Does the unknown make you wary of serving?
It can be hard to commit to serving if you are not 100 percent sure of what you’re getting into. We get that!
Show up this weekend to get a behind-the-scenes peek at exactly what to expect if you serve this Easter in Five Oaks Kids or in our Connections ministries. We have also created an online registration so you can easily select the exact time and opportunity to SERVE this Easter. Just text fiveoaks to 555-888 and we’ll text you the link to sign up.
Ask Pastor Henry all your questions this Sunday
If you’re new here, you may wonder how best to get connected. We have a simple first step, called Pizza with the Pastor. This one-hour lunch with Pastor Henry will allow you to ask any questions about Five Oaks and get you started connecting with others. FREE childcare and a FREE pizza and salad lunch. Sunday, March 31, after the second service. Walk-ups are welcome!
ROAR into VBS: Registration opens this Sunday!
Summer will come to Minnesota, and when it does, we’ll usher it in with ROAR Vacation Bible School, June 10-13! At Roar VBS kids will learn that Life is wild, and God is good! Kids will have fun exploring Bible truths, singing songs, using their imagination, playing games, pausing for a snack and making new friends. We look forward to another amazing year! Registration will be open March 31. If you have questions in the meantime, please message Kelly Bauman on Realm, or click here to email her.
What if you couldn’t read God’s Word?
Did you know that about 2 billion people – six times the population of the United States – are either blind, illiterate, or have no written language? A partnership between Bibles for Missions Thrift Stores and Talking Bibles provides audio Bibles to these people in their own language so that they, too, can hear the living Word of God. The Thrift Stores are run by volunteers so that a large percentage of the sales can go directly to purchasing and shipping Talking Bibles. Interested in learning more? Stop by the ministry cart in the commons between services this weekend – on March 30/31-- or email impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Dedications at Five Oaks April 6+7
Next weekend we will celebrate with families who are taking their first spiritual milestone step with their children by having them dedicated. If you have a young child whom you would like to have dedicated next weekend, please message Kelly Bauman on Realm, or click here to email her. Kelly will reach out to arrange a meeting with you to discuss first steps before next weekend.
Parents! You’re invited to youth group!
Want to see what youth group looks like? Want to know details for the summer? Show up with your student on Wednesday, April 10 at 6 pm. After some shared time at the start, parents will have a separate gathering to catch up on what’s new at Five Oaks Students and get details for this summer. Come with your questions, your calendars, and your appetite! Questions? Please message Henry Michael Williams on Realm, or click here to email him.
Middle schoolers: A don’t-miss tradition is calling you
Middle schoolers! District Blitz, April 12-14, is coming up fast: a road trip to Duluth, inspiring & energetic speakers, worship, hang time with friends and leaders, and great discussions. Space is limited & early registration ends March 27. Register on Realm. Questions? Message Henry Michael on Realm or click here to email him.
Good Friday and Easter at Five Oaks: reaching the unreached
Join us for our Good Friday services on Friday, April 19, at 5:30 and 7:00 pm. Our Easter services will be on Saturday, April 20 at 4:30 pm, and Sunday, April 21 at 8:00, 9:30, and 11 am. Good Friday and Easter are both great opportunities to reach out to new neighbors or others you know who are either not connected or who are unreached. That person in your life may be waiting for someone to invite them to church, as searching for a church home is a daunting process. And major holidays can feel even more isolating without a faith foundation. Take that first step of outreach this Lent season!
Loving your world: Serving Chinese students (Impact Passport – “set” opportunity)
Ever wondered how in the world you can impact China? It’s so far away and so closed to the gospel – or is it? We can put China within your reach. We are partnering with the Hospitality Center for Chinese to both serve the Friendship Meal on April 20, and to host Chinese students and their families for Easter in your home. Interested in either opportunity? Email impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Got questions? So did Jesus!
Join us for Lent services as we reflect on six questions that Jesus asked during his ministry, and look at some Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Jesus. Enjoy bottomless coffee and engage in scripture and prayer as we take a closer look at Jesus’ journey to the cross. Join us for Lent services on Thursday mornings, now through April 11 at 6:30 am. Coffee and Lent journals provided! You can find our services posted on our website late Thursday afternoons if you can’t make it on Thursday mornings!
Pastoral residency at Five Oaks
Our mission is to make disciples who make disciples. Fulfilling this mission has led us on a path to hire a 2-year Pastoral Resident who will take their experiences and learnings from Five Oaks and use them to launch other healthy churches. Please pray with us in this opportunity and in the search process. More info is covered in Pastor Henry’s blog. If you’d like to read more, and you don’t currently receive Henry’s blog, click here to sign up.
Dorothy Day serving opportunity May 4
For many of us, our days are comfortable, with no worries for when we’ll eat again or where we’ll sleep at night. This is an opportunity to step outside that comfort zone and serve those whose basic needs for food and shelter aren’t guaranteed from day to day. If you are 13 or older, consider joining us to prepare and serve a meal at the Dorothy Day Center. May 4, 8:30 am-1:15 pm. Please message Tim and Cindy Wiant on Realm to register. You do need to sign up and get a confirmation for this event.
Is my event canceled? Check Realm!
We have an easy way to stay up-to-date on all things Five Oaks: our online communication tool, called Realm. Realm is where you’ll find the Five Oaks master calendar, set up online giving, find out if the latest storm has forced us to cancel, register for any church event, and more. If you aren’t connected on Realm yet, please click here to request an email invite to register. Once registered, you can use Realm online or download the Realm Connect app on your mobile device. You’ll also be able to manage your own privacy and communication settings to tailor Realm to best serve your needs.
Five Oaks book club
Do you love to read? Join us at our book club to discuss our monthly reading choice and meet others from church who also love a good book.
When: Second Tuesday of every month
Time: 6:45 pm - discussion at 7 pm
Where: Five Oaks Church, Fireside Commons
New members are welcome throughout the year. Join anytime. Please message Carie Jorgenson on Realm to find out what our upcoming titles will be and to ask any questions about joining us!
Community News
Are you serving or parenting children with trauma history?
Rockpoint Church in Lake Elmo is hosting the Empowered to Connect Conference simulcast on April 5+6 for anyone serving (or parenting) children with a trauma history. ETC features Trust-Based Relational Intervention® methods that help bring attachment and connection in families. During the simulcast you will be able to interact with ETC personnel at the live conference in Fort Worth, TX, via an app. Cost: $25 per person, $40 per couple. Qualifies for training required by adoption and foster agencies. For more information, click here. To register, click here.
Beyond Birds & Bees: Communicating your values to raise sexually healthy children
Are you ready for questions from your children about when they can start dating, what’s happening to their bodies, and for that matter, what is sex? Beyond Birds & Bees is designed to help parents identify, understand, and communicate their own family values about sex to their children. This program focuses on understanding the parents’ desire for their children to live out their faith. Sponsored by Woodbury Lutheran Church, April 6. Parents of children ages 2-5: 9:30-11:30 am; Parents of children grades 1-5: 12:30-2:30 pm; parents of children grades 6-9: 3-5 pm. For program info, contact schubben@woodburylutheran.org
The mission field is coming to you this summer!
Experience something amazingly powerful! Loving hosts needed for Japanese students studying at Bethel University for 3 weeks in August. Transportation help & stipend provided. Contact Deb Anderson 763-522-5051, or email her at djamwa@aol.com