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What if God is Joy

Steve Garnaas-Holmes

Please click on the button below or on this link to see the poem, What if God is Joy, that David read on Music Sunday.

First Church, Its Mission, and Its Ministry

Congratulations to Gene Matthews -

For receiving Oberlin College's Award for Distinguished Service to the Community. Rob Thompson, professor emeritus of chemistry, presented the award. This award is conferred upon “persons from the Lorain County area who have made significant contributions to the welfare of the community and its residents.”

Welcome to Our Newest Members!

Received on Sunday, October 30th, 2022

Kathleen Bradley

"I currently usually attend First Church via Facebook and am serving on the First Church Green Team. I also serve on the Creation Justice team at Berea United Methodist Church."

Aleta Duey

"I was born and raised in Cleveland where I attended Collinwood High School; my husband Ralph went to East High and we both went to Fenn College (now Cleveland State University). I had a scholarship in business but graduated in Elementary Education where I was assured of a job at the time. I taught in the Cleveland Public Schools until I was expecting my first child.

Neither my husband nor I were baptized until we joined Calvary Presbyterian Church in Cleveland where we were married and were active until we moved away from Ohio. Ralph had changed jobs and so we moved to King of Prussia, Pennsylvania where we lived for fifty years. Eventually, he started his own engineering business and we both worked at it for several years. While there, we first belonged to Port Kennedy Presbyterian Church in Valley Forge and finally Valley Forge Presbyterian Church where I still keep in close touch.

I eventually got my master's degree in computer education and taught computer science in Philadelphia to children from kindergarten to eighth grade. I took early retirement and went on to work at The Vanguard Group where I worked in finance until I finally retired. We then decided to move back to Northern Ohio since we had many friends and relatives here.

The oldest of our three daughters lives in England now along with her husband and two children, another daughter is in Pennsylvania with their daughter in Washington State, and my youngest, Peg Tucker is here, working at Oberlin Public Library; she has two sons.

My interests include music, reading, movies, computers, Scrabble, genealogy, early American history, and visiting and keeping in touch with elderly relatives and friends.

I enjoy meeting new people and look forward to becoming an active member of First Church."

Summer Childcare Positions

Our childcare workers, Sydney Paunan and Ariana Daney, are leaving for their summer break from college. We wish them well!

In related news, we have two childcare positions available for the summer starting May 7th. Work is from 9:30-11:30 on summer Sundays, and workers are paid $15 an hour. Applicants should be 18 years of age or over. For a job description, please see the link below. Please share this information with anyone you think might be interested! 

Can you spare 15 minutes here and there?

As programming and use of the church has begun to increase, we've realized that there's a need for a team of people who are willing to do occasional room set-up for various events. The work is not terribly strenuous, and typically lasts 15-20 minutes - but we need a group of people to be on call for moments where furniture needs to be moved. Would you be willing to join this group? Please contact the church office at 440-775-1711 to put yourself on our call list for these moments. Thanks so much for your willingness to help! 

Enjoy your summer vacation! 

Our youth fellowship events (Youth Group and the K-5 Hangout) are going on their traditional vacation - so we'll see you in the fall! Watch this space for some summer fellowship events - and if you have an idea for an event, please talk to Jen! 

See you in the fall for more music! 

Our Music and Movement class is taking a summer break.  Please join us in the fall when classes resume! Thanks to all who supported this pilot project!

Office Closed for Memorial Day

The office will be closed on Monday, May 29th for Memorial Day. We will be back in the office on Tuesday, May 30th.

Upcoming Vacation and Juneteenth

The Pastor is taking some time off from Monday, June 5 through Monday, June 19. In his absence, Barbara Davis will serve as the contact person for Pastoral Care. Should you wish a pastoral visit please contact Barb on her home phone at (440)774-1660.

Our Guest Preacher for Sunday, June 11, will be Rev. Roberto Ochoa, Minister for Ethnic Inclusion & Congregational Support for Rural & Small Churches, UCC National Offices.

On Sunday, June 18, the congregation will worship in the Fellowship Hall for a special service led by our Visioning Task Group. This is the first of many chances for you to participate in this important process.

Additionally, Jen is away from the office from Sunday, June 11 through Saturday, June 17.

Finally, the office will be closed on Monday, June 19th, in recognition of Juneteenth. We will be back in the office on Tuesday, June 20th.

Lost and Found

Have you lost anything in the last year? Come check out our lost and found before we empty it! 

Get fresh, local fruits and veggies from City Fresh at First Church in Oberlin this summer! 

Did you know we are a City Fresh farm box pickup? City Fresh offers week-to-week ordering, tiered pricing based on income, and accepts SNAP/EBT. It’s a convenient way to get affordable, fresh produce and eat nutritious foods all season long! 

Pickups begin on June 14th and run weekly on Wednesdays from 5-7 PM. Learn more and sign up at cityfresh.org. 

Did You Know?

Because the presence of a person suffering from opioid overdose is within the realm of possibility for groups and people everywhere, one kind person has provided NARCAN (naloxone, an opioid overdose medication) for use in emergency. Please see the document attached below for its location and what you need to know during and after using NARCAN. 

Additionally, this document is laminated and hanging near our First Aid kit and AED machine.

Dear Friends of the Heartland Conference,

As May is Mental Health Month, members of the Heartland Conference Mental Health and Accessibility Network are offering their voices and experience to raise awareness regarding a variety of mental health concerns. Each Wednesday their voices will be shared via short videos that you can share with your congregations. Mental health concerns are among the leading health concerns in our country and the world. I hope you will be inspired by their testimony and that your church community will consider how it might be an oasis of welcome, inspiration, support, and engagement (WISE). Please click on the video below to hear their words of wisdom and experience.

Blessings on the WISE journey,

Pastor Dave

Oberlin Farmers Market

May 27, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM |

Oberlin Farmers Market, Parking Lot

Later Repetitions:

Every Saturday from May 20 through October 14, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

The Oberlin Farmers Market provides locally grown, seasonal, fresh, high quality produce and farm fresh products. Open rain or shine, featuring a wide variety fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, cheese, honey, baked goods, and more.

Location: Rain or Shine Find us in downtown Oberlin, Ohio, in the parking lot between the Oberlin Public Library and Police station.

Westwood Cemetery Grave Site Location Service

May 27, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm |

Westwood Cemetery

Later Repetitions:

• May 28th, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
• May 29th, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

On Memorial Day weekend, the Friends of Westwood Cemetery and Oberlin Heritage Center will be hosting a table to assist cemetery visitors on locating gravesites. The table will be located inside the Entrance Gate of Westwood Cemetery. It will be available May 27th, 28th, and 29th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm…weather permitting.

Memorial Day Ceremony

May 29, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm |

Wright Memorial Park

Oberlin Veterans organizations cordially invite the public to the 2023 Memorial Day Ceremony

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, May 29, 2023 at Wright Memorial Park, 17 West Vine Street, Oberlin. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held inside Oberlin Elementary School, 210 North Park Street, Oberlin. The event will feature speakers, musical selections and other honors for veterans.

Stone Cleaning at Westwood Cemetery

June 3, 9:30 am to 11:55 am | Westwood Cemetery

The Friends of Westwood Cemetery are scheduling several sessions this summer for cleaning grave stones. The cleaning of the stones is usually quite easy. We use a solution D/2 which is just sprayed on the stone and left to do its work over time. Typically, minimal scrubbing and scrapping is required, as well as debris clean-up from around the stones. PLEASE BRING ANY SMALL GARDENING TOOLS, GLOVES, AND/OR BROOMS TO HELP REMOVE DEBRIS. Please note that all participants will need to fill out a volunteer form, which will be provided once you arrive at the cemetery.

Frank Lloyd Wright Open House

June 4, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Weltzheimer/Johnson House -

Frank Lloyd Wright

Later Repetitions:

• July 2nd, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• August 6th, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• September 3rd, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• October 1st, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• November 5th, 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Weltzheimer/Johnson House is the first Usonian house in Ohio, and one of the few in the nation open to the public. Situated a mile and a half from the art museum at 534 Morgan Street in Oberlin, the house is open to the public the first Sunday of the month from April to November with a docent presentation offered on the hour at noon, 1, 2, 3, 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. Please note: If you have students or youths in your party, please do not purchase tickets for them. Instead, complete the form at the link below by noon on the Friday before your visit. For parking information and other details, see amam.oberlin.edu/flw.