H. Henry Williams

Thursday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

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

#1 – We’re doing something new this weekend in our Children’s Ministry for 1st - 6th graders and their parents (if they want to participate). Pete Mades, Director from Camp Lebanon, will be presenting at all weekend services.  He'll lead worship, teach a lesson, and share about why camp is so foundational in a child's faith experience.  We'll also have a brochure to pass out, highlighting seven attention-worthy camps in MN and WI. Jeni Carlson (our Director of Family Ministries) has written a great post on the value of going to a Christian camp here.

#2 – Financial Peace University is going strong with 52 individuals involved. Thirty-one folks are working on week 2 of their Story of God reading. Forty guys are registered so far for the big men’s event this weekend. Village Schools of the Bible is running strong with 12 people. And over 70% of our average attendance is in small group. One told me it’s fascinating. This is all foundational stuff.

#3 – Get ready for another great Coffee House videos this weekend. Coffee House will be on Friday night, February 8 (7-8pm) at Five Oaks featuring live acoustic music, specialty coffees (we’ll have two baristas making delicious creations), a movie and bounce house for the kids and more (all for $6 per person; 12 and under is free). Hang out, play board games, enjoy the music. Here’s the original Coffee House video.

#4 – A team of Five Oakers is in Haiti working at and around the orphanage we built and financed in partnership with GVCM. They’re leading VBS, but they’re also helping at the orphanage so that some of the women who are there 24/7 can get a break.

#5 – One of the most powerful services we do every year is our Good Friday service. This year we’re adding another wrinkle to the season leading to Resurrection Sunday. On Wednesday, February 13, we’ll have an early morning service from 6:30-7:15am and an evening Encounter worship service from 7-8:15pm. All this launches the 40 days of repentance and renewal traditionally known as Lent. I think it’s going to be a great day and may be the start of a new tradition for our church family.

#6 – We received this comment from the cards we sent first-time guests:

1/14 Wish there were more options for elementary aged children to make connections rather than just 1x a week.

We are blessed. Let’s be a blessing, Pastor Henry

Wednesday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

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

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

#2 – Here’s the baptism video. We’re doing our baptism differently this week. Should be a great celebration. Not too late to sign up. Just call the church office.

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

• I want to thank my Five Oaks family for your care, concern, prayers and generosity during the last month as we are working through the losses as a result of our house fire. God bless you all.
• Instruments were too loud for me – hard to have a worshipful heart.
• Thank you Dan and Worship Team for sharing your gifts with us! Henry, great guidance for living our lives. Thank you.
• When I picked it up, my pew Bible fell open to Luke 18-20 (p. 751). Guess that means people have been using it during all the Luke messages. [A pastor friend of mine who was visiting recently was impressed that people all around him were digging into their Bible’s during the sermon.]
• Just feeling very blessed today. Thank you for your worship. Glad to be part of it and God’s kingdom.
• The “Killing Jesus” slogan is so sad  to our hearts (each time we hold or see this program). We understand the meaning and intention behind it – but how many more weeks of it? [I really do appreciate how badly this makes you feel. Eight more weeks. Sorry. I wish we all had this kind of sensitivity when we think about this.]
• Thank you for the inspiring music! Best interpretation of Christ coming I have ever heard. Very encouraging to keep us focused on what is truly important (our relationship with Christ).
• Thank you for the “silence” at the beginning of response – beautiful. [Yes!!! I loved it.]
• Rock of Ages – wonderful – great steel guitar – wow. 
• Dan, super job leading the worship team! Such a nice job, we appreciate you. Wonderful, wonderful message. Steve Johnson thanks for adding the humorous story! I do want to get lost in the wonder of God; I’ve been there many times. Dan thanks for building in the musical, no words, prayer/reflection time. “Deep and Wide” great song! [Yes, Dan and the team did a wonderful job of leading us in worship. Great, great service. And Steve is a story factory. I’ve got others to tell but I might not always mention his name. When you hear, “A friend of mine told me about a time…,” good chance it’s one of his stories.]
• Wonderful worship! Thanks Dan and group. Extremely powerful, wonderful message Henry. Thank you for standing by who you are. We love you. [I love you guys too!]
• Henry, great passion in the sermon today, keep it up!
• I like how our small group is following Group Life – we do the study M-F and hear the Saturday message and then meet Sunday – it helps me. [Completely unsolicited testimony…I think. I should probably make sure Kent didn’t put him up to it. Actually, our Adult Ministries Director, Kent O’Grady, notes that the best way a small group leader can put discipleship front and center in their ministry is to constantly encourage their small group members to reflect on the Bible daily. And the best way to encourage that is to use our daily Group Life for their small group. I agree.]
• Can the scripture verses for the sermon be published in the worship program e-mail? It would help to read through the entire passage prior to the message in order to gain context to the message. [Deb Carr is on it.]
• It would help people participate in the prayer web station if we have some cards on the web. It’s empty so it’s hard to be the First or Only person putting up a prayer request. It’s also hard to be anonymous.  [I’ll talk to Dan Lukas about it.]
• Naomi and myself just want to give the church thanks for all you’ve done for us. The luncheon was great. Love you.  Tom & Naomi Brown [Tom and Naomi have been caring for our facility for years now but they are retiring. They have not only done a wonderful job, they are a blessing to be around. Our staff had a going away luncheon for them and prayer. We’ll miss having them here every day. We have hired one of our members, Dave Casmer, to be our Facilities Director. Dave has served as our assistant treasurer for years, one of the more demanding volunteer roles in our church. The facility is in good hands.]

#4 – Here’s the sermon in 10 tweets, Luke 21:5-38, “An Unconventional Guide to the Apocalypse”:

1. The return of Christ & the New Creation are about as important & foundational as anything else in the Bible.
2. Goal: To cut through the complexity and confusion so you can experience the comfort and the challenge of anticipating the Second Coming.
3. When it comes to all the speculation on the Second Coming, I prefer to focus on what Christians have believed in all places through the ages
4. I’m profoundly self-centered, so I’m suspicious of any teaching that puts my country, my time, my self at the center of the God’s plans.
5. Jesus implies it’s okay to be cynical about end time predictions. After all, he didn’t even know the timing.
6. There is no suffering at the end of time that could top what Christians have already suffered.
7. Urgency created by Christ’s return any moment is the same as the possibility of dying any moment. Either way, we'll be accountable to God.
8. Jesus experienced the end time terrors on cross: bore witness, sky darkened, earth shook, God turned his face away in judgment for our sins.
9. “Don’t be obsessed with getting healed, Ed. You’ll lose your focus. Get lost in the wonder of God, and who knows what he will do for you.”
10. If the bottom has fallen out, you already greatly anticipate his return & you'll be like Steve's aunt saying, "Where have you been!"

#5 – This coming weekend we take a deep dive into Luke’s account of the Last Supper.

Blessings to you, Pastor Henry

Thursday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

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

#1 – Guys, remember the Courageous event? Were you inspired and equipped? There’s another great event coming to Five Oaks on Saturday, the day before the Super Bowl (that’s February 2). Take a look at this video and then get the details here.

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

#3 - One of my favorite parts of our services is the final movement--Sending. You can make it a prayer for the week by going to the service recap page and scrolling down to the benediction.

#4 – How about a "recap" of last year’s finances. We finished in the black by about $100,000! You responded to God’s grace by giving generously, which resulted in a year of great ministry at Five Oaks and over $150,000 going to global and local missions work. You were blessed and you became a blessing. Thank you for your faithfulness in giving.

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

• Great message, Tim! Loved worship, Dan! Especially “Come Thou Fount”!, beautiful! 
• Beautiful worship. 
• Enjoyed listening to the gentleman sing “Come Thou Fount”. Thank you. 
• Thanks for the hymns! Powerful! 
• Tim, thank you for your message today. It was very impactful, thank you for speaking the truth authoritatively and with conviction. I’ll be hoping for pinkeye for you! LOL. Dan, thanks for leading worship, great! [If you missed the message and what Tim said about pinkeye, check it out here.]
• Tim, thanks for telling us what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear. Keep bringing the truth my brother.
• Wonderful sermon Tim – so much to think about. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability. Loved the music! 
• Wow, Tim, your preaching just keeps getting better and better since I first heard you years ago. You seldom refer to notes, spoke with passion and authority, and the message was very well organized and easy to follow. Great job! [It's so great to take a weekend off and see comments like this. I love Tim's preaching and I agree, he just keeps getting better and better as a communicator. We are so blessed to have Tim at Five Oaks. Lois and I enjoyed worshiping with the congregation at Redeemer Bible Church in Minnetonka.]
• Wonderful – soloists – wow! Great job! 
• Great new opening song! Great preparatory “Before the Throne of God”. 
• Terrific worship sets, loved the songs! Nice job Dan and gang! Tim nice job explaining stations. Tim loved the message, especially the intro. I too love to pick (scabs, skin, etc.). Don’t know that I ever wished for pink eye crust! Tim that was an inspiring message – thank you. Thanks worship team for another great week. Fantastic crescendo to closing prayer on “Lord of All”. 
• We miss Justin but Lukas knocks it out of the park! The worship band tonight is outstanding! Could be louder. 
• Great worship. Thank you! 
• Thanks for the hymn – reminds us we are free from sin, but not yet freed from sinning. That will be a great day! 
• Thanks for playing “Come Thou Fount” – love it. 
• Welcome to worship team, Mark Visness. Nice job!

#6 – This week’s passage in Luke is on the second coming. Every wonder why people who predict the date of the coming of Christ always predict it within their own lifetime? We’ll consider that and a whole lot more.

Blessings to you, Pastor Henry

Thursday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

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

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

#2 – Big weekend coming up with the launch of new Story of God and Financial Peace University sessions. We have over 65 people participating in both combined!

#3 – Here are the stats from our quarterly survey. The percentage number in parentheses refers to the same quarter last year.

• Volunteer at Five Oaks: 69% (67%)
• Volunteer outside of Five Oaks: 41% (31%*)
• Invited someone to Five Oaks in the last 3 months: 58% (55%)
• Daily Bible reading (5x/wk): 61% (61%)
• Participation in an Impact activity in last 3 months: 74% (63%)

*Number from last quarter due. December is usually very low, but this year we took it in January, so it seems to have skewed things higher. But 41% is the highest we’ve ever scored on volunteering outside of Five Oaks! I am very much encouraged because we’ve been trying to communicate that when you serve outside of Five Oaks, it counts for God, his church and his Kingdom! I know that should be a basic idea, but sometimes we seem to miss it.  

#4 – We will be taking the REVEAL survey again soon. Our Staff Leadership Team will  be attending a training event in May called the Transformation Intensive put on by the Willow Creek Association and building on the REVEAL work. So the fresh data will be essential as we plan our ministry priorities. This is a chance for everyone to give us feedback and for us to take the spiritual temperature of our congregation. REVEAL is your chance to give tell us what is working and what is not for helping you grow spiritually.

#5 – We received one comment back from the cards we send first-time attenders:

1/6: I really enjoyed your church.  I’ve been attending [a church in St. Paul] for the past several years and wanted to find something closer to home and where I knew people.  After my best friend’s passing, I’ve felt lost.  It’s time to find a group and get plugged in and hopefully someday call Five Oaks my home church. 

#6 – I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we have not had one negative comment from a guest about being welcomed at Five Oaks since we became more intentional about our greeting time in the service. Our streak will surely end at some time as someone is bound to fall through the inevitable cracks, but you are doing a great job of welcoming newcomers!

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

• I left a prayer request on the Web-prayer [station] last week, and I wanted to say “thank you” to whoever picked it up and prayed for us. Prayers have been answered and I know it is in part due to the prayers of whomever got my card. Praise God! Also, I am sorry to see Justin leave. He was, is, a great leader.
• We’ll miss you Justin! Thanks for all you’ve done! Praying for you and Erinn on your new journey! [Yes, we will miss Justin and Erinn!]
• Nothing can separate us from God’s love vs. urgency to start the relationship? Opportunity cost. This age is our opportunity. 
• Justin, you really made a difference here and in my life! Many blessings.
• We are so thankful for and blessed by our small group. We encourage all to join and connect with others at Five Oaks. 
• Overcome by sadness that Justin is leaving. He will be missed! Filled with joy knowing God has great plans for Justin! Thank you, Justin! Thank you for the message, Henry! Funny that my daughter and I were talking about the afterlife on our way to church today.
• Great analysis of scripture today – deep thinking as always. 
• Thank you so much Justin for your spirit led worship. Thank you.
• Beautiful worship set. Justin you have been such a blessing to Five Oaks, my family and me personally, your transparency and heart for worship have encouraged and challenged me to be honest and real in my worship. God lead and guide you and Erinn as you begin the journey. God has called you to begin. Love you both so much!
• Thanks Justin! We’re gonna miss you!
• Could there be a comment about not shaking hands during this severe flu season? [Actually, we did that on Sunday morning and will continue during the flu season. Thanks. Sorry we missed that on Saturday afternoon.]
• “The Great I Am” – awesome! Maybe we could do fist bumps rather than shake hands during flu season.
• Beautiful music!
• Nice moment of silence – refreshing aspect. Active more than reflective. Great music and vocals today. [Yes, we need to do silence more often. It is one of our goals.]
• Nice worship set, loved the female echoes, thanks. Really fantastic message Henry – thank you. Justin we love you; you will be missed! Thank you for serving Him here. Great closing, new chapter!
• Prayers for Justin and Erinn on their new journey in God’s world!
• Music volume great this week. Thank you.
• Henry, for colds drink hot lemonade with honey! Works great! [Yes, I’ve used that remedy before. Love it.]

#8 – Q&A

Quesiton: Is there a book you would recommend about what it’s like to be in heaven?

One of more popular and very thorough books is written by Randy Alcorn and it’s called Heaven (500+ pages). He also wrote a daily devotional that is much shorter called 50 Days of Heaven: Reflections That Bring Eternity to Light (175 pages). And there is a much shorter booklet as well. Our GriefShare support group also spends a session on this topic and it is one of the highlights of the experience. I read a novel on the topic that I loved and often recommend called Room of Marvels by James Bryan Smith.

Question: What’s the recipe for heart attack potatoes?

Here it is, but you have to promise to eat it in moderation!

CHEESY HASH BROWN POTATO CASSEROLE

2 lbs. hash browns, defrosted 1/2 c. melted butter 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/2 c. chopped onion 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 c. milk 1 c. sour cream 2 c. grated sharp cheese (Colby or cheddar) Mix above ingredients and put in a 9"x13" pan. TOPPING: 2 c. crushed corn flakes (can use Ritz crackers) 1/2 c. melted butter Melt butter and add corn flakes to mix. Sprinkle topping over potatoes and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

#9 – In this coming weekend’s passage in Luke we are reminded again of the attentiveness of Jesus to the smallest things in our lives. He notices what you do for him!

Blessings to you, Pastor Henry

Friday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

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

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

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

• We will miss you Justin! [Yes, we will!]
• Great message for the New Year! Thanks!
• We will greatly miss Justin and his energy! 
• So sad to hear Justin is leaving. Hopefully someone equally as fantastic is located.
• Thanks for the Dave Ramsey DVD. It revitalizes my desire to get out of debt – persevere!
• So sad to hear the news about Justin and Erinn. Justin was a person that helped learn a whole new way of worship through music. His passion is so inspiring. I pray for their adventures, and may he go along inspiring more people.
• Justin we will really miss you – so much! God bless you and your family. Continue to serve Him faithfully. He has given you great talent. To Him much is given, much is required. You served Him and us well here. “Majesty” brought me to tears. Thanks for bringing so much to it. Loved the video. Amazing closing worship set. Thank you!
• I don’t want to be selfish. I want to pass the word. Where can I find Dave Ramsey video to five to people I know in need? 
• Music is too loud (also too much base). Please look into this – just not enjoyable. Thanks.

#3 – Here are the comments we’ve received from the cards we send to first-time guests:

• 12/16 – We have been going to church at Wooddale but since moving to Woodbury have been looking for a church we could really connect with people our age.  We’ll come back to visit again.  Thanks!
• 12/16 – Thanks for having me.  I really had a good time in an unfamiliar place!
• 12/23-24: We are currently members of another church.  Our daughter and her family are members of your church.
• 12/23-24: Our daughter and husband and children are members and we love your church.
• 12/23-24: Loved the friendliness!  Very welcoming.

#4 – We’re back to Luke this weekend. The series will take us right up to Easter. It’s an in-depth exploration of the final days of Jesus in Jerusalem presented in Luke's gospel—his last teachings, the plot to kill him, his betrayal, his arrest and trial, his agony in the garden and on the cross. It’s called “Killing Jesus,” and it also explores our own guilt in his death.

Blessings, Pastor Henry

A Great Outreach Opportunity

I know that in most people's minds, the Story of God small group experience we offer three times a year is for believers. But I want you to think about how impactful this can be to the not-yet-Christians you know who have some curiosity about the Bible and are searching for something to fill the spiritual void in their lives.The Alpha Course, for example, is mostly about discipleship topics (e.g., how to pray, basic theology, how to read the Bible) and goes longer than our Story of God experience, but it is one most effective evangelistic programs in the church worldwide. It works because Christians bring their not-yet-Christian friends. The Story of God can have the same impact. Think also of the intensity of study required to participate in Bible Study Fellowship. Again, tons of people from non-evangelical churches participate and discover God's grace through BSF. One friend told me she leads in that ministry so she can evangelize.

I'll be leading a new Story of God small group experience this January. Is there someone far from God you can invite to join you in the experience? Would it be worth doing it again if you could see your friend come to faith in Christ?

Friday Memo

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