Communion Celebrated Sunday

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

UPDATED COVID GUIDELINES

Thank you Letter from POWER

Click the button below to see the thank you letter from POWER!

First Church, Its Mission, and Its Ministry

Sunday Adult Ed. starts Oct 2nd!

Please join us after church on Sunday, October 2nd for our first Adult Ed. Sunday session! Margie Flood will be joining us to talk about Oberlin Community Services and their exciting plans for a new building!  

Our session will start in the JFO Room at 11:30 - so grab your coffee and join us! 

And Coming Soon...

On October 9th and 16th, join William Vanderbilt for the first of several Bible Studies on shorter books of the Bible. These studies are built for those of us who don't want to do a multipart study - all of the books can be easily read in one sitting. (If you can't spare a moment to read before the session, though, please join us anyway!)

• On October 9th, William will be leading us in a discussion of Philemon;
• On October 16th, the topic will be Obadiah.

We hope to see you in the JFO Room after church on Sundays! 

Friday Night Hangout is back October 7th!

Our first Friday Night Hangout is happening Friday, October 7th, from 6-7:30 pm in Room 3. All kids grades K-5 are welcome! We'll be playing games, hanging out in the childcare rooms, and talking about what we want to do now that we're back in person! Looking forward to seeing you there! 

Free Books Part III - the Return of the Books!

Our third group of books is out on the carrels to take home. See a title you like? It’s absolutely free! These books will be available through October 9th.

 Thanks, and happy browsing!  

Wednesday Night Adult Education continues!

We have two more sessions for our book study of  Do I Stay Christian? A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned, by Brian McLaren. Please join us October 5 & 12th at 6:30 pm in the JFO Room for coffee & dessert, conversation, and a chance to hear the author’s thoughts about his book! 

If you can't join us in person, or if you want to do further study, we invite you to join with a virtual community that is discussing the book on video and Facebook. (We are watching some of the same videos in our in-person sessions.) This online "pop-up reading group" is sponsored by the podcast Homebrewed Christianity, and you can find a link to sign up here.

To read more about the book, click the link here! 

Do you want to learn more about First Church?

Come join us for dessert and tea or coffee at an Inquirer’s Event on October 2nd from 7 to 8 PM in the JFO Room. You will meet others interested in learning about First Church as well as members of the Witness and Membership committee who are hosting the event. We hope to see you there!

Neighbors in Need Offering on October 2nd!

The Neighbors in Need offering, which we will receive on October 2, supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. One-third of the offering supports the UCC’s Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM). CAIM is an invaluable resource for more than 1,000 individuals from dozens of other tribes and nations who are members of other UCC congregations in the U.S.

In 2022, the Neighbors in Need “BEHOLD!” offering focuses on economic justice. With inflation impacting all of our households, we wanted to provide a way to discuss this through a faith lens. Please see the bulletin insert below for more information on economic justice. 

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour… Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

- a portion of Romans 12, we encourage reading the entirety of the chapter

Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

- James 5:4

It is possible to contribute in one of three ways: 

1. By mailing a check made out to The First Church in Oberlin with “NIN” in the memo line to the church office, 
2. By using the offering envelopes on the Welcome Table and depositing your donation in the wooden donation box in the Narthex at the top of the steps leading to the Gallery, 
3. Or, by going to our First Church website, scrolling down and clicking on "Donate Online" and then going to the “Neighbors in Need” section. Alternatively, click here and it’ll bring you to the page.

See the attachment below for more information on how you can help. More information can also be found on the UCC website. Let your gift help to put prayer into action.

Links and Scripture from This Week's Bulletin

Please Sign-up to Host Coffee Hour

The Fellowship Committee would like to try a new approach to our Coffee Hour after church on Sundays. We invite all of you to sign up to host on a Sunday of your choice. Families or couples can sign up, or sign up with a friend. Now that we are once again able to gather, we know that those in the First Church family are eager to socialize. The recent coffee hours hosted by the Fellowship Committee and the Slocums have been well attended and much appreciated. All that is required is coffee (provided by the church) and a beverage for children (usually lemonade). Anything in addition to that (such as hot tea, iced tea, cookies, coffee cake) is completely up to the host. Remember, the food and drink is just an excuse to see one another! Please call Sarah Colson with any questions at (440) 774-2538. The sign up chart will be in the gallery.

This program started as a pilot program in the fall of 2021 and is open to ALL seniors. Activities will include socialization, activities, medical screening, healthy lunches, and support services to meet individual needs.

Supportive service staff is on hand to meet needs such as benefits assistance, rent and/or utility assistance, or helping set up other community resources.

We hope to bring this mobile program to more communities throughout Lorain County. Current programs are listed below with more to come soon.

Join Us for a FREE cup of coffee

~ UCC Banners and Yard Signs ~

Banners!

Snag the latest addition to our UCC banner collection, the A Just World for All Pride banner! Be the Church, Black Lives Matter, Love Your Neighbor and Jesus Didn't Reject People banners and other options available as well.

Yard Signs!

Grab your UCC yard sign! Be a Blessing, A Just World for All, Be the Church, VOTE designs among the available options. Show your UCC spirit and let your neighbors and friends know what you believe in.

Registration Open!

2022 Living Water Association Annual Meeting: What's Next?

Saturday, November 12, 9am-12pm (12-1pm optional lunch)

In-Person at First Congregational Church of Hudson

*Online option available*

Registration is FREE! Lunch is optional and costs only $15!

“Celebrating 100 Years: Latino History in Lorain” special exhibit 

Sept 24 - Oct 8 during Oberlin Public Library hours

The Oberlin Heritage Center and Oberlin Public Library are excited to host the guest exhibit “Celebrating 100 Years: Latino History in Lorain, Ohio.” The exhibit, created through a partnership of El Centro, the Lorain Historical Society, and Oberlin College, highlights the initial work of the Latino Lorain History Project and features photographs and oral histories, particularly focused on the history of Vine Avenue in Lorain. The exhibit will be available for viewing any time the Oberlin Public Library is open between September 24 and October 8, which also falls during National Hispanic Heritage Month. Interactive elements will be incorporated for people to share comments and connect with the Oberlin Heritage Center to share memories about Oberlin Latino history as well. 

The Oberlin Doggie Doo

October 1, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm |

Tappan Square

After 7 long years, we are thrilled to share that the Oberlin Doggie Doo is coming back! It will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022, on Tappan Square in beautiful downtown Oberlin. The Oberlin Doggie Doo is a festival that celebrates every “dog”! The event will include animal rescuers and their adoptable pets, vendors, 50/50 and basket raffles, a police dog demonstration and a “Pet & Parent Costume Contest.” Free to the public, whom are welcomed to bring their crowd-friendly dogs!

Frank Lloyd Wright Open House

October 2, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm |

534 Morgan St

Later Repetition:

• November 6th, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm



Wondering what Usonian means? Join a tour and find out! Presentations on the architecture and history of the house begin on the hour at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. Advance registration is required. Admission to the house is $10 per adult, free for OC college students with ID and anyone under 18. See our website for tickets, parking information, and other details: amam.oberlin.edu/flw-house. Photo by Dirk Bakker.

Friends of the Oberlin Public Library Sale!

Provided that Covid numbers remain low, the Friends of the Oberlin Public Library will move forward to its second semiannual sale of 2022. Mark your calendars and hold the dates of October 5 (Friends only) through October 9 for a bargain-hunter’s paradise! While books are our stock-in-trade, CDs, DVDs, LPs, foreign language materials, puzzles, and sheet music are also available. Most items are priced at 50¢ or $1.00. And, speaking of pricing, this fall we’re trying “Pay What You Want” (PWYW) pricing on the final two sale days. See below for the schedule of sale dates and specials. Teen, child, or adult, you’re sure to find something of interest at our book sale!

See the flyer below for more information!

Local C.R.O.P. Walk

The Amherst Area C.R.O.P. Walk will be held this year at the Vermilion UCC on Ste. Rte 60 in Vermilion on October 9th...We will be meeting at 12:30 for a light lunch and then take a short walk downtown Vermilion and back to the church. 

People can donate in person at the walk or online at the CWS WebSite, Crophungerwalk.org and look for the Vermilion name....all donations are matched 100% by Nordson Corporation and 25% of the donations will be given to the Amherst Food Pantry.

LOSS/DOSS Team Member Training

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is hosting a new LOSS/DOSS Team Member Training via zoom that will be held Tuesday October 11^th and Thursday October 13^th from 5 pm to 7:30 pm. You must attend both training sessions to be considered for the LOSS/DOSS Team. Below is an explanation of both services:

Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS). The Lorain County LOSS Team is based on a national program which provides support to survivors bereaved by a suicide loss. For every suicide death, there are dozens of survivors left to make sense of it. Our team of trained and caring volunteers are present to help. A suicide loss is often a shocking, life changing tragedy which leads to intense emotions, events and feelings. It’s important to build a strong support system as you experience the physical and emotional effects of grief. LOSS exists to be an installation of hope by providing resources, understanding and support.

Drug Overdose Survivors Support (DOSS). The Lorain County DOSS team is based on a national model which provides support to survivors bereaved by a loss. For every overdose death, there are dozens of survivors left to make sense of it. Our team of trained and caring volunteers are present to help. Our team brings immediate support to families after a loved one’s death due to a drug overdose. Drug overdose deaths are complicated for those left behind by an added layer of stigma. The aftermath of this type of death cannot be overlooked. First responders and the coroner’s office do not always have the resources to help the family, which is where our DOSS team bridges the gap and reduces the risk of unhealthy coping strategies.

If you are interested in participating in the training or have questions about it, please email Kelly La Rosa, Executive Director of NAMI Lorain County:  kelly@nami-lc.org

Fall 2022 Enliven Courses

A series of Zoom courses from the Parker Center for Abundant Aging designed to create community and conversation around spiritual life, encouraging older adults to learn, grow and share together. For more information, email KMoeller@uchinc.org.

Fall 2022 Courses

• Making God REAL in Your Life: Don’t think you’ve ever had a God Experience? Discover God as a constant companion in your life who is accessible 24/7. 
• The Deeper Path: The Call of Aging: Is this all there is? Discover how the “third age” of your life can be a sacred journey when new life can be developed and thrive.
• Intermissio: A Pause to Listen in a More Profound Way: Experience poetry, music, art, and writings of wisdom, silence, and words of reflection, attentive to the divine touch.
• Chair Yoga Mid-Day Stretch and Strength: A gentle way to improve your flexibility, balance, and strength without sitting on the floor.
• Fall Shorts: Reflections on Life Through Film: Together, we’ll watch and discuss the themes of four short films from the Foundation of Arts and Healing Film Festival.
• Grief Care for the Holidays: A Mini-Retreat and/or Four Weekly Sessions: The holidays bring many things, not all joyous. During this time, grief will be spoken and mourning loss will be supported.

Notice of Vacancy: Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

The City of Oberlin invites interested persons in the City of Oberlin to submit applications to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee will be comprised of 15 community representatives who will meet on an as-needed basis with KM Date Community Planning, LLC, and OHM Advisors to help to update the City’s existing comprehensive plan and provide guidance on the overall direction of Plan.

See the document below for more information.