By Katie Murray This morning we will ordain seven members of our congregation to serve as deacons within our church body. These men and women have already shown their heart for service among us, directing and teaching Sunday School classes, investing in our children’s...
Preparing for Worship: Jan. 26, 2025
By Ariel Merivil In the vast expanse of the cosmos, amid countless stars and swirling galaxies, there exists a profound paradox of faith: the Creator of all things is also intimately acquainted with our smallest concerns. Today, our worship outlines this remarkable...
Preparing for Worship: Jan. 19, 2025
By Georgia McKee As we gather for worship today, we prepare our hearts for a week steeped in tension and possibility. Tomorrow, two significant moments will unfold: the inauguration of a president and the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. These events call us...
Preparing for Worship: Jan. 12, 2025
By Kelly Akins Today we are celebrating Epiphany at Wilshire. My husband, Allan, and I are members of the Epiphany Sunday School class, a safe space at Wilshire to wrestle with questions, have differing opinions and still show love and respect for others. What does it...
Preparing for Worship: Jan. 5, 2025
By Heather Mustain Another year has come and gone and it’s hard to believe that this is the first Sunday of a brand new year. For some of us, a new year brings excitement and renewed commitment to old or new intentions. For others of us, we grieve that time seems to...
Preparing for Worship: Dec. 29, 2024
By Timothy Peoples There are just three more days to squeeze in those last bits of New Year’s resolutions you created almost a year ago! Some of us have stopped even trying to consider resolutions, and others make them every year without fail — even if we might fail...
Preparing for Worship: Dec. 22, 2024
By Katie Murray My 4-year-old son has become rather enthralled with the hymn “Joy to the World” this month. He has taken the phrase “heaven and nature sing” as his personal mantra and sings the song all day, plays it on our music speakers throughout the house, and as...
Preparing for Worship: Dec. 15, 2024
By Abbey Adcox As Christmas approaches, reminders to be joyful are everywhere. JOY is emblazoned on sweaters, ornaments and wrapping paper, urging us to feel this emotion. This tinsel-covered joy feels out of reach for me this year. My heart is heavy with grief over...
Preparing for Worship: Dec. 8, 2024
By Charlie Fuller I have a set of people in my life who bring me peace. These are people I always look forward to being with. People with whom I share many common bonds. When I’m with them I always dread saying goodbye. But when I leave their presence, I’m always the...
Preparing for Worship: Dec. 1, 2024
By Timothy Peoples Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which traditionally focuses on hope. Each time we come to this Sunday, I’m reminded that I’m not the most hopeful about our world. I know, I know, that’s not the way to see the world or come into the season of...