New class of residents starts Aug. 1
New pastoral residents Georgia McKee and Maggie Morey have moved into their homes on Resident Row and will begin their two-year terms at Wilshire on Thursday, Aug. 1. Read more >
Kelly Akins named minister to preschoolers
Wilshire member and current ECLC staffer Kelly Akins has been hired as Wilshire’s new minister to preschoolers and will begin in the part-time role on Aug. 1. Read more >
Join Drop-In Choir on Aug. 4 and/or 11
Do you want to sing in choir but feel you’re not able to make the weekly commitment? Join the Summer Drop-In Choir on August 4 or 11 in Choral Hall at 9:15 a.m. All are welcome either day or both days. No dress code, choir robes or prior rehearsal is needed. We’ll have a quick 30-minute rehearsal, go to our Sunday School classes and then sing for worship together. Invite your friends, neighbors or favorite youth to join you. Contact Minister of Music Ariel Merivil at amerivil@wilshirebc.org with any questions.
Back to School Drive; items due Aug. 11
Wilshire is holding a Back to School Drive benefiting Dover Elementary School of Richardson ISD and Gateway of Grace’s ESL program. Visit wilshirebc.org/events/bts-drive for wishlists of needed items. Donations are due to Wilshire by Aug. 11.
Adventurers Trivia Night, Aug. 5
The Wilshire Adventurers will enjoy a trivia contest on Monday, Aug. 5, at 6:30 p.m. in Community Hall. Sam Tinsley will emcee; cobbler and ice cream will be served. Cost: $5 per person. Adventurers is a fellowship group for those 60 and up.
Final summer Lunch & Learn is Aug. 7
The final Lunch & Learn of the summer will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 7. We’ll meet at the church at 11 a.m. to carpool to Wilshire mission partner Empowering the Masses, a nonprofit that empowers our neighbors by providing life skills and education. We’ll then eat lunch together at a restaurant. Lunch & Learn will be offered on the first and third Wednesdays each month starting Sept. 4.
Blessing of the Backpacks
The annual Blessing of the Backpacks will be held during worship on Sunday, Aug. 11. Children are encouraged to bring their backpacks or school bags to church, and during the service they’ll be invited to the front to receive a blessing as the school year begins.
CBF’s Laura Ayala here Aug. 18
Rev. Laura Ayala, coordinator of global missions for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, will be at Wilshire on Sunday, Aug. 18. She will speak in McIver Chapel at 9:45 a.m. and will help lead in worship. Before her current role, Laura served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Rio Piedras in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wilshire’s partner in recent mission trips.
Welcome Y’all! Promotion Sunday and BBQ Lunch on Aug. 18
Wilshire will celebrate the end of summer and kick off a new school year on Promotion Sunday, Aug. 18. 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. After worship, all are invited to Community Hall for a BBQ lunch and some down-home entertainment by Wilshire’s own. Cost for the meal is $10 per adult, $5 for kids ages 4 to 9 and free for 3 and under. Cash/check/credit will be accepted at the door. Western wear is optional. We’re roundin’ up a posse to help set up Community Hall on Saturday and for various tasks on Sunday. Volunteers get lunch for half price. Sign-up link: wilshirebc.org/events/welcome-yall.
Youth group expanding to include grade 6
On Promotion Sunday, Aug. 18, Wilshire’s youth group, currently grades 7–12, will expand to include students in grade 6. Associate Pastor Darren DeMent explained, “Most of the school districts our students attend have sixth, seventh and eighth graders together in a middle school model, and other districts are moving in that direction. So having sixth graders in children’s ministry — equivalent to elementary school — no longer matched our families’ school experiences. Many CBF youth ministers I know have used a 6 to 12 model for years, so this change brings us more in line with what like-minded churches are already doing.” Youth Sunday School will have three classes grouped by school grade: 6–8; 9–10; and 11–12. Darren said. “We’ve always divided the group by age to address topics in age-appropriate ways, and we’ll continue to do that at camps, retreats or anytime we need to.”
Youth Choir starts Aug. 18
Wilshire’s Youth Choir, now directed by Minister of Music Ariel Merivil, will begin weekly rehearsals on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 12:30 p.m. in Choral Hall. All students in grades 6 through 12 are welcome. On Aug. 18, students can eat at the churchwide BBQ lunch in Community Hall. On typical weeks, a snack lunch will be provided.
Children’s Choir resumes Sept. 8 with new scheduling approach
In an effort to encourage participation and reduce scheduling stress on families, Children’s Choir (grades 1–5) will look different this school year. Singers can now select one, two or three sections of choir instead of committing to the entire year. Each section will include a few rehearsals followed by a performance. Rehearsals will be held Sundays from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. after a snack lunch.
■ Fall Choir: Sept. 8–Oct. 6
■ Christmas Choir: Nov. 3–Dec. 8
■ Spring Choir: March 23–April 13
Kindergartners will have choir as part of KidConnect on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Pre-K and 3-year-olds will have choir as part of Preschool Music & Missions on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. To learn more, contact Candy McComb.
Wednesday Night Live resumes Aug. 21
Dinner, fellowship and faith formation for all ages. Learn more >
■ Koinonia Café | 5 p.m. | Community Hall | Buffet dinner for the whole family.
■ Preschool Music & Missions | 6 p.m. | Age 3–Pre-K.
■ KidConnect | 6 p.m. | K–Grade 5
■ Bible Study or Vespers | 6 p.m.
■ Watershed | 6:30 p.m. | Grades 6–12 | Youth Center
■ Sanctuary Choir | 7 p.m. | Choral Hall
Lunch & Learn to be offered twice a month
Lunch & Learn will be held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month this fall, starting on Sept. 4. All are invited at 11:30 a.m. for a buffet lunch followed by minister-led Bible study. Watch the Tapestry each week to see who’s teaching as we continue where we left off in our journey through the Old Testament. Lunch costs $10 each. No RSVP necessary. Pay at the door.
Childcare coordinator leaving
Staci Langley, a familiar face to Wilshire families for 22 years, is leaving her role as childcare coordinator, effective July 31. In this part-time position, Staci has managed childcare on Sundays, Wednesdays and for special events since 2002. A resident of Forney, she plans to spend more time with family, including caring for her grandchildren. Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples said, “She may not be known to the entire congregation, but to anyone who has raised kids here in the last 22 years, Staci has been a constant, welcoming presence on our preschool and children’s halls. Through her diligence and dedication, she has ministered to a generation of Wilshire families, and for that I’m eternally grateful.”
For new members and guests
■ Time with Tim, an informal chance for guests and new members to meet and visit with Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples, will meet Sunday, Aug. 25, at 9:45 a.m. in Timothy’s office (2203). Contact: Carolyn Murray
■ Wilshire Welcome, a one-hour session to help guests and new members learn more about the church, will meet Sunday, July 21, and Sunday, Sept. 22, at 9:45 a.m. in the Prayer Room near the chapel. Contact: Carolyn Murray
Bright Stars of Bethlehem gala
A virtual gala for Wilshire mission partner Bright Stars of Bethlehem will be held the evening of Sept. 7 at the home of Mary and Kenton Keller. Bright Stars raises awareness and support for Dar al-Kalima University, the first and only university for arts, culture and design in Palestine. The evening will include inspiration and stories of resilience from students and remarks from Mitri Raheb, founder of Bright Stars. RSVP to Associate Pastor Heather Mustain by Aug. 30.
Fellowship Southwest Compassion + Justice Conference
Wilshire is one of the sponsors for Fellowship Southwest’s Compassion + Justice Conference, to be held Sept. 20 and 21 at Life in Deep Ellum. Keynote speakers will discuss topics including hunger, native issues, immigration and racial justice. Wilshire has a few free registrations; if you’d like to go, contact Associate Pastor Heather Mustain. Learn more at fellowshipsouthwest.org/conference-2024.
Men’s Book Club
Wilshire’s new Men’s Book Club will discuss James McBride’s 2020 novel Deacon King Kong at its next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Parlor. The group plans to meet the third Tuesday of every month. Contact: Mike Meripolski or Scott Spreier.
Women of Wilshire
■ WOW Tuesday Evening Book Club | Aug. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Parlor | Will the Circle Be Unbroken? A Memoir of Learning to Believe You’re Gonna Be Okay by Sean Dietrich. Contact Debby Burton.
■ WOW Brown Bag Book Club | Aug. 1 | Noon | 1205-L | Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner. Contact: Contact Carolyn Murray.
■ Let’s play mahjong! Join Women of Wilshire for mahjong the first Friday each month at 10 a.m. and the second Wednesday each month at 6 p.m. Please sign up.
■ 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.
MOPS is now The MomCo; registration open for fall
After 51 years, MOPS International is updating its name to The MomCo (short for Mom Community) to better align with its mission of reaching all moms, not just mothers of preschoolers. Wilshire’s group began in 1997 and is still going strong, meeting six to seven times during the school year on Friday mornings. Childcare, called KidsCo, is offered, and programming for moms includes brunch, a speaker and sometimes a craft — but always community. The group includes Wilshire members but consists mostly of local moms looking for connection. Wilshire MomCo will still focus mostly on moms with young kids, but as with all things Wilshire, the more the merrier. Registration for the fall is open.
Wilshire hiring building manager
Wilshire is seeking to hire a building operations manager to oversee and coordinate the maintenance of the church facilities. This is a full-time salaried position. Learn more at wilshirebc.org/employment.
Childcare coordinator sought
Wilshire is accepting applications for the role of childcare coordinator. This is a part-time position working 12–15 hours a week and reporting to the minister to preschoolers. Learn more at wilshirebc.org/employment.
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.
ECLC enrolling for fall
Wilshire’s Early Childhood Learning Center is enrolling for the 2024–2025 school year. ECLC is a licensed early care program offering a comprehensive approach to education for infants to Pre-K. Learn more at wilshirebc.org/eclc.
Subscribe to sermon podcast
Sermons from Timothy Peoples and other Wilshire preachers are available as a weekly audio podcast on all major podcast platforms. Search for “Wilshire Baptist Church” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or iHeartRadio.
Chronic illness support group
Wilshire’s support group for those experiencing a chronic or undiagnosed illness meets on Zoom the second and fourth Tuesdays every month at 7:30 p.m. To learn more, contact group leader Annette Miller.