contribute in one of three ways: 

1. By mailing a check made out to The First Church in Oberlin with “Christmas Fund” in the memo line to the church office, 
2. By using the offering envelopes on the Welcome Table and depositing your donation in the donation boxes in the Meeting House by the doors exiting the room, 
3. Or by going to our First Church website, scrolling down and clicking on "Donate Online" and then going to the “Christmas Fund” section. Alternatively, click here and it’ll bring you to the page.

See the bulletin insert below for more information on this special offering. More information can also be found on the Pension Board website. Let your gift help those who have given so much for our communities.

Furniture Moving Group

Our Furniture Moving Group is such a hit among our renters that we are EXPANDING the group and adding some people so no one gets burnt out! Some questions you may have before joining the group:

• What is the Furniture Moving Group? Folks who rearrange furniture on the stage in the Meeting House for various community events for the church.
• How often do you move furniture? As often as you'd like! The amount of times Miranda asks for help from the group varies in the year, but the busiest times of year are usually the late fall, early winter, and general spring time. We do ask for help in the other times, though!
• What do we ask to move? Anything that is on the stage EXCEPT THE PIANO could be moved off of the stage, and the piano can be moved around the stage.
• How will you know how to move these delicate items on this delicate stage? We will train you! There are casters on everything that you may be moving, as well! 

Please consider joining this crew because it takes a village to provide space for our community! Thank you for your consideration.

Highlights from the Executive Council Meeting, November 18, 2025

Below is a brief summary of topics discussed at the monthly Executive Council meeting.

• Council discussed a first pass at a budget for 2026. They expressed hope that those members of the Congregation who usually pledge, but have not as yet this year, will do so soon to make planning for next year realistic, and keep the finances healthy.

• Mission Priorities of Open & Affirming, Green Justice, and Just Peace are basic tenets of First Church. How to incorporate those priorities into church programming, and how to communicate between committees, EC, and the task groups was discussed at length. Lots of good ideas were suggested for better information sharing.

• More volunteers and helpers are needed for occasional tasks including: moving chairs and furniture set up, Audio/visual help, electronic prayer concerns. No tasks are very difficult, and anyone interested will be shown what to do.

• The annual budget meeting for the congregation will be held Sunday, January 25, 2026.

Liturgist Coordinator

Are you looking for a way to support worship at First Church without taking on a monthly committee meeting? The First Church worship committee is looking for a new Liturgist Coordinator. This important volunteer is responsible for lining up a liturgist each Sunday. Don't worry, there is no shortage of potential liturgists! Becky Thompson has built a strong cadre of liturgist volunteers over the years she has served so successfully in this role. She will turn a well-tuned process over to her successor. If you are interested, please contact Peter Thomas (pjthomasmathbio@gmail.com).

The Wider Church

Across our nation, LGBTQ+ people are under attack. Trans and nonbinary youth are being targeted by cruel legislation. Inclusive books and curricula are being banned. Families and faith communities are being silenced for affirming love and dignity.

In moments like these, the Church must rise — not with fear, but with faith. Not with silence, but with love in action.

That’s why the Open and Affirming Coalition is launching A.C.T OUT: Advocacy, Community, and Transformation — a national, faith-rooted movement committed to resisting hate, protecting our neighbors, and organizing for a just and inclusive future.

Now we need your help to build the foundation for this work.

We can’t do this without you.

Please take 5–10 minutes today to complete our A.C.T OUT – Building a National ONA Movement  Inventory & Interest Survey:

https://forms.gle/Ci4nA6kPwMGKyXXNA

Your responses will help us understand what’s happening in your congregation and community — what justice issues you’re facing, what gifts and skills you bring, and what support is needed most. This will guide how we connect churches, mobilize advocacy, and train leaders for collective action in 2026 and beyond.

Use this QR Code to Share the Survey with Others

The Wider Community

First Congregational Church in North Ridgeville is having a Blue Christmas Service on Saturday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m. This service is for those who are struggling, grieving, or lonely during the holiday season. Please feel free to share the attached flyer with anyone who may be interested or in need of such a service this holiday season.

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.