It just takes one hour!
Right in our community, many school-aged kids lack the support at home to perform their best at school. These kids need a caring adult to invest in them. KidsHope USA pairs adults with kids who need something extra, offering kids one hour each week with their mentor.
Since 2012, Five Oaks has partnered with Woodbury Elementary and KHUSA to work with kids in need. Mentored students often say that the hour spent with their mentor is the highlight of their week.
Please consider showing up for one of these kids. This weekend you'll learn how you can get involved, even if you don't have margin to be a mentor. There are many ways to support KHUSA’s work -- and you'll find ideas and info at the ministry cart in the Commons. Questions? Please email khusa@fiveoakschurch.org.
Communion & Baptism Class one to not miss
Families, we want to help you feel equipped to journey will with your kids/students. Our Communion/Baptism milestone (October 14, 9 am, room 101) will help equip you for meaningful conversations with your student about salvation, following Jesus, and what baptism and communion have to do with that. You may register for this class on Realm. Questions? Email family@fiveoakschurchurch.org.
New Phase Small Group starts October 6 — please join us!
Your kids move in and out of phases as they grow and mature, and we don’t want to miss any of them. If you are interested in joining the Phase Small Group that will meet for six weeks during our Saturday services at church, please email Cindy Yarrington, cyarrington@fiveoakschurch.org. First meeting is this Saturday in room 101 — it’s not too late to join in and gain some valuable parenting tools!
Let Pastor Henry answer all your questions
If you’re new at Five Oaks, you may wonder how best to get connected. We have a simple first step, called Pizza with the Pastor. This one-hour lunch with Pastor Henry will allow you to ask any questions about Five Oaks and get you started connecting with others. FREE childcare and a FREE pizza and salad lunch. Sunday, October 14, after the second service. Email Kelsey Vang, kvang@fiveoakschurch.org to register.
Free fall fun awaits your family
As the pace of life picks up in the fall, family time can feel fractured. Fall Fun Fest is a free event for your family in October that is both easy to love and easy to invite neighbors and friends to attend with you. You can look forward to pumpkin decorating, a cake walk, crazy hair, donut on a rope, and new this year -- movies, Bingo, and free dinner for your family at the start of the night! October 26, 6-9 pm (dinner from 6-7). More invite cards and flyers are available at the ministry cart in the Commons this weekend. Oh and yes, it’s all free. Madcap!
Fall Fun Fest: We’d love your help!
We need YOU to help make our 4th annual Fall Fun Fest the best one yet! An event of this size requires over 150 willing sets of hands to implement. New this year — to make this even MORE fun, all volunteers who serve at the event will be eligible to win a $100 Family Movie Night at the Marcus Theatre in Oakdale! Click here to sign up to serve now! Questions? Please contact Pam Hawley, phawley@fiveoakschurch.org.
Join our Reach 1 Family Facebook group to share invite ideas
Got a new neighbor? A family from soccer? The family of your son or daughter’s newest friend from school? These relationships, some new to you and others not, provide a great opportunity for you to invite them into something new in their lives.
As followers of Christ, we’ve experienced great freedom in Christ, and so in theory we should throw the best parties. But, sometimes we feel ill-equipped to invite others to church for any number of reasons.
To help build your confidence in inviting others, consider joining our Reach 1 Family group on Facebook. We need you to join this group so you can share your insights and successes with inviting others, and joining will also give you new ideas and strategies.
We plan to use these ideas to invite those “new” families in our lives to join us at one of our great church parties, the Five Oaks Church Fall Fun Fest on October 26. Click here to go straight to our Reach 1 Family Group and join.
Juniors, seniors & parents…
Join us for our Preparing to Launch class on October 28 at 11:00 in room 101. Our newest milestone, this class will help juniors, seniors and their parents prepare for their final years in high school. To register, please click here.
Do you love being a “techie”?
Some may say “techie” — some may say “geek” — some say “nerd.” If you love these nicknames, please join us for our Worship Arts Tech Open House on Sunday, November 4, at 12:30 pm.
•See what we do
•Talk with people who do it
•Hear our vision
•Tour our facility — behind the scenes
•Lunch included!
To register or ask more questions, please email Harold Ennulat, hennulat@fiveoakschurch.org.
Hey middle and high schoolers, bring your friends on Wednesday nights
School is back in swing, and we know you’re busy with sports, activities, and homework. But Wednesday evenings we’d love to see you and your friends from school join us at Five Oaks from 6-8 pm for a break from your responsibilities. Be ready for crazy fun games, worship, time in small groups with others your age, and a chance to connect. We even sell dinner each week in the Acorn Cafe if you’re tight on time. See you on Wednesday!
Discover your part in the Story of God
Most people find the Bible confusing, even lifelong readers, because most of us don’t understand how it all fits together to tell one story. In Story of God, this six-week experience will offer you a knowledgeable framework for the Bible, help you read it with greater understanding, and make room for your tough questions. Not only can you expect honest answers, but also you can look forward to a practical, realistic approach to reading the Bible for the rest of your life. This is a great way to connect with others in your Story of God cohort, too. For more info on classes starting this fall, visit storyofgod.church.
Save the date: Worship night November 8
Running on empty? Slow down and fuel up at our Prepare Worship Service on November 8 at 7 pm. Be encouraged and equipped as we spend time worshiping through music, prayer, and scripture in a less structured format. Family and friends of all ages are welcome! Join us as we Prepare together for the work God is doing in and around us!
Five Oaks book club
Do you love to read? Join us at our book club to discuss our monthly reading choice and meet others from church who also love a good book.
When: Second Tuesday of every month
Time: 6:45 pm - discussion at 7 pm
Where: Five Oaks Church, Fireside Commons
New members are welcome throughout the year. Join anytime. Please message Carie Jorgenson on Realm to find out what our upcoming titles will be and to ask any questions about joining us!
Save the date for our Annual Congregational Meeting
You may be thinking, “Annual meeting? Ho hum…” Well, ho hum no more. Join us November 11 at 4 pm for worship, community, a short business meeting, and shared vision from Pastor Henry and ministry leaders. Heavy appetizers for all following. Definitely not the annual meeting you remember from your childhood…
Community News
Help wanted: Your home!
Perhaps you’ve considered hosting an exchange student, but you’re worried about a long-term commitment, or a bad match, or maybe you think you’re too busy to adequately share our culture with an exchange student. Here is an opportunity to bless a college student for less than a month. You can invite a Japanese college student studying at Bethel University this winter (February 16th - March 12th) to be a part of your family! Many of these students are hungry for the comforts of home, and they want to participate with your family in your own kind of “busy!” Share your love and faith with your student, and you'll plant a seed. Your student takes classes during the day and spends the evenings with you. Transportation help to/from Bethel is provided as well as a stipend. For information contact, Lisa Bekemeyer, lbekemeyer@me.com or 651-253-9498.
Grandparents make an eternal difference
You matter in the lives of your grandchildren! This phase of life offers you opportunities to influence in ways you maybe never considered as a parent. Join other Five Oaks grandparents as we attend a seminar New Life Church in Woodbury just for grandparents like you. October 27, 7:30-3:30. Click here for more info and to register.
French student looking for a Minnesota home next summer
Do you have room in your life for an athletic 16 year-old French boy for a month during the summer of 2019? He loves sports, reading, technology, and is looking forward to seeing Minnesota sights and culture. For more details, please email Dan Ellingson, dan.ellingson@gmail.com.