This page is usually updated Fridays.
Wilshire’s Visioning Team wants to hear from you via a survey and in a small group discussion on Visioning Day, Sept. 13. | See Visioning Page >
Wilshire’s new Preschool Sensory Room was featured in the Lake Highlands Advocate. | Read story >
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Unified Budget Update
YTD Budget: $2,703,017
YTD Income: $1,869,986 ($634,827 short of expenses)
YTD Expenses: $2,504,813
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Pathways Endowment YTD gifts: $19,786
Pathways Endowment August balance: $11,829,637
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Deacon nominations sought by Sept. 25
The Deacon Nominating Committee asks Wilshire members to submit names of persons to be considered for deacon service. Nominees should be individuals who have modeled consistent, faithful service and leadership and who have been Wilshire members at least one year. You may also nominate deacons in reserve to rotate into active service. Please submit nominations by Friday, Sept. 25, at wilshirebc.org/deacon-nominations. Paper forms are available in the office. If you have been ordained as a deacon in another church and have not served at Wilshire, please let Chelsea Hopkins know (chopkins@wilshirebc.org).
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Two named to part-time roles
• Tim Cruise has begun work on Wilshire’s staff as part-time student ministry assistant. He reports to Associate Pastor Darren DeMent. Tim joined Wilshire in 2014 and served as a student ministry intern during summer 2012 and from 2014 to 2016. He teaches English at DISD’s Roosevelt High School and previously taught in Fort Worth and Chicago. Tim is married to Dr. Sydney Curtis and recently completed a master’s degree from Brite Divinity School at TCU.
• Christina Evans will join Wilshire’s staff Sept. 14 as interim missions and advocacy coordinator, a part-time role reporting to Associate Pastor Heather Mustain. Heather said, “Christina brings a host of administrative experience and skill paired with a deep love to see the gospel put into action.” Christina and her husband, Mark, joined Wilshire in 2024 with their two kids, Liam, 7, and Eliana, 5.
Empowering the Masses pantry drive
Join us during September, Hunger Action Month, as we help our mission partner Empowering the Masses stock its new pantry location in Pleasant Grove. Empowering the Masses provides for basic needs, delivers educational resources, and provides access to careers that are stable and lucrative, paving a path for sustainable success in life. Shop via an Amazon wishlist and have items shipped directly to Empowering the Masses. Link: https://a.co/01xOWXIn
Preschool Playdate on Sept. 12
Preschoolers and their families are invited to a science-themed playdate on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The event will be held in the Multipurpose Room at Wilshire. Contact: Kelly Akins (kakins@wilshirebc.org)
Wilshire Winds starts Sept. 12
Wilshire Winds will kick off the fall with a Saturday morning workshop on Sept. 12. The group will then rehearse on select Monday nights through Dec. 7. Wilshire Winds is open to woodwind, brass and percussion players of all ages and skill levels. The church may have an instrument you can use. Contact: Shana Gaines (sgaines@wilshirebc.org)
Next blood drive is Sept. 20
Carter Blood Care will hold a blood drive at Wilshire on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome; appointments are recommended. Scan the QR code or visit wilshirebc.org/events/blood-drive.
Songwriter Vespers: Dolly Parton set for Sept. 27
Dolly Parton, the iconic songwriter and performer who died Aug. 25, will be the focus of the next Songwriter Vespers, set for Sunday, Sept. 27, at 4:30 p.m. in Choral Hall. Wilshire’s Songwriter Vespers series blends elements of a coffeehouse performance and a worship service, with music from a full band and various singers. Songwriters featured in the past include John Prine and Townes Van Zandt. Coffee and light snacks will be served.
Time With Tim on Sept. 27
Time With Tim is a chance for guests and new members to meet and talk with Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples. Time With Tim will be held in Timothy’s office at 9:45 a.m. No RSVP is needed. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)
CenterPeace conference help needed
Wilshire is among the sponsors for the 2026 CenterPeace conference, set for Oct. 15–17 at First United Methodist Church in Dallas, and volunteers are needed to help in a variety of ways. Founded by Wilshire member Sally Gary, CenterPeace is a fully affirming, Christ-centered ministry that cultivates spiritual community for LGBTQ+ people. If you can serve during the conference, contact Heather Mustain (hmustain@wilshirebc.org).
Preschool parents brunch, Oct. 4
All parents of preschoolers are invited to a brunch at 9:45 a.m. on Oct. 4 in James Gallery. Minister to Preschoolers Kelly Akins says the event will be an informal time for preschool parents to get to know each other.
Next Midday on Abrams is October 7
The next Midday on Abrams will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, with Robin Sullens as guest speaker. Robin, a Wilshire member and staff chaplain with the VA, brings a wealth of knowledge from her 20+ years of experience helping individuals and families navigate medical decisions. Midday on Abrams is a new event with lunch, fellowship and informative speakers on the first Wednesday every month. Lunch ($10) starts at 11:30 a.m., and the program runs from noon to 12:45.
Check your voter registration
With elections and an Oct. 5 registration deadline approaching, everyone should check their voter registration status at votetexas.gov. Texas has placed 1.2 million voters on a “suspense” list, but this does not mean their registration was suspended or removed. The list includes registered voters who election officials believe may no longer live at their registered address. Voters on this list can confirm their address by contacting their local voter registrar before Oct. 5 and completing a new voter registration form. For help, contact Associate Pastor Heather Mustain (hmustain@wilshirebc.org).
Adventurers trip to Québec City announced
The Wilshire Adventurers are planning a trip to Québec City in Canada for Sept. 20–25, 2027. To learn about the trip and express your interest in going, visit wilshirebc.org/adventurers-trip and submit an online form by Oct. 2. Official trip registration will happen later. Brochures are available in the office.
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Wednesday Night Live: Sept. 16
• Family Dinner | 5 p.m. | Community Hall | New name, same great buffet dinner. Kid-friendly options available. Cash/check/credit accepted. Pricing at wilshirebc.org/events/wnl. Sept. 16 menu: Pasta bar; chicken Alfredo, pesto and bolognese sauces; roasted cauliflower and broccoli; Caesar salad; minestrone soup; tiramisu.
• Preschool Music & More | 6 p.m. | Age 3–Pre-K | Preschool choir plus activities and lessons focused on God’s love.
• KidConnect | 6 p.m. | K– Grade 5 | A rotation of activities to help kids learn how to love God and others with every part of themselves. Includes choir for Kindergartners.
• Adult Spiritual Formation — Praying With Our Feet: The Gospel and the March on Selma. | 6 p.m. | Community Hall | Sept. 2, 9 and 16 | “I felt like my feet were praying,” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote after marching from Selma to Montgomery with other civil rights leaders in 1965. Our three-week study will explore the lives and work of those leaders, considering how the pursuit of justice is also a pursuit of the good news, the gospel. We’ll reflect on what it means to embody our faith, seek justice and allow our lives to become a prayer in action.
• Watershed | 6:30 p.m. | Grades 6–12 | Wilshire Student Ministry’s midweek gathering.
• Sanctuary Choir | 7 p.m. | Choral Hall | New singers are always welcome. No audition.
Childcare is offered from 6 to 7:15 p.m. for infants to 2-year-olds with parents involved in church activities.
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Adventurers Tech Talk on AI open to all
On Sunday, Oct. 4, Wilshire member Teri Walker will offer a Tech Talk on AI (artificial intelligence) over lunch in Community Hall. Teri will equip us to confidently navigate this quickly evolving phenomenon. This Adventurers-hosted event is open to anyone. Registration is not required, but you can make sure you get lunch by signing up at wilshirebc.org/events/ai
Library Adopt-a-Book set for Oct. 11
At the Wilshire Library’s Adopt-a-Book event on Sunday morning, Oct. 11, you can help the Library defray the cost of new books by purchasing a dedication in honor or memory of a loved one. Dedications will be printed on plaques placed inside the books, which will then be available to be checked out. Monetary donations are also welcome to help the Library build its collection. Stop by the South Atrium from 9 to 10:45 a.m. or after worship.
Mark your calendar for October Friday Night Live
The next Friday Night Live will be offered Oct. 9. Held about once a month, this event is actually three events that work together: Marriage Connections, open to all couples; Kids Night Out; and Preschool Night Out. All events are free. Register for each separately. Find more details at wilshirebc.org/events/fnl.
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Monthly service opportunities
• A Wilshire group serves the fourth Friday morning each month at the Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation’s Mobile Food Pantry. If you can help, contact Charlie Estee at cesteedallas@gmail.com.
• Cindy Estee coordinates volunteers to serve as food pantry assistants at the Wilkinson Center the third Tuesday each month from noon to 3:45 p.m. Contact Cindy at
cesteedallas@aol.com.
• A team of Wilshire volunteers serves lunch at The Stewpot on the second Thursday every month. Contact David Cossum at dc@cossum.com to join the team or learn more.
Men’s Book Club
Tuesday, Sept. 15 | 7 p.m. | Parlor | Fire on the Mountain by Edward Abbey. Contact: Scott Spreier (swspreier@gmail.com) or Mike Meripolski (meripolski@att.net)
Women of Wilshire Book Clubs
• Tuesday Evening Book Club | Oct. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | 1205-G | How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. Contact Debby Burton.
• Brown Bag Book Club | Thursday, Oct. 1 | Noon | 1205-L | All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley. Contact Carolyn Murray.
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.