Wilshire welcomes new receptionist.
Glenda Williams started Jan. 3 as Wilshire’s new front desk receptionist. The position is part-time, with Glenda’s hours matching our public office hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. (On Wednesdays with evening activities, Bettye Collins will cover the front desk from 3 to 7 p.m.) Glenda recently retired from full-time work in the hospitality industry and has extensive experience in event planning and catering. She is originally from Louisiana and attends St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.
■ Wilshire would like to publicly acknowledge and thank our team of volunteer receptionists who have dutifully staffed the front desk in recent years: Dorothy Ewing, Ann Hill, Kim Mason, Mike Moorhead, Terry Wade, Alice Willhoite and Trish Willingham.
■ A note about office hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. are the hours the building and office are open to the public. Office hours for staff are 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. If you’re meeting with a staffer or need in the building outside these hours, make arrangements with a staff person to let you in.
Jan. 13 Marriage Connections with childcare
Wilshire member and pediatrician Rhonda Walton will speak at the next Marriage Connections on Friday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m. In this monthly event, free childcare (infant – grade 6) is provided while parents enjoy a short program in James Gallery and then have the rest of the night, until 9:30, to themselves. Registration is required for childcare and closes Jan. 8; visit wilshirebc.org/registration. Contact: Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org)
Single Parents and Adoptive / Foster Care Parents Night Out, Jan. 13
Wilshire will offer free childcare (infant – grade 6) for single, adoptive and foster parents on Friday, Jan. 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Registration is required and closes Jan. 8; visit wilshirebc.org/registration
Lunch & Learn is Jan. 11
Lunch & Learn 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)
Wednesday Night Live resumes Jan. 11
Koinonia Café
5 – 6 p.m. | Community Hall | Buffet-style dinner for the whole family. See pricing and details at wilshirebc.org/wednesdays.
Music, Missions & More
6 – 7 p.m. | Age 3 – Pre-K | Fun activities and lessons focused on God’s love and caring for others.
KidConnect
6 – 7 p.m. | K – Grade 6 | This 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 is different. Activities include art, music, science, puppets and cooking.
Resident-Led Series: Remembering Baptism
Jan. 11 & 18 | 6 p.m.
Liturgically, as Christmastide winds down, our faith story skips ahead to the scene of Jesus’s baptism — a whirlpool of confusion, surrender, Spirit and favor. But what’s all that have to do with us, here and now? Join us in the Parlor on Jan. 11 as we seek to unpack the significance of baptism — as Christians, as Baptists and especially as the community of Wilshire. On Jan. 18 we’ll hold time and space in McIver Chapel for all to remember and be encouraged by their baptisms — regardless if you were baptized as an infant, a geriatric or even a Methodist! We pray this time will lift your spirit and prepare your heart for the year to come.
Also on Wednesdays
■ Watershed | Grades 7 – 12 | 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Youth Center
■ Sanctuary Choir | 7 – 8:30 p.m. | Choral Hall | No audition necessary
Make a New Year’s resolution you’ll actually enjoy!
Give Sanctuary Choir a try. Weekly rehearsals begin Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. in Choral Hall. No audition required. Contact: Doug Haney (dhaney@wilshirebc.org)
Meal Packing Event, Monday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m.– Noon
Join us in Community Hall on the MLK Day holiday as we partner with Rise Against Hunger to pack 15,120 healthy meals for those in need. This fun project is for everyone, with opportunities for children and ways to serve seated or standing. Volunteers are needed for set-up and clean-up. 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. To sign up, scan code or find link at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Upcoming Preaching schedule
Jan. 8: Darren DeMent
Jan. 15: Brianna Childs
Jan. 22: Timothy Peoples starts
Hear from Timothy at 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.
■ Zoom will be available, but only in-person attendees will be able to participate in votes. Details coming soon.
■ Childcare will be available for infants through grade 6. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration by Jan. 15.
■ Children’s and Youth Choirs will rehearse as normal on Jan. 22.
Mason part of MLK Teach-In
Senior Pastor Emeritus George Mason will be a panelist for the sixth annual King Teach-In at Friendship-West Baptist Church on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. Attend in person or watch the livestream at friendshipwest.org, Friendship-West’s YouTube channel or Facebook page.
Median Adult Trivia Night
All median adults are invited to a fun night of socializing and trivia at Times Ten Cellars (6324 Prospect Ave., Dallas 75214) on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. Think you’re a median adult or wish you were? Join us. A $12 charge covers heavy hors d’oeuvres. RSVP at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Adventurers movie afternoon
The Wilshire Adventurers will enjoy an afternoon at the movies on Monday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. in Community Hall. The 1999 comedy- drama Tea with Mussolini will be shown. A $5 charge covers popcorn, cookies and drinks. No reservation needed; pay at the door.
Piano Affinity Group to meet
Wilshire’s Piano Affinity Group, which gives pianists the opportunity to perform for their peers in a relaxed, encouraging setting, will meet Sunday, Jan. 22, at 4 p.m. in McIver Chapel. Participants are invited to play a classical piece or hymn arrangement. To learn more, contact Max Tucker at 214-215-3766.
Homeless count: two ways to help
■ Housing Forward will conduct the 2023 Point in Time Count the night of Jan. 26 to take a census of our unhoused neighbors. Volunteers are needed; indicate your interest at housingforward.pointintime.info. Orientation is provided, and forming a team with friends is encouraged.
■ Wilshire has committed to provide 50 blessing bags to be distributed on the 26th, and the bags will be assembled on Wednesday, Jan. 11, as part of KidConnect. You can help by donating items for the bags. Order from an Amazon wish list (link at wilshirebc.org/registration) or shop from the list below. Items are due to the church by Tuesday, Jan. 10. Items needed: lip balm, travel size lotion, travel disposable wipes, disposable masks, travel hand sanitizer, hand warmers, gloves, warm hats, travel blankets.
Merritt to keynote writing workshop at Baptist House
The Baptist House of Studies at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology is hosting a writing workshop Feb. 6 and 7. Sacred Speech: A Writing Workshop for Pastors, Prophets, and Poets is for anyone with a story to tell or an interest in how writing can connect us with each other and the divine. Writers Jonathan Merritt and Erin Lane will be the keynote speakers. Regular registration ends Jan. 15. More at https://bit.ly/3VbXjLt.
Brianna Childs to lead February Sunday School option
Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs will lead a limited Sunday School series, Faithful Women, on the four Sundays of February. Brianna says, “We will dive into the lives of some extraordinary women in history who changed Christianity as we know it. Though many have tried to erase their influence, their stories have persisted and are meant to be told for generations to come.” The class, which will meet in McIver Chapel, will be a good option for anyone not connected to a class or those new to Sunday School. Existing classes may attend to give their regular teachers a break.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
■ The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets monthly at 6:30 p.m. On Jan. 10, the group will meet at 9411 Shady Valley Dr. in Dallas to discuss Paula McLain’s Circling the Sun. Contact: Debby Burton (dburton@wilshirebc.org)
■ The WOW! Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On Feb. 2, the group will discuss Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@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’s Mini-Retreat
Save the date for a women’s ministry mini-retreat on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church. Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs will lead. Registration and prices to come soon.