Back to School Drive for Spring Valley Elementary
Sunday, July 31– Sunday, Aug. 14
Wilshire’s Missions Committee is hosting a supply drive benefiting Richardson ISD’s Spring Valley Elementary School. Spring Valley is a Title 1 school with about 420 students, 82% of whom are economically disadvantaged. The school’s newest assistant principal is Wilshire’s own Shana Gaines. In addition to supplies, we are hoping to collect at least 72 handwritten notes of gratitude for the school’s staff. Notes may be dropped off in the collection bin outside the church office. There are two ways to donate supplies: Shop from the school’s Amazon wishlist; all items will be shipped to Wilshire. Or shop on your own from the following list and drop your items off outside the main office during regular building hours:
■ Apple iPad chargers: Lightning to USB cable and charging block (only Apple products, please)
■ Adjustable headphones (headphones only, please, not earbuds)
■ Baby wipes
■ Black dry-erase markers
■ Cleaning wipes
■ Crayola products (crayons, colored pencils, fat markers, thin markers)
■ Kleenex
■ Hand sanitizer
■ Ticonderoga brand pencils, beginner size and #2
■ Wide-rule spiral notebooks
■ Ziploc bags: gallon and sandwich size
Stephen Hatfield preaches July 31
Stephen Hatfield, our guest preacher for Sunday, July 31, retired last November after 28 years as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Lewisville. He previously served churches in Arkansas and Texas. Hatfield grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University. He earned a master of divinity degree and a doctorate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Hatfield and his wife, Marcie, have five adult children and 17 grandchildren.
The Wilshire Pulpit
A diverse lineup of guests will preach at Wilshire during our pastoral transition. Our pastoral residents will also preach about once a month.
Aug. 7: Pastoral Resident John Kelly
Aug. 14: Luke Powery is dean of Duke University Chapel and associate professor of homiletics at Duke Divinity School. His teaching interests include preaching, worship, pneumatology and culture, particularly expressions of the African diaspora. He previously taught at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Aug. 21: Hymn Sing
Aug. 28: Celebrating George Mason
Sept. 4: Rabbi Nancy Kasten is a community educator, volunteer and activist who serves as chief relationship officer for Faith Commons, the interfaith nonprofit founded by George Mason. Ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, she served as Hillel director, associate chaplain, and adjunct professor of Biblical Hebrew at SMU.
■ Full schedule: wilshirebc.org/guest-preachers
Fellowship Lunch today
All are invited to Community Hall after worship each week through Aug. 14 for lunch prepared by the Wilshire kitchen staff and a brief time of Q&A with the day’s guest preacher.
■ Meal is buffet-style and “chef’s choice.”
■ $10 for ages 10 and up; $5 for ages 4–9 ; Free for 3 and under. $35 household max.
■ Advance registration and payment are not required, but are encouraged. Visit wilshirebc.org/summer-lunches to register.
■ Expedite check-in by registering and paying online in advance. Multiple weeks are now open for registration in Realm.
■ Cash, check or credit card accepted at the door.
■ E-mail Elizabeth Ferguson (eferguson@wilshirebc.org) directly by Wednesday each week with dietary restriction inquiries.
Aug. 21: Promotion Sunday
Hymn Sing in worship
Worship on Promotion Sunday, Aug. 21, will take the form of a Hymn Sing. The service will include congregational singing of 10 hymns chosen by the music staff after tabulating your votes in the recent hymn survey. A variety of instrumental accompaniments will be utilized, including organ, piano, guitar, mandolin and flute. There will be no guest preacher on Aug. 21. Wilshire member R.G. Huff — hymn writer and retired music minister — will offer three hymn reflections.
Sunday School moves to 9:45
All preschoolers, children and youth will pro-mote to new Sunday school classes Aug. 21 at the new start time of 9:45 a.m. For adults, Promotion Sunday is a good day to try a new class or start attending Sunday School for the first time — or the first time in a while. For help connecting with a class, contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Music groups for children, youth resume
Children’s Choir: new day
Kindergartners through sixth graders will now meet for choir on Sundays after worship. The kids will enjoy a free snack lunch in Community Hall before choirs meet from 12:15 to 1 p.m. (Preschool Music, Missions and More remains on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.)
Children’s Handbells
Right after choir, third through sixth graders are invited to stay for Children’s Handbells. Kelly Akins will direct the group, which will meet from 1 to 1:30 p.m. in the Handbell Room. No experience necessary.
Youth Choir/Shekinah
Youth Choir, for grades 7–12, and the select choral ensemble Shekinah also resume Aug. 21. Students will eat a free snack lunch in Community Hall before heading to Choral Hall. Youth Choir starts at 12:20 p.m., and Shekinah follows at 1:20.
Wednesday Night Live
Midweek fellowship and faith formation for all ages. Starts Aug. 24.
Kickoff Event: Aug. 24, 6 p.m.
All are invited to James Gallery after dinner on Aug. 24 for shaved ice, games, live music and a preview of our Wednesday offerings for children and preschool. Also at 6, our pastoral residents will give a Pathways to Ministry update in McIver Chapel.
Koinonia Café
5 – 6 p.m. | Community Hall | Buffet-style Wednesday meals return! No registration necessary. Cash/check/credit card accepted at the door. Kid-friendly options available. 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.
Music, Missions & More
6 – 7 p.m. | Age 3 – Pre-K | Fun activities and lessons focused on God’s love and caring for others.
New: KidConnect
6 – 7 p.m. | K – Grade 6 | This all-new children’s experience features a rotation of activities to help kids learn how to love God and others with every part of themselves. Each week will be different, with activities including art, music, recreation, science, puppets and cooking.
Adult Study or Vespers
6 – 7 p.m. | Join our pastoral residents this fall for Toward Wholeness: Seeking an Integrated Faith. This 10-week series starting Sept. 7 will help us chart a path away from disillusionment toward authentic, embodied spiritual formation through practices of the mind, body and soul.
■ Aug. 24: Residents John and Brianna will give a Pathways update in McIver Chapel as part of the WNL kickoff event.
■ Aug. 31, Nov. 16: Vespers, McIver Chapel.
WSM Watershed
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Grades 7 – 12 | Wilshire Student Ministry’s time of weekly Bible study in the Youth Center.
Called to Care
On months with a fifth Wednesday (not including August), all ages will join together for an easy, hands-on service project. Called to Care will be held this fall on Nov. 30.
Wilshire staying with one service
As announced last week, Wilshire will continue to offer a single Sunday worship service, at 11 a.m., for the foreseeable future. The decision was made based on positive feedback from our one-service schedule this summer.
■ Starting Promotion Sunday, Aug. 21, Sunday School will start at 9:45 a.m. instead of 10.
■ Sunday Fellowship Lunches will end on Aug. 14 as planned, but will be held on Oct. 16 and Dec. 18 this fall.
New around here?
■ Coffee and Conversation will be hosted by Associate Pastor Heather Mustain on Sunday, Aug. 14, at 10 a.m. in the senior pastor’s study. This informal event gives guests and new members a chance to ask questions about Wilshire.
■ The monthly Wilshire Welcome Class, which helps guests and new members learn what Wilshire is all about, will meet Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. in the Prayer Room near McIver Chapel.
■ Questions about these events? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Celebrating George Mason: August 28
Mark your calendars for Sunday, Aug. 28, when Wilshire will recognize and celebrate George Mason as his retirement from the senior pastor role becomes official. Aug. 27 will mark George’s 33rd anniversary as senior pastor, and his last day will be Aug. 31. The worship service on Aug. 28 will include a time of recognition for George, and in lieu of a sermon, each of our three associate pastors will offer a reflection. A come-and-go reception for George, Kim and family will be held in James Gallery at two times: during Sunday School (starting at 9:45) and after worship.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
■ The WOW! Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On Aug. 4, the group will discuss The Dearly Beloved by Cara Walls. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org).
■ The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets in the Parlor monthly at 6:30 p.m. On Aug. 9, the group will discuss Sarah Penner’s The Lost Apothecary. Zoom option by request. Contact: Debby Burton (dburton@wilshirebc.org).
Preteen camp report
A group of 18 kids in grades 3 through 6 attended Passport Kids! Camp last Saturday through Tuesday in Brownwood. Minister to Children Julie Girards reports, “This was a first camp experience for most of our kids. We had a great experience that included making new friends, fun, fellowship, learning and worship. Your generosity to Wilshire’s Unified Budget allowed us to provide scholarships to five children.” Besides Julie, Wilshire’s adult chaperones were Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs and interns Bryn Anderson, Gracie Butler and Holden Magee. Campers at this Passport session raised $1,775 (including over $200 from our Wilshire kids) to support children’s education around the world through Together for Hope, the Ruth Project and Africa Exchange.
Lunch & Learn resumes Sept. 7
All are invited to Community Hall for lunch, fellowship and an inspiring program the first Wednesday of each month starting Sept. 7. Lunch and Learn begins at 11:30 a.m. and ends around 12:45 p.m. Lunch is buffet-style and costs $10 per person. No reservation required. Other fall dates are Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7.
Wilshire returning to the Stewpot
After a pandemic pause, the Stewpot is once again welcoming volunteer groups to help serve meals, and Wilshire is committed to serving lunch the second Thursday each month starting Sept. 7. The Stewpot serves three meals a day, 365 days a year, at Second Chance Café at the Bridge Homeless Recovery Center downtown. Wilshire member David Cossum will coordinate our efforts. Six people are needed each month, but you don’t need to serve every month. Meal service begins at noon and ends at 1 p.m. If you’re interested or have questions, contact David at dc@cossum.com.
Faith Commons presents Valerie Kaur Sept. 8 & 9
Activist and writer Valerie Kaur will be in Dallas Sept. 8 and 9 for two events presented by Faith Commons and co-sponsored by Wilshire. Kaur, the best-selling author of See No Stranger and leader of the Revolutionary Love Project, will give a public lecture at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum on the night of Thursday, Sept. 8. The event will include a book signing. On Friday, Sept. 9, Kaur will lead an intensive workshop at Paul Quinn College. The workshop includes a box lunch. Learn more and buy tickets at faithcommons.org.
Blessing of the Backpacks: Sunday, Aug. 14 during worship
The annual Blessing of the Backpacks will be held during worship on Sunday, Aug. 14. Children are encouraged to bring their backpacks or school bags to church, and during the service they will be invited to the front of the Sanctuary to receive a blessing for themselves, their teachers and parents as the new school year beginss