Friday Memo

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Hi Five Oakers,

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

#1 – As I’m sure all of you have heard by now, Justin Schaap’s last weekend leading worship for Five Oaks as our Worship Leader will be on the weekend of January 12/13. The announcement was made in an email that went out to the entire congregation on Wednesday. I love Justin and love being led by him in worship, so I’m going to miss having him here.

#2 – I know one of Justin’s concerns is to communicate his love for Five Oaks. He has expressed to many of us how appreciative he is of his time here, how much he has learned (it was his first full-time employment as a worship leader) and how much he has loved being here.

#3 - We’ll be celebrating the Schaap’s time with us on Sunday, January 13, at 12:30pm in the Commons. Pray for Justin and Erinn, and come celebrate with us. In the meantime, Justin will be leading worship this weekend and next.

#4 – We have once again contracted with Slingshot Group to help us search for a new worship leader. Monty Kelso (of Slingshot) brought us Justin, and Slingshot works around the country helping churches find quality staff. In addition to the folks in their vast network, we can also run anyone in our network through them. So if you know of a good candidate, let us know and we will get him or her in touch with Slingshot.

#5 – Monty came for our weekend services a couple of weeks ago. We wanted Monty to experience our worship services so he can be fully informed about what we need. It's hard to explain what we do. I reflected with him on all the changes since the first time he came to Five Oaks as a consultant for a weekend about three years ago. We were one week away from our first-ever Response service that weekend! A lot of other changes have followed. Several of the changes were in response to Monty’s consultation on that weekend. When I asked him for some feedback he commented on how much he loves what we are doing with the entire service and the four intentional movements in our service. He said he couldn’t wait to see our Response time and was very moved by it. When I asked him for suggestions to improve things he said, “I tried hard to find something, but I have nothing.” (Can you even imagine a consultant saying that?!) I see that as a testament to all of our volunteers and staff who put in so much heart and effort into our weekends! And I’m very excited to see who God brings to us next. (And Monty recovered and offered a couple of suggestions before lunch was over. There is always room for improvement.)

#6 – One of the things I’ve most appreciated about Justin’s ministry with us is his work with the high school students. It has been nothing short of amazing as he built on the excellent foundation provided by Jason Kramer over the last few years. Justin didn’t just lead worship for Fusion or just lead the student band, he intentionally built into their lives spiritually and developed them as musicians. Last weekend was a great example of how we don’t miss a beat when the band is made up mostly of current and former (newly graduated) Fusion band members and singers (see the comments below). Justin always talks about how the worship leader at him home church took him under his wing when he was in high school and the impact that had on him in pursuing vocational ministry. That experience was his inspiration for starting a summer internship program in Worship Arts for high school students here at Five Oaks. That’s a tough act to follow, but I want you all to know that the ability and heart for leading our youth band will be front and center as we search for our new worship leader.

#7 – Here are your comments from the Communication Cards last weekend:

  • Henry, it was great to come back and feel so at home.
  • I wrote my prayer request before the sermon today (how appropriate). Seeking peace and joy in the God given gift of celebrating marriage. 
  • I needed this message today!
  • I am so glad I didn’t miss this service when it was scheduled for 2 – 3 weeks ago and I happened to be out of town for our son’s hockey tournament. Anxiety is a major problem in my life and I’m on meds to help control it. What a blessing to hear this sermon today.
  • Love the Fusion Band. 
  • Awesome message!
  • All the vocalists are amazing! I could listen to them all night! thank you musicians.
  • Love to see/hear the Fusion Band back!
  • I loved having the Fusion alumni back to lead us in worship. Thank you Justin!
  • So fun to see the Fusion Band up there! Great job!
  • Henry, this was a message I so needed to hear this morning. I am blessed to have you as a pastor and my teacher.
  • Wonderful music – female vocalist was great for me to medicate in.
  • Loved worship team/band today! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thanks, Henry, for showing a little of the behind the scenes for how you prepare your message. I love how you show that when you have questions and need to understand, you turn to the Bible – read more – read deeper and find the answers!
  • Great job worship team! Very poignant sermon Henry. Thank you!
  • Nice to see the old Fusion band back together! 
  • Great music this morning with our youth singing. What a gift! 
  • Henry, I would love to have an “unplugged Henry” sermon sometime. Just you sitting on a stool sharing your heart, testimony, what God is teaching you and what you want to see us grow in. focus on God, but not with lofty words. Just an idea… [Gulp!]
  • Great music! When is the next choir going to be? Looking forward to more awesome songs like the last time. 
  • Great young people leading worship – amen. Justin was not “lighted” properly to see him.
  • Thank you for a traditional Christmas service (songs/worship). I enjoyed the worship music led by the church youth today – wow what talent!
  • Excellent message Henry. I’m going to miss your messages while we’re out of town.
  • Thanks for continuing the opening song to allow for prayer! Loved Dan leading us in “Hosanna!” Tim you are so funny. Thanks for the great message Henry. Hannah and youth, thanks for leading us in worship – great job ushering us into the presence of God. “Let God Arise!” He reigns now and forever.

#8 – Here is the sermon in 10 tweets:

  1. Peace with God (reconciliation) is the fountain for the peace of God (inner peace).
  2. The road to personal peace (the peace of God) passes through the valley of worry, anxiety & fear.
  3. God will lead us through the valley because it reveals our idols and leads to deeper repentance.
  4. The problem is the anxiety is so uncomfortable we'll do almost anything to rid ourselves of it. We'll take shortcuts and rabbit trails.
  5. “Urban Meyer will be Home for Dinner"
  6. Idols hide so well God takes us to the valley repeatedly to expose them. Don't waste those walks by wallowing or failing to look.
  7. The valley reveals our dependence on God and leads to deeper faith & prayer.
  8. In the valley you learn you are not in control. You can learn to trust the God who is in control & who loves you.
  9. Sarah Young in Jesus Calling: Anxiety is the result of envisioning the future without [Jesus]
  10. Reveals brokenness. You can experience perfect peace with God now, but you will not experience the peace of God perfectly in this life.

#9 – Our message this weekend will be by Dave Ramsey on Video. I don’t know of anyone who inspires more people to get out of debt and live in financial peace than Ramsey. Nor anyone who is as funny and engaging. You won’t want to miss it.

God bless you all, Pastor Henry