Behind the Scenes

Here are some of the things going on behind the scenes at Five Oaks:

// Last Advent: If you haven't been to one of the Advent services yet, this Thursday is the last one (6:30-7:10am). I've loved them. It has added a entire and deepening layer to Christmas this year for me.

// Fire Pits: A new feature this year for our Christmas Eve services on the way into the building. Expect treats, too.

// E-Vites: Do you know about email e-vites to Five Oaks Christmas services. Check it out here.

// Youth Specialities (continued): The rep from the youth pastor search firm is here last night and today. After talking to him for a while, going with Youth Specialities is one of the smartest decisions we could have made in this search.

// Christmas Extravaganza: The first ever combined middle school and high school this Wednesday evening.

// The OT: Our next series is on the miracles of Jesus, and I want to cover an Old Testament book after that. The problem is there are so many I want to cover I don't know how to narrow it down. Nice problem to have.

Behind the Scenes

Here are some of the things going on behind the scenes at Five Oaks:

// 80 ornaments: That's how many went out over the last two weeks, each representing gifts for kids and families at Woodbury Elementary, a ministry initiative between our Kid's Hope USA ministry and Woodbury Elementary.

// Youth Specialties: That's the organization we're working with in our search for a new Student Ministries Pastor. Prime objective: We want a real youth pastor this time. Okay, that's what I said at staff meeting today and Tim said he knew I was going to say something like that. I have to joke about it so I don't cry in public.

// 3 million meals: That's the goal for the Woodbury community Feed My Starving Children event planned for October 8-11. We and other churches in Woodbury will forgo our own events this year to combine forces with the community and reach this massive goal.

// Two new staff: Melissa Borner has starting working in the Student Ministries department and Carol Jorgensen is heading up First Impressions. Here's a weird fact: Melissa lives on Jorgensen Lane.

// Rowdy and Reverent: That's a good description of the baptisms I witnessed at Sojourn Church (Midtown) in Louisville on Sunday. Big whoops and hollers celebrating like they do in heaven. Great faith stories and even congregational participation in the baptism. We're going to take a page from their book when we have our next baptisms this winter/spring. It's going to be a blast.

// Death by Meeting: At our monthly staff training today we watched Lencioni give a great talk that basically summarizes his book, Death by Meeting, in 20 minutes. Good stuff. Check it out here.