When I was young, my family took a big vacation once every few years (or at least what we considered to be a big vacation). One of my favorite vacations was a road trip to Washington, D.C. Because trips like this were rare and we knew it was likely we may not go back...
This is a season of transitions for me, and I know I’m not alone in that. In worship this Sunday, we recognize our graduating high school seniors, who also find themselves in one of life’s most important transitions — playing out in the most unusual of times. Others...
Mother Mary is a woman worthy of remembrance, celebration and emulation. One tradition is the “May Crowning,” when little children make flower crowns and adorn statues of Mary to celebrate her life and leadership. I dig that. If ever there was a woman to remember it...
One of my favorite movies is Groundhog Day. As much as I enjoy that movie, I am not enjoying how much my current reality seems to be mirroring that of Bill Murray’s iconic character, Phil, with every day seeming to be on an endless repeat. No matter how much déjà vu...
All my life, I’ve never not believed in God, but it’s taken almost 60 of my 80 years to believe in church. After discovering Wilshire 15 years ago, I hungered to know more about Jesus, Christianity, Baptists, the Bible and church. I’m still learning and grabbing...
This Sunday, April 19, is the Second Sunday of Easter on the liturgical calendar, and I would have found that peculiar as a child when we didn’t follow such calendars and Easter was a one-day event. Year after year we drove deep down into Southeast Texas to spend the...
Baptists aren’t leaders in liturgical innovation. In fact, we’re kind of spare in our worship rituals. We focus more on inner experience than outer ceremony. But we’re also human, and humans are incorrigible meaning-makers. At Wilshire, we’ve added a few splashes to...
I should be in New Orleans this Sunday morning preparing to watch my Baylor Lady Bears win their second consecutive national championship. Every year, I take a pilgrimage with my mom to the NCAA Women’s Final Four and National Championship. Last year, I got to watch...
How does one prepare for worship when we’re as scattered as we are today? When you can come to worship in your pajamas with breakfast laid out in front of you, how much preparation do you really need? Having been at home watching the livestream along with you the last...
By Leanna Coyle-Carr, pastoral resident In both of the church’s penitential seasons there is a special Sunday halfway through. In Advent, we light a pink candle on Gaudate Sunday, remembering to rejoice amidst our preparations and active waiting for Christ. Similarly,...