Wacky Winter Wonderland: Outdoor fun at Five Oaks!
We’re wrapping up our Five Oaks Four Weeks of Fun with an outdoor celebration of all things winter-in-Minnesota! Join us Saturday, February 13, 12-2:30 pm, for pond skating, a bonfire, a photo scavenger hunt, snowman building, snowball toss, playground fun, a snowshoe trail, broomball, sledding, and more. (Bet you maybe didn’t know we had a pond at Five Oaks? Neither did many of our staff!) Bonus: we’re providing a pizza lunch from The Little Oven. Please click here to register ahead of time to help us plan. And, as we know the weather can change, we're monitoring the forecast and will update you by Wednesday, February 10, if we need to change the date. Questions? Please email Pam Hawley, phawley@fiveoakschurch.org.
What every family wants
All parents desire to have a positive influence in their family. To do that, we need rhythms that create opportunities for discipleship, important conversations, relationship, connection, and fun. Without a plan, these great intentions are at the mercy of the daily grind. If your family is like most families, the past year has thrown your family off track in one way or another. Instead of intentional moments, you’ve ended up just trying to make it through each day. Join us on Monday, February 22 at 7:30 pm, for our our next Parenting Event. You’ll be equipped with a plan for developing rhythms that will help your family win. This event will be available in-person and via livestream. If you plan to attend in person, please click here to register in Realm. Questions? Please email John Eiselt, jeiselt@fiveoakschurch.org.
Family Mission Trip Opportunities (Impact Passport “GO”)
Want to help your kids live out the love of Jesus through service to those in need? We have two one-week FAMILY mission trips serving communities in poverty this summer: South Dakota and West Virginia. Both have a strong history of safety and meaningful service, plus well-established protocols for COVID, including flexible scheduling and refunds should COVID restrictions require cancellation. If you are even slightly interested, please email impact@fiveoakschurch.org. These trips fill up quickly, so make plans now!
Ladies: join us for IF:Gathering
In a time when so many things seem unknown, upside down, even hopeless, we know that our God has a plan for the “even if.” Even if our hopes are deferred, or the very worst thing happens, our God is secure and our hope is sure. At IF:Gathering, 2021, we’ll hear from some amazing speakers who will shed light on this and how we respond as women. High school-aged young women and up are welcome. March 5+6; details to follow. Interested? Please put “IF” on your communication card.
Get-out-of-the-house events for students in February
We have some great special events planned for middle and high schoolers in February! As we move toward summer camp and missions, we are taking steps together to deepen community and a heart of serving with your students. Middle schoolers: Join us February 19, 6:30-9 pm, for a dodgeball tournament/movie night at Five Oaks. (You pick!) High schoolers (and their parents they want to): Join us February 20, 8:45-11 am, as we pack meals together at Feed My Starving Children.
Click here to register for the dodgeball tourney/movie night (Middle School)
Click here to register for Feed My Starving Children (High School)
Five Oaks Students: Come play at Afton Alps!
Hey middle and high school students and their families! Do you love to ski or snowboard? No matter if you’re a beginner or a lifetime snow sports lover, join us on February 15 at Afton from 10 am to 3 pm. Henry Michael and Kyler will be there carving up the slopes and would love to see you and your family. You can rent equipment at Afton if needed. Important note: You must pre-register on the Afton website to reserve your spot and purchase your lift ticket. Click here to register with Afton. Meet us at the main lodge at 10 am. Questions? Email Kyler Albert, kalbert@fiveoakschurch.org.
Do you have a child interested in communion or baptism?
These are two significant parts of the faith journey in families, but both concepts can feel intimidating to teach to your kids. For now, in lieu of a class on communion or baptism, we’re meeting with individuals and families who are interested in learning more about these faith components. If you or one of your children have questions or simply want to learn more, please email Kelly Bauman, kbauman@fiveoakschurch.org.
A new way to serve our online community
Do you love helping others feel welcome and connected? Consider joining us as an online host for our Sunday livestream services! Our online services are the front doors of our church for so many checking out Five Oaks, and serving in this role is a great way to help welcome others as they engage in our worship services online. We’ll provide training and practice. If interested in more info, please email Jonathan Haage at jhaage@fiveoakschurch.org.
We’d love to see your smile!
As we move toward “near-normal” in Five Oaks Kids (yay for 3 worship services again!), we are looking for a few friendly faces to greet new and existing families with Five Oaks and help them get checked in when they arrive. We always need more people in classrooms, but we also would love more people willing to greet as well. If that idea feels appealing to you, please write “Greeting with Five Oaks Kids” on your communication card. Questions about serving? Please email Kelly Bauman, kbauman@fiveoakschurch.org.
Have a Heart - Volunteer in February
Looking for an easy way to share God's love? Sign up to serve this month! It's a great way to connect, meet new friends and be the warm welcome to our church family. Ushers, Greeters & Acorn Café are looking for people to volunteer. Interested? Please email Pam Hawley at phawley@fiveoakschurch.org.
Do you love photography?
We’re looking for a few volunteers who are willing to take shots of people in action at our Wacky Winter Wonderland event on Saturday, February 13. If you love to take pics of people having fun, and you don’t mind Minnesota winter weather, bundle up to join us! (If you’re planning to come anyway, just toss in your camera as you’re heading out! Phones work well, too!) This is a great opportunity to add to your photography portfolio or get some material for a class project. Interested? Please email Pam Hawley, phawley@fiveoakschurch.org.