Graduate recognition May 19
Wilshire will recognize its 2024 high school graduates during worship on May 19; their photos will be printed in the worship folder along with those of church members who received a bachelor’s degree from June 2023 to May 2024. Music in the service will include Youth Choir singing its signature Psalm 139 and 2024 graduate Joshua Brown playing the prelude on marimba.
Wilshire in the Park: Churchwide Picnic
Sunday, May 19 | 5 to 7 p.m. | Flag Pole Hill Pavilion
8015 Doran Circle, Dallas 75201
All are invited to this family-friendly annual picnic with food, face painting and Flag Pole Hill’s unique inclusive playground. The pavilion and picnic tables are ours to use; bring your own lawn chairs. Wilshire will provide fried chicken, rolls and drinks. The rest of the meal is potluck with these assignments by last name: A–F, veggies; G–M, fruit; N–S, dessert; T–Z, salad. Please bring enough to serve at least eight. Containers and serving utensils must be disposable. Please include a card with allergen information (gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, soy) if appropriate. Volunteers are needed to welcome guests, manage the buffet table and clean up. SIGN UP.
Up next for Stolen Lives: May 18 rally
On Saturday, May 18, Moms Demand Action is collaborating with Texas Impact and Giffords to host a rally for gun violence prevention and NRA accountability at Dallas City Hall Plaza from 9 a.m. to noon. The rally is scheduled in parallel with the National Rifle Association’s annual conference, which is being held in Dallas May 16–19. The Vidas Robadas (Stolen Lives) T-shirts we prepared will be on display at the rally along with T-shirts from other area churches. Attendees are asked to register in advance. Volunteers are needed at 7:30 a.m. to help hang T-shirts and at the end of the rally to take down the display. If you can help, contact Abbey Adcox.
■ Installation coming soon. Wilshire will host Vidas Robadas (Stolen Lives), a visual installation to bring awareness to gun violence, from May 26 through June 9. The display along Abrams Road will use T-shirts to honor local gun violence victims. Wilshire members prepared 225 shirts; colored shirts represent homicide victims, and white shirts represent suicide deaths. Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples said, “Participating in Stolen Lives is a way for our community of faith to demonstrate our commitment to helping create a safer world for our children and our community. We hope this exhibit takes the data and humanizes it. Each shirt is not just a data point, not just a shirt, but a life.” The initiative was created in partnership with Texas Impact, an Austin-based interfaith advocacy group.
■ Wear Orange on June 9. All are invited to wear orange on Sunday, June 9, in observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend. Orange ribbons will be available. On June 9, the Christian Advocacy Committee will host a letter writing campaign for common sense gun reform.
Wednesday nights on break
Wilshire’s Wednesday evening activities have ended for this school year and are now on summer break. This includes Koinonia Café; KidConnect; Preschool Music, Missions & More; and the 6 p.m. Bible Study.
■ Watershed has also ended, but Wilshire’s youth will have a tailgate event on May 15.
■ Sanctuary Choir rehearsals continue Wednesdays at 7 p.m. with some summer breaks planned.
Lunch & Learn continues through June 5
All are welcome each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in Community Hall for lunch ($10 each) followed by minister-led Bible Study. Pay at the door. No RSVP needed.
■ On June 5, the final Lunch & Learn before a summer break will be a joint event with Wilshire Adventurers featuring New Song Community Choir’s end-of-season concert.
Wilshire Winds concert, June 2
Wilshire Winds will present a concert on Sunday, June 2, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. An ice cream social will follow in James Gallery. Shana Gaines directs the volunteer group of woodwind, brass and percussion players. The concert’s theme, Scoops!, ties in with the ice cream social and hints at the program of different musical flavors — familiar tunes, concert band classics and even a David Bowie medley. Highlights will include: the debut of a new arrangement by Shana Gaines, “Heavenbound: A Sacred Harp Medley”; “America, the Beautiful” with Minister of Music Ariel Merivil singing; a solo marimba piece by Joshua Brown, a graduating high school senior; and three pieces with euphonium player Tom Fletcher as featured soloist.
Vacation Bible School: Seekers in Sneakers
June 10–14, 9 a.m.–noon.
At Vacation Bible School, kids will use their investigative skills to dig into the Bible. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, sing fun songs, solve clue puzzles, do art projects and science explorations and play active games. For older preschoolers through sixth graders. VBS is free; class sizes are limited. Register by June 3.
Children and Preschool Summer Camps
Find all the details on our summer offerings for children and preschoolers at wilshirebc.org/summer-camps.
■ Vacation Bible School | June 10–14 | 9 a.m.–noon | Three-year-olds through grade 6
■ Cooking Camp | July 8–12 | 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Grades 1–6 (Sold out; waitlist available)
■ Listen to Your Art Camp | July 8–12 | 12:30–5 p.m. | Grades 1–6
■ Full day Cooking/Art option available for grades 2–6, July 8–12 (Sold out; waitlist available)
■ Passport Kids Camp | July 27–30 | Overnight camp in Brownwood | Grades 3–6
■ Kindergarten and Preschool Camp | July 22–25 | 9 a.m.–noon
Join the summer fun!
Looking for a place of service at Wilshire? Do you enjoy working with kids? Are your kids grown, or do you not have kids? Are you retired? Do you have a flexible schedule or work from home? I’d love to have you join us for one or more of our children’s summer activities. Or on a more regular basis for Sunday School or Wednesday nights — or as a sub. It’s fun, easy, rewarding and we’ll train you! Let me know if you or someone you know is interested, and we’ll find the right spot. Our greatest need is for someone with special needs experience. Contact me at jgirards@wilshirebc.org or 214-452-3104. —Julie Girards, Minister to Children
Men’s book club begins June 18
Wilshire’s new men’s book club will meet for the first time on Tuesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. in the Parlor. The group will meet the third Thursday of every month; all men are welcome. On June 18 the group will discuss Greg Garrett’s The Gospel According to James Baldwin: What America’s Great Prophet Can Teach Us About Life, Love, and Identity. From the publisher: “Baldwin’s writing offers critiques of religion, culture, and discrimination, and in the witness of his life he holds up hope and the primacy of love despite all the difficulties of the present moment. … Garrett presents the life and work of Baldwin in all his writing genres, on themes of equity, justice, and reconciliation.” Garrett is a professor of literature and culture at Baylor University and a friend of Wilshire.
New WOW shirts, summer plans
Women of Wilshire has new T-shirts available ($15) and a slate of summer activities planned, including a game night and pool party. To order a shirt and RSVP for events, see this SignUpGenius link.
■ WOW Tuesday Evening Book Club | June 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Parlor | Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Contact: Debby Burton (dburton@wilshirebc.org)
■ WOW Brown Bag Book Club | June 6 | Noon | 1205-L | A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)
■ Let’s play mahjong! Join Women of Wilshire for mahjong the first Friday each month at 10 a.m. and the second Wednesday each month at 6 p.m. Please sign up.
■ Evening knitting group. Anyone who enjoys knitting is invited to Peggy Tinsley’s Garland home one evening each month, usually the third Thursday, to work on their projects in fellowship with others. The group is open to knitters of all skill levels. Contact Sara Tinsley for more details.
MOPS is now The MomCo; registration open for fall
After 51 years, MOPS International is updating its name to The MomCo (short for Mom Community) to better align with its mission of reaching all moms, not just mothers of preschoolers. Wilshire’s group began in 1997 and is still going strong, meeting six to seven times during the school year on Friday mornings. Childcare, called KidsCo, is offered, and programming for moms includes brunch, a speaker and sometimes a craft — but always community. The group includes Wilshire members but consists mostly of local moms looking for connection. Wilshire MomCo will still focus mostly on moms with young kids, but as with all things Wilshire, the more the merrier. Registration for the fall is open.
Youth Camp
“Find Your People” is the theme for this year’s Youth Camp for grades 7 to 12, to be held July 1–6 at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock. Pastoral residency alum Jared Jaggers will serve as camp pastor. Registration is open.
Minister to preschoolers sought
Wilshire is actively seeking applicants for the position of minister to preschoolers, a part-time ministerial role. Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples said, “Last year we began a process of intentionally assessing our ministries from birth to age 18. With learnings from guest speakers, surveys and all-church listening sessions, we now feel we are in a better spot to begin searching for a minister to preschoolers. This doesn’t mean we’ve finished listening or dreaming, but it’s time to bring in someone with great expertise to help us continue planning for the future.” In accordance with Wilshire’s personnel policies, the Personnel Committee will work with Associate Pastor Darren DeMent in the hiring process. A job description and instructions for applying can be found at wilshirebc.org/employment. Applications will be accepted through June 1.
WOW: Women of Wilshire
■ Tuesday Evening Book Club | May 14 | 6:30 p.m. | Parlor | Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon. Contact: Debby Burton
■ Brown Bag Book Club | June 6 | Noon | 1205-L | A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Contact: Carolyn Murray
Adopt-a-Book raised $1,100
Wilshire Librarian Barbara Peterson and the Library Committee would like to thank the congregation for its support during the recent Adopt-a-Book event, which raised $1,100 to help purchase new books. Thank you, Wilshire!
Library summer hours are in effect
Sundays: 9–10:45 a.m.
Weekdays: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Saturdays: Closed
Adam’s Baskets
Wilshire’s Adam’s Baskets ministry, created in memory of Adam Malcik upon his passing in 1987 by his parents Vy and Michael Malcik, provides members the opportunity to keep our food pantry stocked. Our small pantry meets immediate needs when a neighbor stops by for assistance. Wicker baskets are located around the church, and you can place nonperishable items into a basket at any time. Proteins, peanut butter and pop-top canned goods are most needed. Items are collected from the baskets on the second Sunday each month.
ECLC enrolling for fall
Wilshire’s Early Childhood Learning Center is enrolling for the 2024–2025 school year. ECLC is a licensed early care program offering a comprehensive approach to education for infants to Pre-K. Learn more at wilshirebc.org/eclc.
Subscribe to sermon podcast
Sermons from Timothy Peoples and other Wilshire preachers are available as a weekly audio podcast on all major podcast platforms. Search for “Wilshire Baptist Church” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or iHeartRadio.
Chronic illness support group
Wilshire’s support group for those experiencing a chronic or undiagnosed illness meets on Zoom the second and fourth Tuesdays every month at 7:30 p.m. To learn more, contact group leader Annette Miller.