Christmas Eve services at 5 and 11 p.m.
Wilshire will offer Christmas Eve candlelight services at 5 and 11 p.m. The 5 p.m. service is family-friendly and suitable for all ages; it will feature carols, Scripture and a brief message from Associate Pastor Heather Mustain. The 11 p.m. service, with a message from Associate Pastor Darren DeMent, will be more liturgical in nature, with more extensive readings, robed ministers and celebration of the Lord’s Supper. No childcare is provided for either service, and both will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
Youth Choir alumni invited to sing at 11 p.m.
All alumni of Wilshire’s Youth Choir are invited to sing together for the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Anyone who has sung in Youth Choir or is currently an 11th or 12th grade singer is invited to Choral Hall at 10:30 for a cookie, coffee and a quick rehearsal. Please let Jeff Brummel (jbrummel@wilshirebc.org) know if you’re able to sing on Christmas Eve.
Can you Help us close the year-end gap?
With two Sundays left in 2022, we’re still facing a gap between our estimated expenses for the year and our actual income to date. As of Dec. 15, our income for the year so far is $3,102,645, while our estimated expenses for 2022 are $3,633,065. That means we need $530,420 given during the remainder of December to break even.
As we look to the bright future ahead with our new senior pastor, will you help us end the year on a positive note? We have no doubt that our church will see new growth in the coming years, but in order to plan for future growth we need to know now what kind of financial resources we can count on. Will you consider an extra gift before the end of the year or perhaps give to the Unified Budget for the first time? Here are several ways to give:
■ Write a check dated and postmarked before Saturday, Dec. 31, and mail it to Director of Finance Lori Gooden’s attention at the church.
■ Drop off a check at the church by contacting Lori at 214-452-3131 or lgooden@wilshirebc.org. Note: the church will be closed for the holidays on Dec. 26 and 27. Normal office hours are weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
■ Give online. Visit wilshirebc.org/give to get started.
■ Donate appreciated stock or mutual funds by contacting your broker and having the stock transferred to Wilshire’s account at: Fidelity DTC #0226; Account: Wilshire Baptist Church – X67-239003. The stock must be in Wilshire’s account before Dec. 31 to be tax deductible for 2022.
Please call Lori to let her know the details of your stock gift. Fidelity will not identify the source of stock gifts to us, and we want to have a good accounting of your generosity.
Library Decorations
Make time to stop by the Library during the holiday season to enjoy a display of nativity sets from around the world. Most are from the collection of Wilshire member Linda Garner. See the Library’s holiday hours on page 11.
Tree of Hope and Remembrance
Help decorate Wilshire’s Tree of Hope and Remembrance in the South Lobby by writing the name of a loved one as a memorial, or your name as a survivor of cancer or another disease. Blank ornaments and markers are provided next to the tree, which is decorated with bracelets representing different forms of cancer. Hang your ornament on the tree anytime during Advent and feel free to take it home close to Christmas for your own tree.
Preaching schedule
Dec. 18: Heather Mustain
Dec. 24, 5 p.m.: Heather Mustain
Dec. 24, 11 p.m.: Darren DeMent
Dec. 25: Brianna Childs
Jan. 1: John Kelly
Jan. 8: Darren DeMent
Jan. 15: Brianna Childs
Jan. 22: Timothy Peoples starts
Holiday schedule notes
■ Sunday, Dec. 25: Worship at 10 a.m. in McIver Chapel. No Sunday School or coffee service.
■ Sunday, Jan. 1: Worship at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary. No Sunday School. Join us for a New Year’s Celebration with coffee and treats in James Gallery starting at 9:15 a.m.
■ No Wednesday activities Dec. 21, Dec. 28 or Jan. 4. Wednesday activities resume Jan. 11.
■ The church offices will be closed for staff holidays on Monday, Dec. 26, Tuesday, Dec. 27, and Monday, Jan. 2.
Library holiday hours
■ Sunday, Dec. 18: 9–10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
■ Monday, Dec. 19 – Thursday, Dec. 22: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
■ Friday, Dec. 23 – Monday, Jan. 2: Closed, including Sundays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
Save the date for annual church conference: Jan. 22
Make plans to attend Wilshire’s annual church conference in Community Hall after worship on Sunday, Jan. 22. We’ll adopt a budget, elect deacons and committees and hear a word from Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples on his first day. Lunch will be provided. More details to come.
Wilshire joins welcoming and affirming organization
Earlier this fall Wilshire was approved for membership in the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. Founded in 1993, AWAB is a community of churches, organizations and individuals committed to the inclusion of all people in the full life and mission of Baptist churches, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. AWAB has 142 member congregations and ministries, including Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas and Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
MLK Day Meal Packing Event
Join us on the MLK Day holiday, Monday, Jan. 16, 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. Our goal is to pack 15,120 meals. This project is for everyone, with opportunities to serve while seated and while standing. 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. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Heather Mustain to speak at January Lunch & Learn
The first Lunch & Learn of 2023 will be held Jan. 11 at 11:30 a.m. in Community Hall. The program will feature Associate Pastor Heather Mustain sharing her personal story. Held in Community Hall the first Wednesday each month and open to all, Lunch & Learn features a meal, fellowship and a program. Lunch costs $10 per person. No reservation needed. Contact: Barbara Clayton (bclayton@wilshirebc.org)
Do Timothy and Valerie a favor: update your photo in Realm
Let’s update our profile pictures in Realm to help new Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples and his wife, Valerie Lott, learn names and faces.
■ Open the Realm Connect app on your mobile device.
■ Tap your picture or the empty icon next to your name. (If you don’t see your profile
picture, choose More from the bottom menu to go to the next screen, then look in the top left corner.)
■ Tap the pencil icon in the bottom right of the icon circle.
■ Chose New Profile Photo and then select a photo from your phone’s camera roll. Tap Apply to set the photo.
■ If you access Realm on a computer, click your name in the upper right corner, then choose Realm under My Profile Views. Click on your photo, then the pencil icon. You can then upload a photo from your computer.
■ Need help? Contact Susan Kimball (skimball@wilshirebc.org) or Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org).
Women of Wilshire book clubs
■ The WOW! Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On Jan. 5, the group will discuss Kreis Beall’s The Great Blue Hills of God. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)
■ The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets in the Parlor monthly at 6:30 p.m. On Jan. 10, the group will discuss Paula McLain’s Circling the Sun. Contact: Debby Burton (dburton@wilshirebc.org)