Note: This page is generally updated on Fridays.
Wilshire Welcome for guests and new members is Jan. 19
This one-hour session to help guests and new members learn more about the church will meet Sunday, Jan. 19, at 9:45 a.m. in the Prayer Room near the chapel. Contact: Carolyn Murray
Preschool Playdate on Jan. 18
Preschoolers and their families are invited to a Preschool Playdate on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Down to Play in Medallion Center. Admission is $20 per child and includes two adults. Contact: Minister to Preschoolers Kelly Akins
Rise Against Hunger on MLK Day, Jan. 20
Join us on MLK Day, Monday, Jan. 20, as we partner with Rise Against Hunger to pack healthy meals for those in need. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in Community Hall. This project is for everyone and includes ways to serve while seated. Children are a great help collecting completed bags with help from a parent. Volunteers are needed to help set up starting at 8:30 a.m. and clean up afterward. Rise Against Hunger’s mission is to create immediate and long-term solutions to hunger by building resilience, self-sufficiency and empowerment in communities worldwide. All volunteers must register and complete a waiver at events.riseagainsthunger.org/wilshirebaptistchurch2025.
Wednesday Night Live: Jan. 22
■ Koinonia Café | 5 p.m. | Community Hall | Buffet dinner. Cash/check/credit accepted. See prices at wilshirebc.org/events/wnl. Jan. 22: Roasted lemon chicken, orzo with feta and black olives, spanakopita, hummus and pita, vegetable soup, salad, orange cake, cookies, jello Kids: Chicken nuggets, tots.
■ 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. Activities include art, music, recreation and more.
■ Bible Study: The Life of John the Baptist | 6 p.m. | Jan. 8, 15, 22 | Community Hall | As we move from the Christmas season, we move our focus to a different character in the story, one who came in a prophetic manner to prepare a way for the Lord: John the Baptist. There’s not much known about him, but together we’ll dive deeper into his life and legacy, including his birth, calling and even death. Coming Jan. 29: Wilshire’s pastoral residents will lead a Vespers service on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. in McIver Chapel.
■ 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 | New singers are always welcome in our main adult choir. No audition.
WNL: Virtual Edition on Feb. 12
Those who engage with Wilshire mainly online are invited to a monthly Zoom session hosted by a staff member. Minister of Music Ariel Merivil will host the next meeting on Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Central. Find the link at wilshirebc.org/events/wnl-virtual closer to the event.
Lunch & Learn
All are invited the first and third Wednesdays every month for lunch ($10 ea.) and Bible study. See the winter/spring schedule at wilshirebc.org/events/lunch-learn.
Annual Church Conference: Jan. 26
Make plans to attend our annual church conference in Community Hall after worship on Sunday, Jan. 26. We’ll adopt a budget, elect deacons and committees and hear updates about the church. Lunch will be provided. Childcare is available by reservation; find the link at wilshirebc.org/events/church-conference.
New deacons recommended, officers named
The Deacon Nominating Committee has recommended seven Wilshire members to be ordained as new deacons: Jane Alloway, Jessica Brookshire, Cindy Estee, Shana Gaines, Kathryn Keller, Raylan Loggins and Michael Shepard. Seven deacons were recommended to return to active service: Chris Adcox, David Duncan, Jeff Hampton, Gabe Leal, Suzy McLaughlin, John Parnell and Debbie Rampey. Recommendations will be voted on at the Annual Church Conference on Jan. 26, and new deacons will be ordained on Feb. 2. Deacon officers for 2025 will be: Gina Ortegon, chair; Rhonda Walton, chair-elect; Kile Brown, vice-chair.
Ministry Team Expo: Jan. 26
Wilshire’s Ministry Teams will be featured in an event in James Gallery on Sunday, Jan. 26, from 9 to 11 a.m. Come through before or after Sunday School to learn about these opportunities to serve the church.
Parent series offered Sundays and Wednesdays
Nurturing faith in kids will be the topic of a series for parents on Sunday mornings from Jan. 26 to March 2 (except Feb. 9). Minister to Children Julie Girards will facilitate a discussion of the book Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From by Meredith Miller. The series will meet Sundays from 10 to 10:40 a.m. in Room 3208 (Labyrinth Class). Check in with your regular class and then join us. The five sessions will also be offered Wednesdays from Jan. 29 to Feb. 26 at 6:05 p.m. in Room 2230.
Souper Bowl of Caring is Feb. 9
The annual Souper Bowl of Caring, benefiting the Phil Strickland Hunger Offering, will be held Sunday, Feb. 9, at noon in Community Hall. Join us after worship for soup and all the fixings and donate an amount equal to what you would spend at a nice restaurant for lunch. This year’s beneficiaries are Together for Hope and Wilshire’s Rental and Utility Assistance Program. Together for Hope is engaged in the 338 counties of persistent rural poverty in America, holistically focusing on four priorities of hope: education, health and nutrition, housing and environment and social enterprise. Wilshire’s Rental and Utility Assistance Program, launched last year with Missions Plus funds, provides crucial one-month support to help local families bridge financial gaps.
Register for Feb. 14 Marriage Connections
Marriage Connections will meet on Friday night, Feb. 14. In this event, held on select Friday nights at 6:30, free childcare (infant–grade 5) is provided while parents enjoy a short program at the church and then have the rest of the night, until 9:30, to themselves. Registration for childcare is required by Sunday, Feb. 9.
Single, Adoptive and Foster Parents Night Out is Feb. 14
Wilshire will offer free childcare (infant–grade 5) for single, adoptive and foster parents on Friday, Jan. 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Registration for childcare and closes Sunday, Feb. 9.
Men’s Book Club
Wilshire’s Men’s Book Club will discuss Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Parlor. On Feb. 18 the group will discuss Eric Larson’s The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War. The group meets the third Tuesday each month but will not meet in December 2024. Contact: Mike Meripolski or Scott Spreier.
Women of Wilshire
■ WOW Tuesday Evening Book Club | Feb. 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Parlor | Washington Square by Henry James. Contact Debby Burton.
■ WOW Brown Bag Book Club | Feb. 6 | Noon | 1205-L | Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. Contact Carolyn Murray.
■ 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.
Weekly Witness podcast
With the Texas legislative session underway, now is a great time to subscribe to the Weekly Witness podcast produced by advocacy agency Texas Impact. The podcast is a way for Texans of faith to learn about important public policy issues through a faith lens and find out timely opportunities to participate in the public policy process. Find out more at texasimpact.org/weekly-witness-podcast-2023.
Advocacy Action Groups
The 89th Texas Legislature and 119th U.S. Congress convene in January. Consider joining an Advocacy Action Group to receive educational resources and action alerts regarding local, state and national issues. From the Missions and Christian Advocacy Committee. Sign up here >
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.
Spaghetti Lunch: auction items needed
The annual Youth Choir Spaghetti Lunch and Silent Auction will be held Sunday, March 2, in Community Hall after worship. This event will help fund the choir’s summer mission tour to Chicago to sing, serve and sightsee. If you’d like to donate items or services to the silent auction, contact Sara Tinsley at saratinsley1@yahoo.com. Suggestions include restaurant gift cards, new household items, sporting equipment and event tickets. Professional services make great donation items, so if you’re a musician, tutor, photographer, baker, designer, accountant or have a service to provide, consider donating a gift certificate of your time or service. Donations are kindly requested by Sunday, Feb. 16.