Let’s bless those families!
It’s time for the Kids Hope USA Giving Tree! This year, in addition to providing gifts and gift cards for families in need at Woodbury Elementary School, you can get gifts for the families in our Kids Hope program, purchase gift cards to be given to families in financial difficulty, get encouraging packages for the teachers, and give contributions to the school’s gift fund. Stop by the KHUSA Giving Tree in the commons this weekend to pick up a gift tag for this family-friendly serving opportunity, or click here to access some giving ideas if you're worshiping from home. Return contributions or gifts with their tags to church by December 20. Questions? Email khusa@fiveoakschurch.org.
BLESS Campaign: We look forward to your response
We know that in the midst of a pandemic, one thing is certain: we CAN be a BLESSING. We need to focus on what is certain these days, rather than dwelling on the things that are less certain. In mid-November, when we wrapped up the BLESS sermon series, you received a Commitment Card if you were here for in-person worship, or you received one in the mail if you worship online. As you consider what commitment you'll make to support the BLESS Campaign, please visit www.fiveoaks.church/bless and watch the six-minute video for all the details if you need a refresher. As a reminder, we do ask you to return the Commitment Card to Five Oaks by Monday, December 7. You can access a digital version of that Commitment Card by clicking here.
Rooted Women: Join us at our December TABLE
Ladies, if you’re missing connecting with other women during this holiday season, make plans to join us for our virtual TABLE, December 8, 7 pm. This is a chance to connect with other women from Five Oaks and their friends, and share some guided conversation around Advent and navigating this unusual year. Please email Kathleen Miller, skmiller90@gmail.com, with questions or to RSVP. She will send you the Zoom link as well as questions to think about before the TABLE.
Five Oaks Students: Serving kids in need this Christmas
One of our favorite Christmas traditions is our Kids Hope serve night! On December 9, Five Oaks Students is partnering with Kids Hope to create gifts for students at Woodbury Elementary! This is a great way to serve and show the love of Christ to dozens of families. Just show up and bring $5 to go toward gifts! This will take place at Five Oaks (no shopping this year). Middle school: 6-7:30 pm; high school: 7:30-9 pm. Questions? Email Henry Michael, henrymw@fiveoakschurch.org.
Worship with us at Christmas
The best news of 2020: Celebrating the birth of our Savior cannot be paused! As you make plans for Christmas, here is our schedule for Christmas worship:
December 23, 5 & 6:30 pm
December 24, 2, 3:30 & 5 pm
Nursery & pre-K programing will be available at all services. The Retreat, for our differently-abled students, available at the 5 pm service on December 23.
All services will be available in-person and live streamed. Please RSVP at www.fiveoaks.church/christmas by December 15 for the in-person service you plan to attend. This will help us plan well.
Every time you serve with kids, an angel gets its wings
OK, so we can’t prove that. However, every time you serve, you are sure to be blessed and know that you truly are a blessing to others. Along with helping at our regular weekend services, we’re looking for individuals to serve at our Christmas services, which will be for preschool age and younger. Little kids dressed up and excited for Christmas? Now that will get you in the spirit! Please click here for December and Christmas serving options in Five Oaks Kids, and know that you will be a life changer when you do so.
How would you like to be a Christmas blessing?
As we prepare our hearts and homes for what may be a very different Christmas this year, we all want to bless others in any way we can do so safely. If you’re planning to worship at Five Oaks for Christmas Eve services, please also consider at which service(s) you could also share your talents and gifts by serving as an usher, greeter or similar role. We may have some brand new visitors at Christmas, and your serving will help their first visit feel even more comfortable. Click here for December and Christmas serving options in our Connections Ministry.
High schoolers: let’s (Christmas) party!
Christmas is not cancelled with Five Oaks Students! On December 11, high schoolers will be celebrating together by making Christmas gift crafts, playing floor hockey, and having a bonfire (weather permitting). This is a great opportunity for students to bring friends and be a part of what is going on in Five Oaks Students. Students just need to bring $5 for crafting supplies! Show up between 6 & 6:30. The fun wraps up at 9 pm. You can RSVP for this party here. Please email Henry Michael with any questions, henrymw@fiveoakschurch.org.
Deepening students’ faith for the long haul
Research shows that faith grows and “sticks” if students have a circle of adults who invest in them around faith, purpose and calling. We’ve teamed up with Encircled, a local ministry that gives students an opportunity to grow in their strengths and partner with their circle of adults as they transition to life after high school. This spring we’ll start a new group of juniors and seniors with Encircled. If your junior or senior student is interested, or if you have other questions, please email Peg Benson, pbenson@fiveoakschurch.org.
Capture a Christmas memory at Five Oaks
The Decor Team wants to serve you and your family with a self-serve Christmas photo station in our commons space this season. We invite you use the couch and Christmas tree backdrop in the commons to snap a family pic. All we ask is that you please keep this photo opp safe by limiting the pictures to immediate family. Maybe you’ll love it so much that this pic will make its way onto your 2020 Christmas card!
New here? You can ask Pastor Henry ALL your questions
If you’re new-ish to Five Oaks, you likely have questions about what we do or why. Join us for Pizza with the Pastor, December 20, 10 am in front of the fireplace near the Acorn Café. There you can ask those questions and meet several of our pastors. Sadly, we cannot serve pizza at this time due to the most recent mandate from Governor Walz, but we’ll provide you a gift card you can use to buy pizza whenever you want. We’ll have activities to keep your kids busy while you attend. This is also a great opportunity to meet others who are also new! To register, please click here.
Global Fingerprints: Help a child and plant a church
Do you long to ease the suffering of children? Do you wish people in countries closed to the Gospel could hear about Jesus and find a vibrant church? Global Fingerprints, the child sponsorship program of the EFCA, does both by providing for basic needs of children in the context of planting vibrant local churches, often in tough countries. Blessings like these are a gift you make to Global Fingerprints of $35/mo. Want to learn more? Email impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Oh baby!
Tom and Kelsey Vang are excited to celebrate the birth of their son, Gideon Tsheej Vang, on November 27. Baby Gideon weighed 9 pounds. Mom and baby are both doing well!