Feeling disconnected?
Being part of a church is always more fulfilling when we know people. With the start of a new year, it’s also a great time to jump in and get connected to your church family. Here are three options to connect with others, here are three ways:
1. Visit a small group or two in January and stay with the best fit until summer. No long term commitment, just meeting new people! Get started here.
2. Try our women’s ministry. You can do a once-a-month event or an every week study. Enjoy food, fellowship, and great discussion that really matters. Review the options here.
3. Try our men’s ministry. Weekly meeting on Wednesday evening or Saturday morning. Or, meet some new people at our Men’s Summit weekend, January 26-28. (Details and registration for Summit can be found here.)
Looking for peace in your finances?
Finances can be stressful. We all want to use our money wisely. And ideally, we want to use our resources as best we can to be a blessing to those around us. If you’d like to find more freedom within your budget, join Financial Peace University, a class hosted at Five Oaks starting January 21. We’ll look at financial principles found in the Bible so you can reduce monetary stress and enjoy peace of mind. Want more info? Put “FPU” on your connect card or go to www.fiveoaks.church/FPU.
Story of God — winter classes now open for registration
Do you ever find the Bible confusing? Ever wondered how you fit into God’s plans for you? Join Story of God, a six-week guided journey through the Bible. Those who have taken the class have found greater understanding of how the Bible fits together to tell one big story. Learn how you fit into the bigger story that God has for your life. You’ll meet with a cohort once a week and can expect about 20 minutes of outside work each day. Details and registration available here. Questions? Email Jonathan Haage.
Upcoming in Five Oaks Students
We’re looking forward to youth group resuming again on January 17. Meantime, register now for our snow tubing event on January 6. Questions? Email students@fiveoakschurch.org.
Looking for a way to give back in 2024?
Each weekend, the children in Five Oaks Kids worship together, pray together, and grow in their knowledge of the Bible. We open our Bibles every week with kids in Kindergarten and up. If you would like to be a part of this ministry we invite you to observe a classroom and see if we can find the right fit for you. Whether you want to serve each week or sub when you can, we have many different roles available from teaching to helping behind-the-scenes mid-week. Curious? Email Kelly Bauman for more info.
Serve a meal at Dorothy Day
If you’d like to make a difference to our neighbors in St. Paul, join us to prepare and serve a meal at the Dorothy Day Center on Jan 6, 9:30 am-1:15 pm. Interested? Email Cindy & Tim Wiant, Wiynts4riverfalls@gmail.com . Tim and Cindy will get back to you with confirmation of your spot on our team for this date. Volunteers need to be at least 13 years old.
Need to run off some steam?
With the weather turning colder, it can be hard to find ways to burn energy as a family. Consider signing up for Family Gym Hours at Five Oaks during the holiday season, December 18-January 5. We have select hours available on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays for our Five Oaks families. Families may sign up for an hour of time to play together – you pick the activity. Interested or have questions? Email Laura-Paige Albert to sign up.
Panama mission trip: Join an info session
If you are interested in learning more about our plans to serve in Panama in July 2024, please join us for one of these information sessions:
January 6, 2024, 5:45 pm - In the Commons (outside the gym)
January 7, 2024 10:15 am - Room 101
This mission trip is open to everyone 18 years+ and families with middle school aged students and up. We plan to serve alongside the Word of Life Panama missionaries and will be partnering with Filter of Hope and the local church to share the gospel & water filtration systems with Panamanian families.
One simple way to help women in crisis
Women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy can often feel overwhelmed, alone, and frightened. We partner with two organizations who help navigate this journey with women and families who find themselves in this spot. Each year in January, we host a baby items drive in partnership with New Life Family Services and this year Woodbury Options for Women. Here is a list of needed supplies. Sometime in the next three weeks, please pick up a few items from the list and return them to church commons by January 28. Whether you donate or not, please also pray for both these partner organizations and for the families they help each year. Questions? Email impact@fiveoakschurch.org
Are you a pray-er? Want to serve your church from home?
Did you know that we receive upwards of 30 prayer requests each weekend? From trials to triumphs, we are honored to lift up these requests week in and out. The Prayer Card Team is currently looking for more help in sending handwritten cards to those in our church body who are in need of prayer. Commitment is twice a month, all from the comfort of your own home. For more info, email Kelsey Vang at kvang@fiveoakschurch.org.
Want to grow as a leader?
In the workplace, the church, and home? Join Pastor Henry for an 8-week biblically grounded leadership course designed for transformation, not just gaining information. Sundays at 7:00-8:20 am staring in January. Registration and info here. Questions? Email office@fiveoakschurch.org.
New member candidates
Kurt & Marianne Peterson