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First Things First
A weekly eNewsletter from
The First Church in Oberlin, United Church of Christ
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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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Sunday
January 30th @ 10am
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Thank you for your donations. |
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As COVID infections are spiking across Ohio, including within our county and community, First Church is taking steps to maintain our worship life and programming while keeping all of us safe.
Click on the video to hear David talk about the update to the Protocols and Guidelines and how it affects some of the events for January.
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COVID-19 Protocol and Guideline Update |
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Due to the current levels of COVID in our county, present COVID protocols and guidelines are being extended.
Watch this space for specific announcements.
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We are asking that you not linger in the hallways as you enter and leave worship. We all long for moments of fellowship, however brief, but at this time it is important to minimize in-person social interaction with those outside one’s own household.
If you haven’t already done so, please consider shifting to a N95 or KN95 mask. At a minimum be sure to use a multi-layered cloth mask. Better still, consider double-masking.
For all of the updates to the COVID protocols along with how this affects First Church's January events, please see the video and PDF above.
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January Christian Ed. News
Because of the surge in the Omicron variant of COVID, we are making some changes to the Christian Ed. offerings this January.
Children's Church will not be held in January. Instead, all children who come to worship in person will stay in the Meeting House. We will have a shorter service to limit exposure, and we will do our best to make it appeal across generations.
The nursery room will be open, and will be staffed if we have two healthy childcare workers available.
Sunday School will be held Sundays at 11:30 am on Zoom. The link is in the Sunday Worship email.
Adult Ed. Is being postponed until February. Watch this space for further details!
We appreciate your continued patience and flexibility as we work through the changing COVID situation. Have a safe and happy January!
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Our Quarterly Directory is Out! View by Clicking the Button Below!
If you see any errors, please contact the office and we will correct it for the next directory. Thank you!
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Genesis House Donation Drive at First Church!
First Church is hosting a donation drive to benefit Genesis House, a shelter for men, women, and children fleeing domestic violence. As Genesis House puts it, “When individuals come into [the] shelter they often come with little to no belongings. Genesis House provides residents with any basic items they may need... Genesis House relies on the generous contributions from the community for many of these items.” Additionally, the youth have written notes of encouragement to go with the collected items. We will be accepting items January 30th – February 13th in the drop-off box on the credenza outside of the office. If you have an item that cannot fit in the box, please place the item next to it or in the office. A list of the items most in need at Genesis House is available by the collection box and via the button below. Thank you for your consideration and continued support.
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Outreach and Service Survey
Hello Church Family,
The Outreach and Service Committee has been looking at the organizations we, as First Church, support financially each year to try to determine if each organization continues to fit within First Church's wider mission. Some questions we have been asking include: Does the organization still demonstrate need? Are there other organizations that may have needs at this time that we could support? Where can our donations make the biggest impact?
We would like to ask you what your thoughts are on some of these questions so that we can focus our church’s giving in ways that impact issues and organizations important to all of us. Thank you to those that have taken the survey, we appreciate it! If you haven't had a chance to, please take a few moments to respond to these questions using the button below as this is the last week to participate in the survey. Thank you for your time and continued support!
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Steve Volk is a member of Oberlin Citizens Supporting Immigrants (OCSI) which has partnered with First Church in support of local immigrant families.
Click on the button below to read Steve's article.
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Baptism
Rhys Madison Thompson, grandson of Jan and Rob Thompson, was baptized on 15 December 2021 by Doug Long (former First Church pastor) at Umstead Park UCC in Raleigh North Carolina. Pictured in the accompanying photo (from left to right) are Cassie Thompson, Will Gallimore, Julie Madison (grandmother), Chrissy Madison, Rhys, Ben Thompson, Doug, Rob, and Jan.
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It's time to register for Summer Camp at Templed Hills!
As in previous years, First Church will be covering all camper fees except the registration fee. Once you've registered, please let Jen know so she can arrange for the rest of your payment.
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The Buckeye Trail
January 25, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Oberlin Heritage Center, via Zoom
Join us for an introduction to the 1,400 mile Buckeye Trail as Randall Roberts guides us on an illustrated program about the history and evolution of this Ohio marvel. Learn about different ways to hike the trail and participate in a Q&A session near the end of the program. Roberts is a trustee of the Buckeye Trail Association and also the City Engineer of Oberlin. The program is free, but pre-registration is required.
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Oberlin Heritage Center Invites Community Award Nominations
The Oberlin Heritage Center’s Community Awards program, now in its 20th year, is accepting nominations of individuals, businesses, or organizations whose outstanding accomplishments are in keeping with the Heritage Center’s mission to “preserve and share Oberlin’s unique heritage and to make our community a better place to live, work, and visit.”
Anyone may submit a nomination. Award categories include:
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Community Historian – to be given to an individual who contributes to the knowledge of the history of the Oberlin community through research, writing, and/or educating others.
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Heritage Guardian Award – to be given to an individual or group dedicated to the ideals of conservation and preservation and who serves the community as a leader in preserving Oberlin’s history, historical records, or historic buildings.
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Community Teacher of the Year Award – to be given to an area educator who inspires his or her students to get involved in community service.
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History Teacher of the Year Award – To be given to an area educator who inspires his or her students to learn more about history.
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Keep Oberlin Beautiful Award – to be given to an individual, business, or organization that helps to enhance the aesthetics and appearance of the community.
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Oberlin Heritage Center Volunteer of the Year Award – to be given to a volunteer who makes extraordinary contributions of time and talent to the Oberlin Heritage Center.
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Business Leader Service Award – to be presented to a business that provided exceptional support to the Oberlin Heritage Center in services or other contributions.
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Youth Community Service Award – for a young person who makes extraordinary contributions of time and talent to the Heritage Center.
Previous awardees, current Oberlin Heritage Center trustees, and paid staff members are not eligible for awards. Downloadable entry forms, which include a listing of previous award winners, are available at www.oberlinheritagecenter.org. Deadline for submitting a nomination is February 1, 2022. Award recipients will be notified in mid-February and will be invited to attend the Oberlin Heritage Center’s Annual Meeting on April 13, 2022 to receive their awards. For more information, contact the Oberlin Heritage Center directly at (440) 774-1700 or email members@oberlinheritage.org
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Additional Links and Information |
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COVID VACCINES NOW AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE 5 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER |
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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.
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Submission information:
Deadline for articles and information is Thursday at 10am. Thank you.
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