This page is usually updated Fridays.
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For guests and new members
• Wilshire Welcome is a one-hour session to help you learn about Wilshire. Held in the Prayer Room near McIver Chapel. Upcoming date: Aug. 17.
• Time with Tim is your chance to meet and chat with Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples in an informal group session in his office. Upcoming date: Sept. 14.
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Hill Country flooding relief
Those affected by the July 4 flooding in Central Texas have received vouchers to shop at Kerrville’s Salvation Army Family Thrift Store for free. Volunteers are needed to sort and hang clothing, and opportunities are available Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you’re interested in going, contact Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org). We are gathering interest and will then select a date to serve.
• Visit wilshirebc.org/flood-relief to find
donation links.
Fire drill set for Aug. 10
Wilshire will hold a fire drill on Sunday, Aug. 10, at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday School will start at 9:45 as usual, and the drill should be done before worship starts at 11. Risk Management Committee chair Phil McNicholas says the committee’s intent is to have regular fire drills to ensure preparedness in case of a fire. “The main responsibility of the Risk Management Committee,” Phil said, “is to help mitigate our church’s risks, and one important risk mitigation practice is having regular fire drills.” Each Sunday School room should have a sign on the wall indicating the nearest exit. When the drill starts, look for the nearest exit sign and leave the building using the stairwells. Elevators will not be used. Each Sunday School class should designate a drill leader to advise the class on its identified evacuation route, and staff and volunteers will be located around the building to help guide you toward the proper assembly areas outside. Those with mobility issues are not required to participate. Preschoolers and children will be supervised by their Sunday School teachers and will return to their classes once the drill is over for usual Sunday School pickup. The drill should take about 15 minutes. In case of rain, the drill will be postponed.
Aug. 10: Bluegrass worship
You won’t want to miss 11 a.m. worship on Sunday, Aug. 10. The music in the service will be bluegrass themed, with a band, a song from Micheal Sheaffer and Elle Sheaffer, favorite hymns and more. It will also be a “drop-in choir” Sunday, one of a few in August.
Summer Drop-In Choir: Aug. 10, 17 and 24
If you enjoy choral singing — or are curious to try it — but can’t make a weekly commitment, you’re invited to sing in the Summer Drop-In Choir on Aug. 10, 17 and 24. We’ll rehearse in Choral Hall at 9 a.m., then go to Sunday School before leading in worship at 11 a.m. There will be no robes and absolutely no pressure.
Geri McKenzie to be recognized Aug. 10
Geri McKenzie will be honored in worship on Aug. 10 as she departs the Wilshire staff after 20 years. She served as executive director of administration since 2023 and before that was associate director of Pathways to Ministry. Geri will soon start a new job at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore. Her husband, Mark, will continue as Wilshire’s communications director and will remain in Dallas temporarily to deal with logistics as he and Geri prepare to relocate.
Unified Budget Update
YTD Budget: $2,315,129
YTD Income: $1,864,221
YTD Expenses: $2,127,346
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Pathways Endowment YTD gifts: $14,185
Pathways Endowment July balance: $10,456,959
Adcox begins Wilshire internship
Don’t be surprised if you see longtime staff member Abbey Adcox in new roles this academic year. In addition to her regular duties as missions and advocacy coordinator, Abbey will be serving an internship at Wilshire as part of her studies at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, where she is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. Abbey will take on additional experiences and responsibilities in pastoral care, including hospital visits and home-centered ministry, teaching adult Sunday School and participating in worship planning.
Calling all Wilshire authors
Have you written and published a book? If the answer is yes, we need you for the Wilshire Author Fair on Sunday, Sept. 14, from noon to 2 p.m. in Community Hall. Hosted by the Library Committee, this is an opportunity to show and sell your books to the Wilshire community and beyond. We’ve already compiled a list of amazing Wilshire authors, but we’re looking for anyone we may have missed. If you haven’t been contacted, email Jeff Hampton so you can get all the details.
Sunday, Aug. 17: Welcome, Y’all!
Join us as we kick off a new Sunday School year, a new school year — and Wilshire’s 75th.
• Promotion Sunday. Preschoolers, children and youth will move to new Sunday School classes, and it’s a great day for adults to try a new class or try Sunday School for the first time.
• Blessing of the Backpacks.
The annual Blessing of the Backpacks will be held during worship on Aug. 17. Children are encouraged to bring their backpacks or school bags to church, and they’ll be invited to the front to receive a blessing as the school year begins.
• Lunch after church.
Join us after worship for a BBQ lunch in Community Hall. Cost for the meal: adults, $10; kids 4–9, $5; free for 3 and under; household max: $35. Cash/check/credit accepted at the door. No registration needed. Volunteers eat for half price: Find a sign-up link at wilshirebc.org/events/welcome-yall.
• Anniversary sneak peek.
Come to lunch on Aug. 17 for a preview of our 75th anniversary celebration in 2026. There will be a short presentation featuring a few Wilshire folks, and you’ll learn how you can get in on the planning for our special events next June 13 and 14.
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Wednesday Night Live returns Aug. 20
Koinonia Café
5 p.m. | Community Hall | Buffet dinner for the whole family with kid-friendly options available. Cash/check/credit accepted at the door. Full Meal: $10 for ages 10 and up; $5 for kids 4 to 9; free for kids 3 and under; $35 household max. Soup & Salad Meal: $7.
Preschool Music & Missions
6 p.m. | Age 3–Pre-K | Preschool choir plus fun activities and lessons focused on God’s love and caring for others.
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. Each week is different! Activities include art, music, recreation, science and more. Kindergartners will have choir as part of KidConnect.
Bible Study or Vespers
6 p.m. | Adults will remain in Community Hall after dinner most weeks for Bible Study, a topical series or a one-off event. About once a month, our pastoral residents will lead a Vespers service in McIver Chapel.
• Aug. 20: Get to Know the New Residents
• Aug. 27: Vespers
• Sept. 3: Bible Study series begins
Watershed
6:30 p.m. | Grades 6–12 | Wilshire Student Ministry’s weekly time of Bible study and
music in the Youth Center.
Sanctuary Choir
7 p.m. | Choral Hall | Wilshire’s main adult choir resumes weekly rehearsals on Aug. 20. New singers are always welcome, and there’s no audition.
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Lunch & Learn returns Sept. 3
Lunch & Learn, held the first and third Wednesdays every month, resumes on Sept. 3. All are invited at 11:30 a.m. for a buffet lunch followed by minister-led Bible study. On Sept. 3, Minister to Senior Adults Katie Murray will lead an introduction to the book of Acts, and you’ll have a chance to meet Wilshire’s two new pastoral residents. Lunch costs $10 each. No RSVP necessary. Pay at the door.
IDAT team seeks feedback
The racial justice timeline created by our In Deed and Truth team is still on display in James Gallery and the South Lobby. Our new land acknowledgment has been added, and you’ll find space in the exhibit to contribute your own stories or reflections. You can also access the timeline and send thoughts via an online form. The display traces Wilshire’s engagement with racial justice over the decades.
Children’s and Youth Choirs begin
• Children’s Choirs (grades 1–5), will resume rehearsals Sunday, Aug. 24. Rehearsals will be held Sundays from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. after a snack lunch. Unlike last year’s approach, rehearsals will be held weekly unless otherwise noted. The fall schedule will be shared when rehearsals begin.
• Kindergarten Choir will meet on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. as part of KidConnect. Pre-K and 3-year-olds will have choir during Preschool Music & Missions, Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Wednesday night activities resume Aug. 20.
• Youth Choir (grades 6–12) will resume rehearsals Sunday, Aug. 24, at 12:30 p.m. in Choral Hall after a snack lunch.
Firearm disposal event on Sept. 7
Wilshire is co-hosting a “Guns to Gardens” safe disposal event on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration (14115 Hillcrest). This is an opportunity for anyone with unwanted firearms in their households to safely dispose of them. Each gun will be used to create garden tools that the participant will receive at a later date. Guns to Gardens is a national movement working to reduce gun violence, and Wilshire is among several churches forming a local chapter. Find more details about the event at wilshirebc.org/events/guns-to-gardens.
Save the date for 75th anniversary
Wilshire will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2026, culminating with special events on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14. Planning is underway, and more information is coming soon about how you can get involved. For now, mark your calendars for next June 13 and 14, and plan your summer vacation so you don’t miss the festivities.
What just happened in the Texas legislature?
What decisions were made in the most recent Texas legislative session, and how do they impact people of faith committed to justice and public witness? Join Texas Impact and fellow faith advocates from across the area for a powerful day of learning, reflection and connection. We’ll unpack key legislation, explore its implications for our communities and equip ourselves for faithful civic engagement moving forward. Texas Impact’s Bee Moorhead will moderate a discussion with Texas Rep. John Bryant and Almas Muscatwalla, commissioner of the Dallas Housing Authority. Arapaho United Methodist Church will host the event on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A cost of $15 per person includes lunch. Please register at arapahoumc.org/texas.
Serve at Vickery Meadow Mobile Food Pantry
Help is needed on Friday, Aug. 22, to serve with Wilshire at the Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation’s Mobile Food Pantry. Wilshire serves the fourth Friday each month from 8:30 a.m. to noon. If you can help on Aug. 22, contact Charlie Estee at cesteedallas@gmail.com by Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Life Line Screenings here Sept. 4
Life Line Screenings will screen for stroke and cardiovascular disease risks at Wilshire on Thursday, Sept. 4. For $129, Life Line will screen for carotid artery disease, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm. To make an appointment, call 800-324-9458 and use code HABC001 or visit llsa.social/habc.
Men’s Book Club
The Men’s Book Club will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, to discuss The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt. The group will meet in the Parlor at 7 p.m. Contact: Mike Meripolski or Scott Spreier.
Women of Wilshire
• Tuesday Evening Book Club | Sept. 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Parlor | The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. Contact Debby Burton.
• Brown Bag Book Club | Sept. 4 | Noon | 1205-L | Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. Contact Carolyn Murray.
Coming in September
More information is coming soon about these events happening next month.
• Sept. 7: Betsy Shirley, editor in chief of Sojourners magazine, will be our guest for worship and lunch.
• Sept. 14: Drop-In Winds
• Sept. 14: Wilshire Author Fair
• Sept. 14: Our second Songwriter Vespers will feature the music of Townes Van Zandt.
• Sept. 28: Drop-In Bells
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.