Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the Easter service with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – From everything I’m hearing, the Sunday morning parenting workshop was a big success. 274 parents and children attended.

Here are some of the “aha moments” listed on the evaluation forms:

• I'm an intense mom raising an intense child!!!!
• Control is not developing Godly behavior
• Seeing how my children saw themselves in God's eyes
• There are ways to discipline without controlling
• Conflict=my sin running into someone else's sin
• How do you calm yourself down.  James 1:19,20
• Not focus on compliance but development
• The “You Are Commandments”
• Making me aware of the message I send my kids, my own selfish or maybe time/agenda gets in the way
• Distinguishing behaviors and beliefs so that we can put the thumbprint of God in their lives

#3 – This coming weekend is all about personal stories of lives changed by God as MN Adult & Teen Challenge comes to Five for all three services. Who can you invite to this event? Remember, think of families who are struggling with drugs, alcohol or other addictions.

#4 – Here are your comments/questions from the Communication Cards:

• Love Jeremy! Very spirit filled worship today. [I agree. Thank you Jeremy for guest leading again this past weekend. You’re a joy up front and behind the scenes. And great job to the band and vocalists. You led us well.]
• Enjoyed praise and worship – thanks. A sermon that spoke directly to us – Kansas misses you, Henry! [Great having our friends from Kansas visiting. Threw me off part way into the message when I saw them.]
• Love the series, Henry! Thanks! 
• What a great worship set. Really felt lead in song and word – thanks. Loved the message and worship.
• Henry, thank you so much for your message and for helping me to see God’s will for my life so clearly. 
• Loved the worship.
• Great worship.
• Henry – great presentation of the character of God! Touching message.
• For what it’s worth, the worship leader this weekend was awesome. We hope to see him again!
• Really like the young man doing the music.
• Jeremy! Can we hire him? He is awesome….
• Awesome job today bandleader! 
• Pastor Henry – while in NYC last week, I was able to make it to the WTC Memorial and am happy to report that the “Survivor Tree” is alive and well. [Very cool!!!]
• Fantastic worship music today! 
• Hire this guy.
• The guest worship leader is great.
• I am continually impressed – when someone brings it like Jeremy brought it, how do people stand still? 
• Loved the worship set. 
• Another awesome message and sermon. I get so much of what I need spiritually, from our church every week. For direction, and guidance, to face my life of sobriety and overcoming my addictions. God’s grace is so wonderful, and it all starts here – for me – every week.
• Can we please have him as our worship leader? 
• Really enjoyed music this week!
• I like the worship leader! 
• Awesome praise leader today – Jeremy! 

#5 – Our Staff Leadership Team is off to our annual planning retreat Sunday afternoon through Wednesday. Pray for wisdom and discernment for us.

#6 - Here’s the sermon in 10 Tweets, “Fashion Statement,” Jeremiah 13:1-11, Week 4 of Mission of God series:

1. God wants to make a fashion statement and you are big part of that statement.
2. According to Jeremiah 13, "God wants to wear his people" (Chris Wright)
3. God's people will help turn the world to him when they admire what God has done for them and in them.
4. God wants to wear his people & for the nations to notice and say, "You look great!"
5. Are you making God look good?
6. You make God look good when you live like he calls you & designed you to live.
7. You won't be perfect but do people look at you & think, "There's someone whose faith makes a difference in how he lives."
8. You make God look good by doing good. “…let ur light shine before others so see ur good works and give glory…” (Jesus)
9. Christians response to 2^nd & 3^rd century plagues major catalyst for growth of Christianity. Made God look good by doing good.
10. Tripp: "This weekend u took a step into darkness… I'm pleading with u, live in the light." Son: "I want to. It's so hard. Will u help me?

I’m thankful for all of you and pray for you. Hope to see you on the weekend.

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the Easter service with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – Big weekend coming on Saturday and Sunday. Parents of K-6^th graders RSVP here for the family workshop in the Community Life Center. Go to first or second hour and worship as a family for the other hour. We've planned a couple of kid friendly stations and other family friendly elements for all the services. Saturday nighters, this is worth coming back for, but please come to Saturday night. We need you there.

#3 – Another big weekend coming next week. Incredibly powerful stories of deep transformation as MN Adult & Teen Challenge comes to Five Oaks on May 4/5 for all three services. This will be powerful, and you really need to pray right now about who to bring to this event. Think families who are struggling with drugs, alcohol or other addictions.

#4 – Here are your comments/questions from the Communication Cards:

• Agents of redemption – thank you for such a personal, specific message! A big piece of my life’s puzzle was put in place today – you are a gift!
• Thank you Pastor Henry for revealing to us and reminding me of my roll in “redeeming” other people! Thank you for helping me want to be bold despite the rejection that I might/(will) receive from this world. It is worth it! 
• Great message Henry! Inspiring! Nice closing set. 
• First songs timing hard for group singing/worship. Rescued, Ransomed, Restored by the grace of God. Praise God! Thank you Henry for the message! [Yeah, we moved it to the prelude on Sunday.]
• Come Thou Fount – odd rhythm – kind of hard to sing with the counter melody. Next two David Crowder songs – great! Ending music was wonderful. 
• Keyboard sounded funny first song (synthesizer?). Come Thou Fount – strange rhythm if people were to participate.
• Please sing the standard version when singing old hymns so we can sing along! First song – really a bummer! Where are we at with search for praise leader? 
• Not sure if I just missed it, but I couldn’t find the verses for today’s message on the worship guide. [I didn’t make the deadline. I do recommend you pick up an outline each week.]

#5 - Here’s the sermon in 10 Tweets, “Signposts of Redemption,” Exodus 6:2-9; Romans 10:13-15:

1. Survivor Tree Video as a metaphor of redemption.
2. If you are redeemed, you are a signpost of redemption.
3. God has rescued you. The primary symbol of redemption for the rest of the Bible is this Exodus story of God’s rescue.
4. When the New Testament speaks of redemption, it has the completion of the Exodus story In mind.
5. We've been rescued from darkness (Col 1:13-14, awful things we've done (Titus 2:14) & from emptiness (1 Pet 1:18).
6. God has ransomed you. What did it cost God to rescue Israel from bondage? Nothing…until his Son becomes the Lamb who takes away our sin.
7. God uses redeemed people to redeem people. Invest in people far from God. It will cost you.
8. When Jesus spoke of redeeming lost people, his own already-redeemed people scoffed and rejected him.
9. When the Survivor Tree was planted, believe it or not, some people complained that it didn’t fit.
10. “I could crawl into this little pen & die right here. If you could say you worked for 9 years for something special, that's it.”

Looking forward to the weekend (and better weather)!

Blessings, Pastor Henry