We’d love your help during Christmas services
Looking for a way to give back and serve this Christmas season – possibly with your family or small group? We would love to have you join us in serving either in Five Oaks Kids or in Connections at any of our five Christmas services. We have many options, including usher, greeter, hot chocolate bar, serving with preschoolers or in the nursery, etc. Details for opportunities in Five Oaks Kids here. Details for opportunities in Connections here.
Ladies: Take a break from the busy to celebrate the season
Hit pause on all the holiday prep and join us for A Season To Remember, December 14 at 6:30 pm. You can look forward to an evening of meaningful remembrance as we hear more about the three women of the Christmas story. We hope their stories, and those of our very own special women, will be an encouragement to you. We’ll also have a few games and some holiday treats. Invite a friend or neighbor to join you! Details and registration here.
Need to run off some steam?
With the weather turning colder, it can be hard to find ways to burn energy as a family. Consider signing up for Family Gym Hours at Five Oaks during the holiday season, December 18-January 5. We have select hours available on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays for our Five Oaks families. Families may sign up for an hour of time to play together – you pick the activity. Interested or have questions? Email Laura-Paige Albert to sign up.
Don’t forget those shoes to donate!
Contribute to the pile of blessings in the commons by bringing your new or gently used shoes to donate through December 17. We’re partnering with Shoe Away Hunger who uses your donations to help feed hungry neighbors. For every pair of new or gently-used footwear received, they can feed one person with up to seven days of essential groceries through their Feeding The Future programs. For more information email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
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: 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.
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.
Do you have one hour a week to spend with a child?
Over 50 Five Oakers are engaged serving students and staff at Woodbury Elementary through Kids Hope USA. Our service to this community is making a difference AND bringing new opportunities. We currently have three students waiting for new mentors. This is an opportunity to shine the light of Jesus into the life of a student in need. Interested to learn more about how you can help? Email the Five Oaks Kids Hope leadership team at khusa@fiveoakschurch.org.
Could your career reach the unreached?
Did you know that almost all people who have never heard the Gospel are in countries that are closed to missionaries? But all these countries are wide open for business. Email impact@fiveoakschurch.org to learn how you can pursue a career with businesses that are making disciples among the least-reached people in the world. Careers such as e-Commerce, IT, Hospitality, Engineering, Healthcare, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Education, Fitness, and other areas are all possibilities!
Giving to our neighbors in need this Advent
God’s gift of Jesus inspires our giving in the Christmas season. We have three opportunities for our Five Oaks family to serve our neighbors in need this year. 1) The Kids Hope USA Giving Tree provides gifts to families in need at Woodbury Elementary. Grab a gift tag off the tree in the commons. 2) Shoe Away Hunger: Bring your new or gently used shoes to church over the next three weeks, and those shoes will be sold to people who need them. Proceeds are then used to buy essential groceries for hungry neighbors. 3) Hope for the Brave, a nonprofit run by Jennifer Flaherty of Five Oaks, will host a Dayton’s Bluff Christmas Event, serving kids and families in need in St Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood. They’d love some volunteers at this event. Questions? Email impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Two Sunday Advent services remain!
Take time this Advent to prepare your heart for the arrival of Jesus, our perfect Savior, who showed up in a broken world and changed it forever. On December 10 and 17 at 4:30 pm, our family-friendly Advent services will focus on a different aspect of the Advent season each week, plus its impact on today’s world. Invite your neighbors! Questions? Email Tom Vang, tvang@fiveoakschurch.org.
Looking for a summer internship?
Now is the time to be thinking and planning for a summer internship! If you’re a junior or 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 roles, connecting with resources for careers in global ministry. This internship also offers the possibility of experiencing a short-term mission trip (scholarship included!). Interested? Email Dave Baar at 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.
Want to grow as a leader?
In the workplace, the church, and home? Join Pastor Henry for an 8-week biblically grounded leadership course designed for transformation, not just gaining information. Sundays at 7:00-8:20 am staring in January. For more information, email office@fiveoakschurch.org.
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.
Family Mission Trip - SUMMER 2024!
Our summer Family Mission Trip is scheduled for July 20-28, 2024. We’re planning to travel to Panama to partner with Word of LIfe Panama and Filter of Hope to serve and share the gospel with families and students in Panama. It’s not too late to get in on this - BUT DON’T WAIT! We need to have a solid idea of who will be going by December 20, so we can get started on all the critical logistics. To get connected, email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
New Member Candidates
Tyler Clare
Karen & Moses Cooper
Dan & Tina Eggum
Blake & Annika Olinyk
Troy & Lori Mower
Blake & Madison Trygestad
Michael & Jasmine Wessner
Ryan & Deb Wyss