12/10-14, 10 am-2 pm, Science Center; 12/15, 12-4 pm, First Church Fellowship  Hall

Take this opportunity to shop for gifts and intangibles that create jobs and services with local charitable organizations and global communities. Examples of participants are Oberlin Community Services, Santa Elena Project of Accompaniment, CATSS, and many others. Products from Uganda, Nicaragua, Guatemala and more will be sold, and include coffees, hot chocolate, snacks, handcrafted fabrics, jewelry, handbags, and much more! Hope to see you there, ready to have a bright holiday season and doing much to create the like for others. Sponsored by the President's Office and the Bonner Center for Service and Learning.

Wednesdays beginning 11/28, 12:15 pm, First Church in Oberlin (UCC)

Performers in the opening concert include: organists James David Christie (Professor of Organ, Oberlin), Don Verkuilen (Minister of Music at First Congregational Church, Elyria), harpist Kevin Layer (OC '12), soprano Marlene Rosen (Oberlin Professor of Voice), plus a string orchestra of Oberlin students and community members. Bring a bag lunch.

Thursday, 12/13, 7:30 pm, Oberlin UU Fellowship (355 E Lorain Street, east of IGA)

Come find sanctuary during the holiday season in readings, meditations, sharing, and music.  This darkest time of the year brings sadness, but also gifts. The Oberlin UU Fellowship will host this multifaith service, facilitated by Rev. Mary Grigolia and Barbara Fuchsman, sponsored by Oberlin Area Cooperating Ministries, Oberlin College Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, and the Interfaith Student Council. Reception to follow.

Sunday, 12/16, 7 pm, Finney Chapel

Come sing along, or just listen to the favorite Messiah choruses, featuring soloists from Oberlin Conservatory. A freewill offering will benefit Family Promise of Lorain County. Call Credo (440-774-3658) for more information. Hosted by Credo and co-sponsored by the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.

Monday, 12/17, 7 pm, First Church in Oberlin, 106 N. Main Street

Bring your family and friends this holiday season to enjoy the brilliant sounds of organ and brass, a sing-a-long beautiful handcrafted pottery mugs, and complimentary beverages. All proceeds go directly to the Oberlin Community Services. Mugs: $10; Admission: free 

Below is information from several congregations that have shared their Christmas service times with ORSL. Additional congregations are listed at: www.oberlin.edu/localworship.

Christ Episcopal Church

Monday, 12/24, 10:30 p.m., Hymns, Carols and Sung Eucharist 
Tuesday, 12/25, 10:30 a.m., Said celebration of the Eucharist 

First Church in Oberlin (UCC)

Monday, 12/24, 7 p.m., Christmas Eve Family-Friendly Candlelight Service

All are welcome at this beautiful service of carols, stories, music and candlelight as we welcome in the Christ child.

Peace Community Church

Monday, 12/24, 7 p.m., Christmas Eve Communion Service

Sunday, 12/30, 10 am, Christmastide Brunch

1/25 3-5 and 6:30-8 pm, 1/26 10 am-2 pm (lunch provided), First Church in Oberlin

The English translator of "Drawn to Freedom" Dr. William Rader will facilitate this discussion that will address the role of freedom in the Christian life and the divide between Christians who place different emphases on personal morality or social justice. In his translator's preface, Rader recognizes that while it might seem counterintuitive to use a catechism as a springboard to discuss freedom, he sees Busch's work as a way to answer the question, "Why are you called a Christian?" and is primarily interested in the relevance of the gospel for this "tangled world." Eberhard Busch is best known for his biography of Karl Barth. $10.00 registration fee; $15 for registration and "Drawn to Freedom"; $20 for registration, "Drawn to Freedom" and "The Heidelberg Catechism". RSVP by 1/15 to Jim Deitz ejdeitz@centurytel.net, 988-2714 or Linda Slocum lrslocum@gmail.com, 775-2482.

Friday, 3/8, 7:30 pm, King 106

In honor of International Women's Day, Loretta Ross will lecture on Reproductive Justice, Religion, and Human Rights. Ross is co-founder of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, a network founded in 1997 comprised of 80 local, regional, and national organizations that focus on reproductive justice for women of color. Sponsored by the Mead Swing Lectureship Fund and the Oberlin Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies.