We’d love your help at 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 nursery, preschoolers, early elementary. We hope to see you! Christmas services will take place on December 23 at 3:30 and 5 pm, and on December 24 at 2, 3:30, and 5 pm. Click here to find a place to serve in Five Oaks Kids at Christmas. For connections roles, click here or email Laura-Paige Albert.
Young Adults: Find your people this Christmas
Are you in your 20s and 30s and looking for a fun way to connect with others your age at church? Our Young Professionals group hosts quarterly events to gather together and have fun! Coming up next is an evening out at the European Christmas Market in St. Paul! Join us on December 5 from 6-9 pm. To learn more and register, click here: https://fiveoakschurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3260205
Ladies, pause the holiday hubbub to reflect and be still
We invite you to step away from the holiday rush and join us for an evening to “behold and be still.” Enjoy a time of open mingling and refreshments with other women, then join us in re-centering our hearts on Jesus through music, scripture, and reflection. December 11, 6:30-8 pm at Five Oaks Church. Take this opportunity to invite your neighbor or co-worker to join you! Details and registration here.
Join our Advent kids choir
Your kids can help bring Advent to life! On December 14, they’ll open the Advent service with a Christmas song—and we’d love for your child to join the choir. Just come at 4 pm to pick out a costume and jump in. (We have lots of costumes!) If your child wants a practice run, join us at the December 7 Advent service at 4:30 pm for a quick rehearsal on stage after the Advent talk. It’s a fun, simple way for kids to be part of the celebration. Questions? Email Kelly Bauman, kbauman@fiveoakschurch.org.
Young Adults: Join us for a winter retreat
Are you a young adult looking to deepen your faith, build meaningful connections, and enjoy a refreshing retreat experience? This event, for those in their early 20s to mid-30s, offers winter activities, games, group discussions, worship, and enough downtime to recharge. Join us January 2-4 at Wood Lake Bible Camp in Grantsburg, WI. Interested? Go to www.fiveoaks.church/young-adults to register. Scholarships are available. Questions? Email Kyler Albert, kalbert@fiveoakshurch.org.
Drive Season continues!
We’re so grateful for how you’ve already stepped in this drive season! Your generosity to The Dwelling Place, Hope for the Brave, and Union Gospel Mission has helped provide hundreds of our neighbors with needed supplies—and it’s making a real difference. Next up: the Kids Hope Giving Tree in the Commons and Shoe Away Hunger during Advent. Then in January, we’ll collect baby items for New Life Family Services and Esther Homes. More info available at the chalkboard in the Commons.Questions? Email Dave Baar at impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Love our neighbors by donating blood
Because he first loved us, we have the joy of loving others in real, life-giving ways. We invite you to join us in a simple but powerful act of love: Donating blood to help those in need. Your one donation could be the answer to someone’s prayer. A stranger you will never meet will be blessed through your generosity. January 8, at Five Oaks, between 10 am-2 pm. Sign up for a donation time slot here. Questions? Email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Students: For your calendar
As we head into a full holiday season, here’s what’s coming up in Student Ministries. On December 17, we’ll have our annual Christmas Party. We’ll take a 3-week Christmas break (no youth group on December 24, 31, or January 7), but don’t miss out on Tubing Night - Saturday, January 10, for all students and their friends in grades 5-12. Questions? Email Mindy Wissink, mwissink@fiveoakschurch.org.
Build a family culture of honest conversations
Want to build a family culture where conversations about healthy sexuality feel natural and ongoing? Join our 12-week course, Raising Sexually Healthy Kids, created by Pure Desire Ministries for parents of toddlers through high schoolers. You’ll learn how to create a safe, open space for honest conversations. Two classes to choose from starting on Saturday, January 10 and Sunday, January 11. Visit
www.fiveoaks.church/family to sign up. Questions? Email Mindy Wissink at mwissink@fiveoakschurch.org.
Family Mission Trip - SUMMER 2026!
Our summer Family Mission Trip is scheduled for July 18-25, 2026. 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. Summer 2026 may seem a long way off right now, but planning is already underway, and we’d love to know if you’re interested in learning more about being part of this trip. The trip is for everyone 18+ and students 13+ with a parent. To get connected, email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Be part of the story—help care for moms-to-be through Esther Homes
As the government shutdown continues, food assistance programs will pause and resources/food shelves across our communities will begin to thin. We want to ensure that our ESTHER families are cared for during this time. Together, we can spark collective action that ensures no family is left behind in this moment of need. Three ways to help: 1.) Food drive collection: canned food, dry cereals, boxed food, fruits and vegetables, proteins, snacks for kids. 2.) Make a meal and drop it off at ESTHER Homes. Or, 3.) Provide grocery store gift cards from Cub Foods, Target, or Walmart (any amount helps!) Email amber@estherhomesmn.org for the address or more info. Or, you may call Amber at (423) 284-1809.
Lend a car to a Five Oaks Missionary
Do you have an extra car, or is your car sitting in the garage all winter while you’re somewhere warm? One of our missionary families from the Middle East will be in our area from early January 2026 to early February 2026, and they’re in need of a car to visit their supporters in the area. They’re estimating they’ll drive around 2500 miles over the course of that month. If you’re willing to serve a missionary family in this way, or if you have further questions, please email Dave Baar at impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Thinking about a summer internship?
Now is the time to be thinking and planning for a 2026 summer internship! If you’re a junior or senior in high school or a college student, please consider applying to be one of our IMPACT interns this summer. This internship is a great way to explore local and global missions by serving in our community, helping Five Oakers to serve in our community, and serving and supporting our vocational missionaries around the world. This internship also offers the possibility of experiencing a short-term mission trip (scholarship included!). Interested? Email Dave Baar at impact@fiveoakschurch.org.