deliver real hope in the new year!
Have you ever been out driving and noticed someone standing on the side of the road asking for help? It can feel uncomfortable to know how to respond. Give them money? Wave and smile? Look straight ahead and keep driving? In the commons this weekend, you’ll see Bags of Hope, backpacks filled with essentials for those experiencing homelessness during the winter months. The bags also contain a Bible and info on how to access free meals at Union Gospel Mission (UGM), info on finding a good job, a support network, a place to live, and eternal hope through the love of Jesus. The cost of these bags has been covered in part by the two small groups from Five Oaks who assembled them, and we’re asking you to please prayerfully consider donating the balance – or $12 per bag – to cover the rest of the supplies. You may donate when you pick them up at church, or click here for donating details.
Serve a meal at Dorothy Day next Saturday!
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.
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.)
Students: Let’s help refill the food shelf!
Many food food shelves are being tapped extra hard this year due to inflation. Five Oaks Students comes alongside Open Cupboard in their unrelenting focus is to provide nutritious food to neighbors in a respectful manner while engaging the community in the fight against hunger. Let’s be generous difference makers for our community! Dig through your pantry, take your student shopping, and bring those nonperishable food items to youth group during the month of January! Questions? Please email students@fiveoakchurch.org.
5th-12th grade students: Let’s go snow tubing!
What’s more fun than flying down a snowy hill on a tube under lights? Doing exactly that with a bunch of friends! If your student is in grades 5-12, they’re invited to join us on Saturday, January 14, 7-9 pm at Green Acres in Lake Elmo. All details and registration available here. Questions? Email students@fiveoakschurch.org.
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. Details and registration here.
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 Jonathan Haage 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.
New member candidates
Jordan & Kristen Bieber
Craig & Brenda Franklin
Angela & Gary Nourse
Eve Lo
Cartsen Quinlan