Healthy rhythms of life
Our culture embraces busyness, and it’s hard to not get caught up in it. Even with the best intentions, we know life demands a lot of your time. You may be thinking that joining a small group will only add one more thing, one more obligation to fulfill. Instead, a small group can be a place to belong that helps bring balance and a healthier rhythm of life into your everyday for your whole family in their journey of life. Click here to email Jonathan Haage about small groups, or stop by the Family Resource Center in the commons between services to pick up a small groups catalog.
Save the date for free family fun
Your fall family calendar can fill up fast. Mark yours now for the best family night of the year at Five Oaks: Fall Fun Fest, October 11, 6-9 pm. Not only is this an event that your whole family loves, but because it’s a huge church party, it’s also one of our best events to invite your neighbors, co-workers, and friends from school to attend with you. If you’d like to help us make it a party, we have many volunteer opportunities available — before, during and after the event. Start thinking of who you’d like to invite this year! Click here to find a volunteer spot.
Reach One Family & Fall Fun Fest
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 opening for you to invite others into the life of our church family. As followers of Christ, we’ve experienced great freedom in Christ, and so in theory we should throw the best parties. But sometimes, these invites can feel awkward 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 that go beyond this one event. Click here to request an invitation to join the Reach 1 Family group on Facebook! (Yes, you do need an invite!)
It’s not too late to get involved with Five Oaks Students
You don’t have to serve every week to make a huge impact with Five Oaks Students. You can help set up, tear down, or provide a meal for leaders and students! Each of these opportunities is a key component to making discipleship happen on a weekly basis. Consider serving with your small group or a group of friends. Click here to email Henry Michael, and he’ll help you find a good fit.
We need your friendliness
Do you enjoy helping others or making conversation with strangers? We have some specific time slots in our Connections ministry that are beckoning folks like you. Acorn Café – the fourth Saturday and the first Sunday of each month at 9 am, and in our Welcome Center – the first Saturday and the fourth Sunday at 9 am. Interested in more info? Please click here to email Pam Hawley.
Dedication? Baptism? What’s the difference?
Are you curious about what Child Dedication means at Five Oaks? Or perhaps you already know you’re ready to take this first milestone with your child. Join us September 29, 9 am, in Room 101 as we explore what the Bible saying about dedication. Our next dedications will be November 2 and 3 during services. To register for the Dedication class, please click here to email Kelly Bauman.
Considering adoption or fostering?
Welcome to Embrace-Woodbury South! At Embrace, you’ll meet other moms who are on a similar adoption/foster journey. You’ll experience spiritual, emotional, and practical support for adoptive, foster, and ‘waiting’ moms. We will also make time to learn more about caring for our vulnerable children, along with learning to better care for ourselves and our families as a whole. We meet in room 105 on the second Thursday of each month, 6:30-8 pm. (Our next meeting is October 3 — for this month only, it’s the first Thursday.) More questions? Please email Tammy Placzek at the_plaz@comcast.net.
Loving your world: Feed my starving children (Impact “READY” Opportunity)
Hope begins with food! Join us October 5 as we gather to pack meals for the desperately poor at the Eagan FMSC headquarters. Two shifts available: 2-4 pm or 4:30-6:30 pm. This is both a great opportunity to serve as a family —ages 5 and up are welcome— and a chance to reach out to your friends and neighbors to serve with you. Register here: First Shift 2-4 PM or Second Shift 430-630 pm.
You asked for it, and we listened
Every year we ask for your input through the Five Oaks all-church survey. This year, you asked us for a master calendar available through our website that you could download to your smart device. Not only did we listen, but also, we’ve created six different calendars (by ministry) so that you can download ONLY the information you want. Go to http://www.fiveoaks.church/events to download today. You will see step-by-step directions on how to subscribe. You also may visit http://www.fiveoaks.church/events at any time to view the master calendar.
Story of God classes start this fall
One person said of our Story of God course: “It gives me a better understanding of what my purpose here on earth is.” The Story of God helps us see the one story the Bible is telling and gives us a framework which helps us understand more of the Bible as we read it. Come join this rich experience, which is only six weeks long. Click here for more info and to register.
Women: join our fall retreat at Camp Shamineau!
How does a relaxing fall retreat with other women sound? Even better, how about a fall retreat surrounded by the wooded beauty of Camp Shamineau? This fall we’re joining with other local Christian women for a fall retreat, September 20-22. Stop by the ministry cart in the Commons between services to get more info on this retreat and other opportunities in Rooted Women that start this fall.
Got a hammer? Love to paint? You can bless a family in our community
Join us as we come alongside the Barnes family with a fresh coat of exterior paint and a low-maintenance landscape transformation. Kenneth is an 86 year-old veteran and his wife, Ursula, is 81 years old. They have lived in their current home since it was built in 1973. Saturday, September 21, 7:45 am – mid-afternoon, when we finish. Interested? Anyone ages 12-100, male or female, is eligible to register. Click here for more details and to register.
Use your gifts of editing and writing
Sometimes a creative word or a keen eye for detail can be powerfully used to engage our church in Scripture. Our DailyLife team writes, edits, and produces a daily devotional, all from gifted volunteers. Please consider using your gifts to help contribute to hundreds of people engaging in Scripture daily. Please click here to email Jonathan Haage for more information.
God at work in the public schools
Do you love to pray? Are you a mom whose kids that attend the Math and Science Academy in Woodbury? Consider joining Moms in Prayer (for MSA) on the first and third Friday of each month. We meet at Five Oaks from 9:15 am to 10:15 am and pray specifically for the students and staff at our children’s school. Email jenn.bartle@gmail.com if you’re interested or if you have any questions.
New member candidates
Frederick and Allana Gill