Poinsettias and Red Bows

The Worship Committee, responding to the increased needs in our community, is offering two ways to honor or memorialize loved ones this Advent/Christmas season. We will be ordering 30 Poinsettia plants, but will also have a “Giving Tree” where members and friends may make a $10.00 (or greater) gift and each gift will be represented by a red bow on a tree in the Meeting House. These gifts will be forwarded to the Outreach Committee for distribution to those agencies providing direct aid within the community.

Click the button below to access the form for poinsettias and red bows.

Note: Orders must be received by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5TH!

Family Camp is coming this January!

Don't forget to register!

It's that special time of year - time to sign up for Family Camp, that is! Our annual church Winter Retreat is coming up January 14-16. We will be making our return to Templed Hills - Heartland UCC's Camp in Bellville, OH. 

Family Camp is a weekend of Fun, fellowship, and relaxation. It's a rather informal weekend full of board games, puzzles, reading, sitting by the fire, sledding, hiking, s'mores - whatever you enjoy! It's meant to be a weekend away from the craziness, and an opportunity to catch your breath in a beautiful setting and catch up with your family and friends from church. 

Housing will be in either Memorial Lodge or Heritage House. Memorial has 8 dorm style rooms with bunk beds and their own bathroom and shower. Heritage has rooms that sleep up to 4 people, and bathrooms and showers off the common areas. 

Cost is $50 for anyone 12 and over, $25 for children 6-11, and free for ages 5 and younger.

The deadline for registration and payment is Monday, December 20th. It is important to sign up by the deadline - otherwise, we may not have space for you! 

You can sign up at the link below, or use the sign-up sheet in the hallway outside the church office. Please use one line per person and fill out all the information. Checks can be dropped off at the church, or you can pay online by going to our website, which you can get to by clicking here, and scrolling down to "Donate Online." On the next page, scroll down to "Family Camp Registration."

If you've never experienced Family Camp, we invite you to consider coming with us this year!

Our next Adult Education class will be a Bible Study called "The World's Most Read Book!" 

It starts Sunday, January 9th, and will be held in the JFO Room at 11:15 am on Sundays. It is being led by William Vanderbilt, who along with his wife Christine has been participating in worship at First Church since their return to Oberlin in 2019.   William will be leaning on his own seminary education and decades of experience leading adult workshops to provide a historical and practical perspective on the Bible.

For more about William and the course, please click the link below! 

Karyn Baumann

"I just moved back to Ohio after living in Portland, OR for the last 25 years. I have strong ties to Oberlin and am thrilled to be part of First Church. I am an avid lover of the outdoors and am happiest when seeing live music, reading, and exploring new restaurants, breweries and wineries."

Bill Hamilton

"I graduated from Oberlin College in 1975 with a B.A. Degree in Government. I was a resident in New York City from 1982 to 2015 when I moved back to Oberlin."

Anjanette Hignett

"Anjanette Hignett grew up in Grafton and moved to Oberlin in 2009. She likes to sing, play the piano, bake, and walk. She has an 18 year old son, James, who attends LCCC. She teaches elementary for Elyria City Schools. She was born in Pennsylvania and is an unapologetic Steelers fan. First Church called to her because of its open nature and has lived up to that. She appreciates how friendly everyone is."