Looking for some advent family fun?
Kick off the Christmas season with a fun afternoon for the whole family at Five Oaks! Join us for our Advent Family Fun Fest on Sunday, November 29, 4-6 pm. We’ll start together in the Worship Center with our Kids’ Christmas Choir, fun games, and a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Then we’ll celebrate together with festive snacks, crafts, games, and even bouncy houses! It’s a great way to make memories, connect with our church family, and celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth. This is a free event with no registration required! Bring the whole family and invite a friend! Email Kelly Bauman with any questions.
Join us for the Financial Townhall and the Congregational Meeting
Our annual congregational meeting always provides the special opportunity to look ahead together and hear about the direction God is leading us. Since we are now a church of two campuses, both our financial and our vision conversations need more space. This year, we’re making a change to protect that moment and to give you a better way to engage with our finances. Join us for the Financial Townhall, Thursday, November 12, 6-7 pm, at Five Oaks. You’ll hear all the details about budgets and ask any questions you have. And of course, make plans to join us for our congregational meeting on Sunday, November 15, 4 pm, also at Five Oaks. Food and fellowship will follow the congregational meeting. Questions? Email Brian Burquest.
Help local families enjoy a Thanksgiving meal
We’re thankful to partner again this year with Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities to provide Thanksgiving meals to those who cannot afford the staples for this holiday. Please return filled bags to the church by November 15. 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! You can access the shopping list here, or pick one up at the cart in the commons. Questions? Email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
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 on Saturday, November 21, 9 am-noon at church. We need your help to carry 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 provided. Details and sign up here.
Deepen: A high school winter retreat
Life is loud, and it’s easy for students to get distracted. Deepen, January 15-17, 2027, is a weekend retreat where high schoolers can step away from the noise, dive into God’s Word, and learn rhythms that build a lasting faith. With teaching, spiritual practices, camp activities and outdoor fun, plus our leaders guiding the way, this weekend will deepen students’ foundation for walking with Jesus. Get the details and sign up here. Questions? Email Cody Baader.
Two teams: Two ways to write or edit
If you love to write or edit and want to help shepherd our readers in their walk with Jesus, we have a spot for you on our DailyLife writing or editing teams! And each weekend, our sermon discussion questions are written by a team of Five Oakers! These discussion questions are written and edited by our team. If you’d like to help create these discussion questions or devotionals to bless our church, we’d love to talk with you. Email Liza Halverson for DailyLife, and Danny Martin for sermon discussion questions.
The Foster & Adopt Freezer needs your help
Five Oaks is now providing 32 meals and 32 pantry bags to foster and adoptive families each month from FAM Freezer. Each meal and bag serves a family of six. We've reached the point where significantly more meals are going out than are coming in. This is where YOU come in! We have three primary ways you can help us to bridge this gap. 1) Host a meal/pantry bag session - one family or one small group working for one hour can produce a huge number of meals! 2) Donate funds to purchase supplies to make it possible for other groups to produce the meals and pantry bags. 3) Challenge yourself to donate two meals and pantry bags per month. Grab supplies from the kitchen. Join us today in responding to Christ's call to care for the orphan! Email Maggie and Michael Butler to get started: mbutler1@fiveoakschurch.org.
Now hiring: Small Groups Director!
Five Oaks is looking for our next part-time Small Groups Director! Are you passionate about helping people connect and grow in community outside of weekend church services, coaching and raising up leaders, and having an important voice in community and discipleship at Five Oaks? If so, we'd love to talk with you about this important ministry role! Interested? Contact Danny Martin at dmartin@fiveoakschurch.org.
The world at our door! Host a Japanese university student this winter!
Students from Japan will attend classes at Bethel University this winter during the day and spend evenings and weekends with their host families, experiencing daily life in Minnesota and becoming part of the everyday rhythms of family life. Hosting is a meaningful way to share your home, faith, and hospitality while learning about another culture and building relationships across cultures. Many of our host families and students stay connected long after the program ends. Transportation assistance and a stipend are provided. February 13 to March 8, 2027. To learn more or sign up, contact Lisa Bekemeyer at ldb86486@bethel.edu or 651-253-9498, or visit www.spiiatbethel.com.