A Prayer for This Weekend

Jesus said: 
I have loved you as the Father has loved me. Abide in my love. Follow my example in obeying the Father’s commandments and receiving his love. If you obey my commandments, you will stay in my love. My commandment to you is this: love others as I have loved you. There is no greater way to love than to give your life for your friends.  
from John 16

Remind us:
We are all made in your image.
We are all prodigals wandering far from home.
We all find mercy in your embrace.
Abba, our Father in heaven
Let your name be hallowed.

 

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Isaiah prophesied a day when all will be made right: 

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. 
from Isaiah 25

Abba, Our Father in heaven
We are exhausted with all this violence;
A truck bomb in Baghdad,
The mass murder in Orlando,
The killings this week of
Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, five police officers in Dallas, and a toddler in North Minneapolis. 

We look for you to restore all things,
We wait for resurrection.
But more than waiting,
Let us live today to see your kingdom come,
To see your will be done;
As it is in heaven let it be so on earth.

 

—

 

Jesus said, 
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 
from Matthew 5

In our shared hunger,
We see that we are the same.
For ourselves, our friends and our enemies:
Provide our needs,
Give us today our daily bread,

In the hatred and violence we hold in our own hearts,
We see our shared need for your love to take hold,
We can taste our need to give and receive forgiveness.
Bring healing.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

 

—

 

The Psalmist sang: 
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. 
from Psalm 23

John testified: 
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 
from John 1

Paul taught: 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 
from Romans 12

Jesus said, 
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. 

Then he prayed: 
Father, do not take them out of this world; protect them from the evil one. 
from John 16-17

Jesus, we trust you,
We follow you.
Teach us that you are with us,
Even in the valley of the shadow of death.
Show us how to overcome evil with good,
Darkness with light.

Jesus, lead us
Not into temptation,
Deliver us from evil.
Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
Forever and ever.
Amen
Come, Lord Jesus, come.

We hope you don't notice.

Andrew mug.jpeg

I’ve never felt compelled to sit down and write a blog post. in the back of my mind I’ve always thought blogs are for people who have “arrived”. They are for people who can say: “Look at what I'm are doing! I have it all figured out! If you want to be successful, do it like me!” 

Turns out there is no such thing as having “arrived”. If you’ve arrived, you’ve stopped learning; you've stopped striving to be better. 

It is in this spirit that I write. With humility. Knowing that we will never “arrive”. Knowing that we may not even resemble the vision we are striving towards, but sharing my heart for technology in ministry. 

High Production; Low Visibility

Technology is everywhere. We can’t avoid it. In fact, it’s a carrier for almost all mass consumed information. Whether it be a printing press or a sound system, technology touches nearly every facet of our lives. In fact it’s so pervasive, there are only two situations in which we notice it: If we are making a show of how awesome it is, or if it is so poorly utilized that it sticks out like a sore thumb. Our goal at Five Oaks is to sit right in the middle of those two extremes. We want to be so good, you don’t notice. 

Our lighting is not here to wow you; It’s here to direct your attention.

Our projectors are not here to have you on the edge of your seat; They’re here so you don’t have to bury your head in a hymnal.

This is a challenge for one reason: people are different. An audio mix that is completely immersive for one person is distractingly loud to another! 

Ultimately, technology should be the unnoticed vessel that carries the story of God out to the masses! And that's our goal: that you don't even notice.

-Andrew Carey, Production Manager
acarey@fiveoakschurch.org

Vision

What is God’s vision for your life? Your marriage? Your family?

God created you. And when we choose to follow Jesus, he has made, and is making, us a new creation. But, we are still messed up. Life doesn’t happen exactly as we will it. 

Yet, God has a vision for your life… your marriage… your family. And it starts with being rooted in who God is and what he has done.  Which, in turn, tells us who we are and what we are to do. 

Vision, to some, looks like a tangible, quantifiable goal. God’s vision looks like a relationship with him and the new identity he has given you.

•You are a greatly loved child of God the Father. You are a brother or sister to others in God’s FAMILY.
(Love God – Matthew 22)

•You were once a slave to sin and death, but no longer. You are now a SERVANT and follower of Jesus.
(Love others – Matthew 22)

•You were once purposeless or purposed in idolatry. You are now empowered by the Holy Spirit as a MISSIONARY in the greatest mission of God’s kingdom.
(Make disciples – Matthew 28)

We are called to be a family of servant missionaries.  What does that look like?

We need God and each other to accomplish this vision of our new identity.  Don’t wait to accomplish God’s vision for your life. Get involved in a small group to have people walk alongside you in your journey. 

-Jonathan
jhaage@fiveoakschurch.org

FUN Team pulls off yet another, well, fun event

Food Trucks for Father's Day (say that five times real fast)!  That's right -- we honored Dad last weekend with some delicious food on wheels.  The wheels were provided in the form of two food trucks -- The Tot Boss and r.a.MacSammy's -- both of which set up right here in the Five Oaks parking lot.  It was a beautiful day and many folks (and their dads) sat outside and took a summer break.  While he is normally not a fan of mac-n-cheese, we think that even Pastor Henry has been converted to enjoy the Deep Fried Mac and Cheese Bites!

How do you reach a country of over one billion people?

One neighborhood at a time.

What are we doing in China?
•“Good Neighbor Center” – Practical help for families under stress
•Developing a generation of well-trained pastors and leaders who are firmly rooted in God’s Word
•Building bridges with young people through English camps, and with business people through ongoing English classes

What can you do?  What can your small group do?
PRAY!  Check announcements for opportunities to pray for China. 
LEARN! Watch for opportunities to learn about our work in China.
GO! Watch for details on a short term trip to China October 27-November 7.

Be as a Representative of the Lord Jeusus

“Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the father.”
— Colossians 3
 
 

Keep this as a reminder with you all week.
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Karen Backpack Drive - July 9 - 31, 2016

It is time for our annual Backpack Drive to benefit Karen refugee families from Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand.

Many of the Karen families are new arrivals to the U.S. and do not have the resources to purchase school supplies for their children. We want to properly prepare the kids for the next school year.

The Karen VBS Team will deliver filled backpacks to the Brittany Apartments in St. Paul, on Tuesday, August 9. Backpack supply lists will be available at the Impact Table. Our goal this year is to fill 300 backpacks! Please pick up a card and fill a backpack. Filled backpacks are due back by Sunday, July 31. For more information contact Pam Hawley, phawley@fiveoakschurch.org.

Backpacks—Elementary

A. 36 #2 PENCILS

B. 1 PAIR SCISSORS

C. 4 GLUE STICKS

D. 1 BOTTLE OF GLUE

E. 1 BOX OF CRAYONS (24 COUNT)

F. 1 COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK

G. 1 PACK OF ERASERS

H. 1 PKG. OF COLORED PENCILS

I. 4 DRY ERASE MARKERS

J. 1 BOX (8-10 COUNT) WASHABLE MARKERS

K. RULER

L. PROTRACTOR

M. 5 2 POCKET FOLDERS

N. 5 SPIRAL WIDE RULED NOTEBOOKS

O. 1 THREE-RING BINDER

P. BACKPACK

 

Backpacks—Middle/High School

A. 24 #2 PENCILS

B. 10 PENS—BLACK OR BLUE

C. PENCIL POUCH

D. 8-TAB DIVIDERS

E. 1 COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK

F. ERASERS

G. ONE 3 INCH/THREE-RING BINDER

H. HIGHLIGHTERS

I. EAR BUDS

J. RULER (INCHES & CM)

K. 2 COLLEGE RULED NOTEBOOKS

L. COLORED PENCILS

M. PENCIL SHARPENER

N. BACKPACK

 

 

 

 

,

Serve in China from October 27 - November 7, 2016

,

How do you reach a country of over one billion people?

One neighborhood at a time!

What does a neighborhood look like?

 Not what you might think.

Our in-country partners have a vision to "Ignite church planting movements in every apartment complex in our city.”

What can you do?  What can your Small Group do?

First PRAY!  Check announcements for opportunities pray for China!

Second GO! Watch for details on a short term trip to China, October 27 - November 7! 

To get involved or for further information contact our China Impact Coordinator, Kevin Johnson,  kevindawn@comcast.net.