H. Henry Williams

Tuesday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

Tuesdays are our "staff check-in" day, which means coffee, conversations and stories as the entire staff staff gathers in the Commons. It's a good day to share some of the happenings I hear about at the meeting. Here are seven:

#1 - We had 120 story Bibles for sale on the weekend and all of them are gone! I absolutely love the art and the fact that every story points to Christ.

#2 - If you missed out, we've ordered more. We will also have a limited number of a more expensive option that can be used with kids through the upper elementary grades. It's a beautiful book, it includes even more stories and every story points to Christ as well.

#3 - Now we need to use these books in our homes! Set a time, stick to it, don't make it complicated. You don't need deep discussions. It's never going to look like a Norman Rockwell painting in your house. It will be messy, but pick a time, stick to it, don't make it complicated. When movie producer Stephen Kendrick was here speaking to the men, he suggested a couple of simple follow-up questions with a small monetary prize to the kids who answered correctly. You can do this!

#4 - The Men's and Women's Ministry had their kick-off events over the last few days. They've got great opportunities this year for growth and impact. I loved the faith stories I heard at the men's events.

#5 - We had a large crowd at the 9:15 on Sunday and had to use overflow (in fact, attendance was way up all the way around). Kari Ennulat shared about the reaction of one of our ushers who said one minute there were only a few people in the worship center and then he was having trouble finding open seats. He couldn't stop talking and laughing about his surprise.

#6 - Village Schools of the Bible has 17-18 people signed up for the fall session here at Five Oaks! Story of God on steroids.

#7 - Our Group Life team has produced a daily devotional for the five weeks of the campaign. It will be published in book format. We'll have copies here for every adult and teen on the first weekend of the campaign. Don't miss the September 28/29 weekend if you help it.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

Monday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

I’m experimenting with breaking up my Mid-week Memo over a few days. Let me know what you think, one way or the other.

Great start to the “To Raise a Family” series this last weekend.We had quite a crowd, too. I think there was a lot of inviting to the meal going on. Keep it up!

I am so thankful for your prayers. Keep praying as this next weekend approaches.

Here are most of your comments, observations and questions from the weekend Communication Cards.

Love the Praise and Worship Leader’s voice! Wow! [We’ll be seeing a lot more of Jeremy. He’s joined our team of Worship Leaders who also include Dan Lukas (our Creative Arts Director) and Libby Johnson (who is a volunteer in our ministry). I think we have an incredible team of worship leaders, vocalists and musicians dedicated to helping people connect with God and engage in worship.]

Music today – wow! 

Love the “new look” for Five Oaks. Website, worship center, new sign on Radio (see it’s starting to be built)! I haven’t been to Five Oaks for several weeks (been traveling) so nice to be back with my church family today! Powerful message and worship! Thanks! [It all has to do with the presentation of the meal. Two new features this weekend were the staging and the “Basics” cards for guests in the Commons. Loved the stage set and how it spilled into the worship center using the sound panels. And, yes, the website is tremendous.]

Awesome praise team leader! 

Stage looks great! And smoke nice. Welcome Jeremy! Band excellent sound, was perfect.

Love the worship leader! 

Loved the sermon! Very insightful and very relevant. [Good to hear because it was a very theological sermon with very few how-to’s. One of the changes in my preaching (related to the meal) has been to focus more on implication rather than simply on application. I wanted to explore the implications of being made in the image of God from some angles I’ve never covered before. There truly is nothing more relevant that profound theological concepts. Theology doesn’t have to be dry. Stories, analogies and children’s books help a lot.:-)]

I love the artwork up front, beautiful.  [We’ve lived with the stripped down stage for quite a while, waiting for the right people and the right idea to come along. Thank you to Deb Carr for volunteering to head up this ministry and bringing this concept to fruition with the help of so many others who volunteered hours and hours of their time to make it happen.]

Great worship!

Very impactful message, Henry, and a great reminder as I continue to struggle in this area. However, I know my relationship with my Father has grown because of the Five Oaks Community. It takes a village not just for kids, but adults, too. [So true!]

Another moving time of worship. My prayer for this week: so teach my song to rise to You when temptation comes my way. And when I cannot stand, I’ll fall on you. Jesus you’re my hope and stay. Amen. Thank you for another powerful message from God Henry.

Thank you Pastor Henry for your transparency in your parenting. I can relate to some of the things you said and it’s good to know I’m not alone. 

It’s true – Five Oaks has been a HUGE part of my kids’ lives – thank you! [I get emotional whenever I think about all the folks around our church who impacted my kids. Pastor’s kids don’t always fare so well, and you guys have made a huge difference in their lives. So thankful!]

Henry, excellent reminder of where my priority needs to be – glorifying God. There couldn’t be a better example to set for my kids.

Absolutely beautiful new set! Gorgeous work. Worship team was most fabulous and intense. Loved it! Way to start my morning. 

New worship set looks great. Well done!

Excellent worship!

Great music. Very vivid illustration that Henry used!

Welcome Jeremy! Worship was awesome.

Thank you Henry for helping us become the parents that God wants us to be! Thank you worship team, awesome! 

The string art is a very modern touch – I love it! [Larry and Cathy Taylor had to put in over 1600 screws to make that happen. Deb Carr and Karin Ennulat did the strings. Harold Ennulat, Jessica Solinsky, Libby Johnson and Geoff Walsh put it all up and lit it all up.]

Well done Henry! Great service. Worship team was great.

What a fantastic worship set. Thanks folks. Henry, your preaching/messages has gotten so good, so powerful, so inspired. He IS driving your car, it’s easy to tell! Closing set was awesome!

Some children can be the change agent for their parent’s lives – it isn’t too late. [So true. That’s my story with my mom.]

The fog machine looked interesting, but may not be the best for people with allergy issues. My dry, itchy eyes did not appreciate one more irritant.

To the worship director: the music is great, but so loud – even with ear plugs, I had to step out.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

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

#1 – We’re looking for a few more folks to help at Dorothy Day on Saturday, 9:30am – 1:20 pm, to make lunch for hungry people. A few of the volunteers had to drop out and we’re short. Let me know if you can make it.

#2 - Get a recap of the weekend services with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#3 –  The “To Raise a Family” series starts this weekend. For a while I was really apprehensive about it. After all, I’ve asked you to invite, invite, invite. That puts extra pressure on me. The pressure is still there, but your prayers are taking effect. I’m very excited about how God is leading in the preparation for this week’s sermon. Keep praying and keep inviting and let’s see what God does this weekend.
#3 – As part of this series, we will be selling copies of The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name at a reduced price, $5. We’re making up the difference in the true cost because we want to get this into the hands of as many families with young kids as possible. It’s a remarkable children’s Bible that ties all the stories of the Bible to Jesus and his redemption.
#4 – We launch our campaign series right after the family series. You’ll be hearing a lot more about it in the next couple of weeks, but we’re working like mad behind the scenes to get ready for it. Here’s what you’ll be hearing from me. While this campaign is for buying the land adjoined to our property to the south, a campaign at Five Oaks is first and foremost about spiritual growth. If you grow spiritually during this campaign and don’t give a penny to the land, we win. So my request to you is to join us on the journey we’re launching the last weekend of September. Please, don’t miss out on what God can and will do in your life during this campaign. If you’ve had a bad campaign experience at another church, don’t let that distract from what God wants to do in you now at Five Oaks. And you can be certain about this: your openness and anticipation for God working in you will be contagious. When your heart beats strong for God, others hear it. You can help others grow by dedicating yourself to grow. Join us for this journey

#5 – It was great having Warren Coe preach this last weekend. Contact the office if you want to take on the challenge of attending the new semester of the Village Schools of the Bible. Warren is a remarkable teacher, and, as I’ve said before, this class is like The Story of God on steroids.

#6 – Here are most of your comments from the Communication Cards:

• Henry, sorry that we missed seeing you, Lois and perhaps Larry. Great to experience worship and the work that God is blessing you with.  Larry & Dot Rowe [Bummer!!! Larry and I were on staff together for many years in Wichita. I learned he likes to eat peanuts in the middle of the night when we roomed together on a staff retreat in Colorado. I thought a raccoon had gotten into our room. Wonder if he still does that.]
• Tree House looks awesome! [I hope everyone has a chance to get down there and look at it. It’s fantastic!]
• Ladies – “Jesus Son of God” was amazing, thank you for sharing your gifts. 
• Awesome message today! 
• Wonderful morning of worship! The truth that some of God’s promises may not come now but at some future time, yet they will be generous and overflowing was a very timely reminder for me. God is good all the time and all the time God is good. 
• Beautiful, beautiful opening set. Our worship continues to get deeper and better year after year. Worship team keep humble as you are seeking God’s heart. Thanks for all you do week in and week out. Tim, you and Henry do such a great job explaining our service. Warren excellent message. Thank you! “Oh Happy Day!”
• There wasn’t anyone by prayer station tonight – bummer. [Holiday weekends can be challenging volunteer-wise. Sorry.]

See you this weekend. Keep praying Colossians 4:4 for me.

Blessings to all of you, Pastor Henry

Pray for this Weekend

Pray Colossians 4:4 for me!