Note: This page is generally updated on Fridays.
Time with Tim on Feb. 23
Time with Tim, an informal chance for guests and new members to meet and chat with Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples, will be held Sunday, Feb. 23, at 9:45 a.m. in Timothy’s office. Contact: Carolyn Murray
Get ready for Game Night
Bring the whole family and enjoy games for all ages at Wilshire Game Night on Friday, Feb. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. in James Gallery. We’ll have popcorn, and you are welcome to bring your own food, drinks and favorite games. We’ll have supervision and a movie available in the Preschool Multipurpose Room for preschoolers or younger children.
Spaghetti Lunch is March 2
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 Abbey Adcox. 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 will be accepted through Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Wilshire and Royal Lane collaboration: Feb. 16 & 23
Wilshire and Royal Lane Baptist Church will collaborate by swapping worship leadership on two February Sundays. Congregants are encouraged to attend their respective churches both weeks. “By participating in this swap with our most like-minded local sister church,” Timothy said, “we are embracing our shared faith and practicing what it means to be community as the church universal.”
• On Feb. 16, worship at Royal Lane will include preaching from Wilshire Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples. Wilshire Minister of Music Ariel Merivil will co-lead the music, and the combined choirs from both churches will sing. (At Wilshire, Sunday School and worship will be held as usual, with Pastoral Resident Georgia McKee preaching.)
• On Feb. 23, Royal Lane Senior Pastor Victoria Robb Powers will preach at Wilshire, and the combined choirs will sing again as Royal Lane Minister of Music and Worship Harry Wooten co-leads the music with Ariel.
Puerto Rico trip
Be in prayer for a Wilshire team currently serving in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The group of 15 arrived in Puerto Rico this weekend and will return Feb. 28. This is our third consecutive year to serve in San Juan in partnership with First Baptist Church of Rio Piedras. Members of the group are: Dorrell Brown, Vickie Conn, Charlie and Cindy Estee, Donna Gregory, Steven Hallman, Linda Lyles, Linda and Ivan Martinez, Nick McQuillan (son-in-law of Steven Hallman), Mike Meripolski, Pastoral Resident Maggie Morey, Associate Pastor Heather Mustain, Ross Prater and David Slatton.
Faith in 3D coming
Wilshire’s 2025 Faith in 3D production is an original vignette-styled musical, In Songs and Stories. The show will feature a compilation of songs, predominantly from Broadway musicals, that will not only entertain but also stimulate discussion with the potential to change individuals — and maybe the world. Director Nancy Poynter is returning for her 11th Faith in 3D production, and Ralph Manuel will serve as musical director. The free show will be performed at Wilshire on Wednesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 29, at 2:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The Wednesday performance will take the place of Wilshire’s usual Wednesday 6 p.m. offerings (childcare will be offered for preschoolers). The three Ds in Faith in 3D stand for drama, dialogue and dessert. Productions have usually featured a theatrical presentation followed by dessert and a moderated discussion of the show’s themes.
Prepare the Way: Lent 2025
Join us this Lent as we Prepare the Way for Christ’s resurrection. Together, we’ll journey through the wilderness of these 40 days, embracing spiritual practices that open our hearts to the sacred and prepare us for the mystery of what’s to come. In a world that feels fractured and uncertain, these practices will ground us in the reality of God’s presence, equipping us to rise, resist and rebuild. Like Jesus, we are called into the untamed spaces of our lives to pause, listen and reorient ourselves toward the Divine. This Lent, let us prepare not just for Easter, but for the ongoing work of healing and hope in our world. Come, let us walk this path together, trusting that even in the wilderness, God is making a way.
Two Ash Wednesday services March 5
March 5 | Noon & 6 p.m. | We will offer two worship services on Ash Wednesday, March 5. Both are open to anyone and will include the imposition of ashes.
■ The first Ash Wednesday service will take place in Community Hall as part of Lunch & Learn. Lunch ($10 ea.) will begin at 11:30 a.m., and the service will start at noon.
■ An Ash Wednesday Family Service will be held at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This service will be held in lieu of other 6 p.m. offerings; children are encouraged to attend. Childcare will be available for preschoolers. Koinonia Café will be offered at 5 p.m.
Lenten Book Focus
All are invited to read along as we study N.T. Wright’s From Wilderness to Glory: Lent and Easter For Everyone. Many Sunday School classes will be using the book during Lent, but it is also appropriate for individual study. If you’d like to connect with a class, contact Associate Pastor Darren DeMent or Minister to Senior Adults Katie Murray for recommendations. This new book is available at Amazon and other sellers.
■ A family Lenten guide will be available for parents to use with children.
Lenten Playlist
Wilshire’s eclectic Lenten Playlist, curated by Associate Pastor Darren DeMent, is coming soon to the digital music service Spotify. The basic version of Spotify is free.
Sacred Space each Sunday
Sundays, March 9–April 13 | 9–9:30 a.m. | McIver Chapel | Join us each Lenten Sunday for a time of quiet contemplation and spiritual practice. Each gathering will begin with a brief prompt, but the focus will be on creating space to quiet your mind and engage in the spiritual practices we’re exploring this season. All are welcome. Led by Associate Pastor Darren DeMent, Minister to Senior Adults Katie Murray and Pastoral Resident Georgia McKee.
Songwriter Vespers: John Prine
Sunday, March 23 | 4:30 p.m. | Choral Hall | This unique worship opportunity will be a fusion of a coffeehouse-style concert and a vespers service. Join Associate Pastor Darren DeMent and other musicians as they explore themes of home, connection, loss and redemption found in the music of John Prine. Coffee and light snacks will be provided.
Maundy Thursday — April 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Sanctuary
Easter Sunday — April 20
■ Sunrise Service, T. & P. Hill at White Rock Lake, 6:30 a.m.
■ Columbarium Service, 9:30 a.m.
■ Worship in the Sanctuary, 8:30 and 11 a.m.
Unified Budget Update as of Jan. 31
YTD Budget: $317,536
YTD Income: $225,222 ($55,479 short of expenses)
YTD Expenses: $280,701
Pathways Endowment YTD gifts: $1,195
Pathways Endowment Jan. balance: $10,281,302
Summer 2025 — Children and Preschool
Save the dates for these Children’s and Preschool summer events. Registration is open>
• Vacation Bible School | June 9–13 | 9 a.m.–noon. | Older preschool–grade 5
• Cooking Camp | July 7–11 | 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Grades 1–5
• Listen to Your Art! | July 7–11 | 12:30–5 p.m. | Grades 1–5
• Full-day Cooking and Art available for grades 2–5
• Kindergarten & Preschool Camp | July 7–11 | 9 a.m.–noon | Older preschool–Kindergarten
• Passport Kids! Preteen Camp | July 20–23 | Overnight camp in Glen Rose, Texas for grades 3–5
North elevator update
Wilshire is soliciting bids to replace the elevator on the north end of the building. The current elevator, which is decades old, has proven increasingly unreliable despite repeated repair attempts, and for safety reasons it will remain out of service until the new one can be installed. The process could take several weeks. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Wilshire headed to Austin Feb. 27
Pastoral Resident Georgia McKee will lead a Wilshire group to the state capitol in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 27, for Gun Violence Awareness Day. The event will mark the culmination of the Stolen Lives (Vidas Robadas) advocacy project, which uses T-shirts to memorialize victims of gun violence. If you’d like to go, contact Georgia at gmckee@wilshirebc.org.
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.
Wednesday Night Live: Feb. 26
■ Koinonia Café | 5 p.m. | Community Hall | Buffet dinner. Cash/check/credit accepted. See prices at wilshirebc.org/events/wnl. Feb. 26: Lasagna, zucchini and squash, garlic sticks, tomato basil soup, tiramisu, sugar cookies, jello. Kids: Lasagna, veggies.
■ 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: Four Baptist Freedoms | 6 p.m. | Community Hall | What does it mean that we’re a Baptist church? And why would anyone want to be Baptist? Our February series will explore the “Four Fragile Freedoms” of Baptist identity as outlined by historian Walter Shurden: Bible Freedom (Feb. 5), Soul Freedom (Feb. 12), Church Freedom (Feb. 19) and Religious Freedom (Feb. 26). Whether you’re new to Wilshire or a lifelong Baptist, this series will deepen our understanding of who we are and why it matters. Pastoral Resident Georgia McKee will lead, with Pathways Director Charlie Fuller subbing on Feb. 19.
■ 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.
Coming up on Wednesday nights
■ March 5: Wilshire will offer an Ash Wednesday service at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Children are welcome at the service, which will be held in lieu of other 6 p.m. activities. Childcare will be offered for preschoolers.
■ March 12: No Wednesday Night Live due to Spring Break.
March Lunch & Learn features Ash Wednesday service
All are invited the first and third Wednesdays every month for lunch ($10 ea.) and Bible study. On March 5, Lunch & Learn will mark the start of Lent with an Ash Wednesday service in lieu of Bible study. See the winter/spring schedule at wilshirebc.org/events/lunch-learn.
Men’s Book Club
Wilshire’s Men’s Book Club will discuss Frank Bruni’s The Age of Grievance on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in the Parlor. The group meets the third Tuesday each month. Contact: Mike Meripolski or Scott Spreier.
Women of Wilshire
■ WOW Tuesday Evening Book Club | March 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Parlor | Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. Contact Debby Burton.
■ WOW Brown Bag Book Club | March 6 | Noon | 1205-L | Camino Island by John Grisham. 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.
Library is open
The Wilshire Library is open after being closed for the installation of new shelving and other enhancements. Library hours are: Sundays, 9 to 10:45 a.m.; Wednesdays, 2 to 7 p.m.; other weekdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed on Saturdays.
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.