Anyone need a refresh and recharge weekend?
Our annual Men’s Summit and Women’s Retreat are coming up at the beginning of 2024! The Men’s Summit is on January 26-28, 2024 and the Women’s Retreat is on February 23-25, 2024. Take the opportunity to step out of your normal rhythms to be refreshed and rejuvenated. They will have amazing speakers, time for connection, and meals included. Details and registration here for Men’s Summit. Details and registration here for Women’s Retreat.
Got the itch to deck the halls? Help us this Saturday!
If you have a keen eye for decorating, a love for all things Christmas, or just like lifting heavy things, please join our decor team to make our plans a reality as we transform Five Oaks to be Christmas-ready! We’ll meet
November 18, 9 am-noon at Five Oaks. We need your help to bring trees and boxes down from storage, set up all those beautiful trees, and make our building festive and ready for the Advent season. Coffee and lunch are provided. Interested? Register here.
Mark your calendar for all things Advent
Don’t let the Advent season pass without taking time to prepare your heart for the arrival of Jesus, our perfect Savior, who showed up in a broken world and changed it forever. Advent kicks off with a Very Merry Family Advent event on November 26, 4:30 pm. This action-packed event will combine Advent messaging with games, crafts, and time to socialize. (You can register for this event here.) Then on December 3, 10, and 17, return each week at 4:30 pm for our family-friendly Advent services, where we’ll focus each week on a different aspect of Advent and its impact on the world we live in today. No registration required for the December Advent services. Questions? Email Kelly Bauman.
Celebrating our thankfulness next weekend
Each weekend in Five Oaks Kids, about 60 volunteers step up and minister to our youngest Five Oakers, and we couldn’t be more grateful. During the weekend of November 25+26, we’ll have a table with cards for parents and kids to write thank yous to volunteers. Please take a moment to take advantage of this. You can even make a note in advance and bring it with you. Also, recall that our 2nd through 5th graders will worship with their parents next weekend. We can’t wait to celebrate our volunteers together!
Joy to your calendar!
The holidays are coming, and everyone’s schedules are getting busy! Here are a few things you need to know in Five Oaks Students: No youth group: Wednesday, November 22 (Happy Thanksgiving!). Kids Hope USA gift creation and shopping for MS and HS: December 13. Christmas Party: December 20. Winter break (no youth group): December 27, January 3+10. MS and HS Tubing night : Friday, January 5. Questions? Email students@fiveoakschurch.org.
Get those old shoes out and ready to donate!
Got a pile of shoes you don’t need or wear? Your old shoes can make a difference! Bring them to the commons November 25 through December 18 because we’re partnering again this year with Shoe Away Hunger. For every pair of new or gently-used footwear received, the Shoe Away Hunger program is able to feed one person with up to seven days of essential groceries through their Feeding The Future programs. For more info, email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Help with healing from divorce or separation
DivorceCare is a safe place where caring people come alongside you as you find healing from the pain of separation or divorce. At this 13-week Christ-centered support group program, you’ll find helpful counsel to manage the emotional turmoil and practical tools for decision-making. The group meets at Five Oaks Church at 7 pm on Monday evenings. Find our group on www.divorcecare.org to sign up.
Bless families in Minneapolis this Christmas!
Every year, many families have to choose between some modest gifts under the tree or food on the table. Our local partner, Hope Academy, has a goal to eliminate that tough choice for over 600 children! They will be hosting an in person “pop up” Christmas store on Saturday December 2, at which Hope Academy parents will be allowed to shop with dignity by purchasing $75-100 of new toys and clothes per child at less than 10% of retail value. Interested in volunteering for this event? Email imapct@fiveoakschurch.org or click here to volunteer on December 2. Or, give financially here.
Middle school Meltdown: Registration is now open!
Need to get your middle schooler out of the house over President’s Day weekend? All 6th-8th graders are invited to a weekend at Camp Forest Springs in Westboro, WI, February 16-18, 2024. 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. Registration is open at www.fiveoaks.church/students. Spots are limited! Questions? Email us at bramsey@fiveoakschurch.org.
Thank you for providing 200 Thanksgiving bags!
It was fun to see the “sea of bags” return to the commons this year. Thanks to your generosity, the 200 bags you donated will help feed over 1000 of our neighbors this Thanksgiving! So much to be thankful for, and you serving in this way is one of them! Thank you, Five Oaks!
Join in The Mission here at Five Oaks
In our current sermon series, we’re learning about what it means to be on mission for Jesus. Will you consider committing to partner with this mission right here at Five Oaks? If you have a personal relationship with Jesus and you have completed the Story of God class, we would love to have you join us for our membership class on December 3 at 10:45 am. To register, email Kelsey Vang, kvang@fiveoakschurch.org.
Are you a pray-er? Want to serve your church from home?
Did you know that we receive upwards of 30 prayer requests each weekend? From trials to triumphs, we are honored to lift up these requests week in and out. The Prayer Card Team is currently looking for more help in sending handwritten cards to those in our church body who are in need of prayer. Commitment is twice a month, all from the comfort of your own home. For more info, email Kelsey Vang at kvang@fiveoakschurch.org.
Got a minute? We’d love your help.
Are you someone who is naturally organized and likes to keep things ship-shape? Do you experience a small thrill when a task is completed? If so, we have the perfect serve opportunity for you. We are currently looking for someone to help log our weekend service attendance information into our database. Twice a month. Four hours total. You can either come to the office or do it from home. We will provide all the training you need. Interested? Email Kelsey Vang at kvang@fiveoakschurch.org.