Merry Christmas!

All is calm…

Christmas is almost here! As you finalize all your details, we hope you’ll join us for worship this Christmas at Five Oaks. You can look forward to free coffee and hot chocolate, and a warm and peaceful worship experience. We’ll gather on December 23 at 4 and 5:30 pm, and on December 24 at 2:30, 4, and 5:30 pm. We will have programing available for kids in the nursery and preschool. Kids ages kindergarten and up will worship with their families. The Retreat, for our differently-abled kids, will be open at the 2:30 service on December 24. Questions? Email Kelly Bauman, kbauman@fiveoakschurch.org.


Three ways to connect at Five Oaks in the new year

Being part of a church is always more fulfilling when we know people. To help simplify options to connect with others, here are three ways:

1. Visit a small group or two in January and stay with the best fit until summer. No long term commitment, just meeting new people! Go to www.fiveoaks.church/small-groups for more info and to get started.

2. Try our women’s ministry. You can do a once-a-month event or an every week study. Enjoy food, fellowship, and great discussion that really matters. Go to www.fiveoaks.church/women to check it out.

3. Try our men’s ministry. Weekly meeting on Wednesday evening or Saturday morning. Or, meet some new people at our Men’s Summit weekend, January 27-29. Legendary football coach, Steve Johnson, will be sharing at that event! Go to www.fiveoaks.church/men for more information! (Plus you’ll get the early bird discount if you register by December 31.)

Serve a meal at Dorothy Day
If you’d like to make a difference to our neighbors in St. Paul, join us to prepare and serve a meal at the Dorothy Day Center on January 7, 9:30 am-1:15 pm. Interested? Please email Cindy and Tim Wiant, wiynts4@sbcglobal.net. Tim and Cindy will get back to you with confirmation of your spot on our team for this date. Volunteers need to be at least 13 years old.

Looking for peace in your finances?
Finances can be stressful. But even when they aren’t, we all want to use our money wisely. And ideally, we want to use our resources as best we can to be a blessing to those around us. Join Financial Peace University, a class hosted at Five Oaks starting January 22, that looks at financial principles found in the Bible so you can reduce stress surrounding finances and live in freedom. Want more info? Go to www.fiveoaks.church/FPU.

Bless others and stay warm indoors!
As winter settles in for its extended stay, consider joining our DailyLife writing team. This is one serve role that can be fulfilled from a coffee shop, the beach if you’re a snowbird, or even from the comfort of your couch. If you enjoy writing and appreciate the blessing that our DailyLife devotions have provided you, we’d love to chat with you. Email Danny Martin to start that conversation.

Fun with our youngest Five Oakers
In Five Oaks Kids we mix learning and fun for every age as we partner with parents in doing ministry together. Each service includes a time of worship, lesson, discussion, prayer and fellowship. Our staff does the prep work ahead of time to help our volunteers to focus on connecting with kids! If you’d like to make friends with our youngest Five Oakers in the new year, our greatest need is with our elementary kids on Saturdays, but we have other openings, too. Once a month is so helpful. Interested? Please email Kelly Bauman.

Looking for a summer internship?

Now is the time to be thinking and planning for a summer internship! If you’re a junior senior in high school or a college student, please consider applying to be our IMPACT intern this summer.  It’s a great opportunity to get hands-on experience working in various ministry opportunities, connecting with resources for careers in global ministry, and experiencing a short term mission trip (scholarship included!). If you’re interested, or just want to get more information, email Dave Baar at impact@fiveoakschurch.org 


Warm up a chilly January evening at the Five Oaks Coffeehouse

Join our Five Oaks family for a fun night of espresso and live music! (Don’t worry! Decaf will be available too!) This is a great opportunity to meet other folks at Five Oaks and enjoy an evening out. You can also look forward to treats, games, and puzzles. And it’s all free right here at the church. This event is adults only and will be held in our Acorn Commons on January 20, 6:30 -9 pm. Start looking for your sitter now! All the details and registration here.


Middle School Meltdown: Register now!
Need to get your middle schooler out of the house over President’s Day weekend!? Your middle schooler is invited to a weekend at Camp Forest Springs in Westboro, WI, February 17-19, 2023. Students can look forward to snow tubing, downhill and cross-country skiing, plus some solid Bible teaching and time hanging out with friends old and new. Register here. Only 50 spots are available! Questions? Email us at students@fiveoakschurch.org.

Holiday office hours

December 26 — office closed
December 27-29 — 9 am-3 pm
December 30 — 9 am-12 pm
January 2 — office closed

New member candidates

Jordan & Kristen Bieber
Craig & Brenda Franklin
Angela & Gary Nourse
Eve Lo
Cartsen Quinlan