congregational meeting This weekend
Join us for our annual congregational meeting on Sunday, November 10, at 4 pm. This includes worship, a short business meeting, and vision from Pastor Henry and our leadership team, plus tacos for supper afterward. We’ll vote on governing board candidates and proposed changes to our constitution. (Five Oaks members may vote, but all members and regular attenders are invited to attend and participate in discussion.) Childcare is available up through grade 5. Candidate bios and agenda details are available at
www.fiveoaks.church/congregational-meeting. Hope to see you Sunday afternoon!
Got an itch to deck the halls?
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 23, 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? Email Stephanie Kiel to sign up.
DailyLife Team: Writing for spiritual growth
Are you someone who likes writing and helping others grow in their faith? If so, we have a couple of opportunities you could engage in through our DailyLife Team. This team writes, edits, and publishes daily devotionals via email based on the Scripture from our weekend sermons. If you want to explore these two different opportunities, put “DL Writer” on your connect card, or email Peg Benson, pbenson@fiveoakschurch.org. We will provide you with resources, tools, and training to get you started.
Serve, eat, and worship!
When we added a second Saturday worship service, we knew that one of the perks is that it would allow people to attend one service and serve at the other service on the same day. This offers the chance to enjoy a full day of Sabbath. If your family enjoys worshiping together on Saturdays, please also consider serving in some way at the other service. We have room for you in a classroom role, a greeting role, or even on our sub list – and dinner for those who serve on Saturdays! Email Kelly Bauman for more info.
Last call for those
UGM Thanksgiving Bags!
This is the last weekend to return those filled UGM Thanksgiving Bags during weekend services. The shopping list is available here, or you can pick one up in the Commons at the chalkboard! Can’t make it to services this weekend? Please return filled bags to church no later than Wednesday, November 13. (Office hours are 9 am-3 pm Monday-Wednesday next week.) This is a great way to give back in our community with your kids, family, or small group, make it a grocery shopping outing together! Questions? Email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Next up in Drive Season: Hope for the Brave
Hope for the Brave is a nonprofit founded by Five Oaker Jennifer Flaherty. Its vision is to end generational violence one person at a time. For Drive Season, Hope for the Brave is collecting unwrapped toys and gifts for their Christmas event in December. Pick up a shopping list from the chalkboard and check out Jennifer’s table in the commons this weekend before or after services. Questions about Hope for the Brave or want to volunteer at their December event? Email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Important dates to note in Student Ministry
It was a warm fall week outside, but the holidays are right around the corner! With that comes some shifts in our schedule that you’ll want to capture on your calendar: We won’t meet on Wednesday, November 27. Happy Thanksgiving! Our youth group winter celebration will take place on December 18, and then we’ll take off for the holidays and resume on January 15. Our snow tubing night (all 6-12th graders are welcome) will be on January 11. Look for all dates and any registrations on our website or your Church Center app!
Mark your calendar for Advent!
The Christmas holidays are right around the corner! Also coming soon is our Family Advent Services in December. We will have three services (December 1, 8, and 15) all at 4:30 pm. We’ll start in the worship center with some fun and games and a short Christmas message. We will have options afterward that include games and activities for toddlers to grandparents, treats, crafts, and some time to socialize. No need to register! We hope to see you there!
Host an international student for Thanksgiving
American holidays can be a very lonely time for international students who are living on campus here in the US. Many of these students have heard about Thanksgiving but don’t really know what it’s all about. You have the opportunity to change that by hosting an international student for Thanksgiving. The Hospitality Center is ready to help you make that happen. If you’re interested to learn more, you can contact jonathan@thehospitalitycenter.org. Or send your questions to Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Loving and serving our neighbors!
Last Saturday, 12 Five Oakers prepared and served an amazing meal of beef stew, biscuits, watermelon, and pumpkin cake to 230 of our neighbors in need at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul. Fiver Oakers serve a meal at the Dorothy Day Center six times per year. Volunteering for this event is a great way to serve in our community and to meet and work side-by-side with Five Oakers you may not have met before. It’s also a great opportunity to invite a friend or a neighbor to join in and see the heart of Five Oaks in action. If you’d like to get involved at an upcoming event, just email Tim and Cindy Wiant at wiynts4riverfalls@gmail.com.