Wingfield book signing, Jan. 29.
Stop by the South Atrium on Sunday, Jan. 29, for a book signing with Mark Wingfield, Wilshire member and former associate pastor. Mark’s new book, Honestly: Telling the Truth About the Bible and Ourselves, began as a series of lessons he taught in Wilshire’s Discovery Class. Starting with the Genesis creation story, Mark goes through the Bible to apply Scriptural teaching about truth to current events in our day. The book is both biblical exegesis and modern-day social commentary, a way of challenging assumptions about what the Bible says and how that applies to Christian ethics. Copies of the book will be available at a discounted price of $20.
Book signing times: 9 – 9:45 a.m.; 10:30 – 11 a.m.; 11:45 a.m. (after worship) – 1 p.m.
New Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples
Timothy Peoples began as Wilshire’s senior pastor last Sunday, joining the church with his wife, Valerie Lott. Here are some upcoming Timothy-related events to be aware of:
- Lunch & Learn
Wednesday, Feb. 1 | 11:30 a.m. | Community Hall. Timothy will speak at the February edition of this monthly event. Lunch costs $10 per person. No reservation needed. Contact: Barbara Clayton (bclayton@wilshirebc.org) - Installation service
Mark your calendars for a special installation service for Timothy, to be held during morning worship on Sunday, Feb. 26. - Sunday School visits
Timothy will visit Sunday School classes across the age spectrum during the coming months. Associate Pastor Darren DeMent is working with class directors on a schedule.
Souper Bowl of Caring: Feb. 5 after worship in Community Hall
Wilshire’s annual event benefiting the Phil Strickland Hunger Offering, will be held Sunday, Feb. 5. After two years of takeout-only events, we will again gather around the Community Hall tables. We encourage you to donate an amount equal to what you would spend at a nice restaurant. Cash, check and credit cards accepted. The meal will feature these soups plus toppings and grilled cheese sandwiches
- Chicken Noodle (dairy free)
- Tomato Basil (vegetarian)
- Shrimp & Sausage Gumbo (dairy free)
- Chicken Tortilla (gluten free, dairy free)
- Cheeseburger Soup
Order takeout by Feb. 1
Takeout is available, but orders must be made by Wednesday, Feb. 1. There will be no option to request soup to go on the day of the event. Order takeout via the link at wilshirebc.org/registration and pick up your soup in James Gallery from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 5.
Donations welcome
If you can’t participate on Feb. 5 but wish to donate to the hunger offering, simply earmark your cash, check or online gift to Souper Bowl of Caring.
Proceeds to benefit food pantry
This year’s Phil Strickland World Hunger Offering will benefit Empowering the Masses, (empoweringthemasses.org) a local nonprofit with a mission of providing short-term training that will yield long-term results. Empowering the Masses serves 350 families weekly at its food pantry located in the 75215 zip code. Our funds will help transition the pantry to a client-choice pantry and help Empowering the Masses add on-site health screenings. Specifically, our funds will purchase shelving, a refrigerator, blood pressure cuffs, an AED and other supplies to make this dream a reality.
Offering of letters
In conjunction with Souper Bowl of Caring, the Christian Advocacy Committee invites you to participate in an offering of letters in support of allowing low-income students in vocational and technical degree programs to access the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) while in school. Information will be available at Souper Bowl tables, and there will be a table in James Gallery during takeout order pickup on Feb. 5.
Wednesday Night Live: Feb. 1
Koinonia Café
5 – 6 p.m. | Community Hall | Buffet-style dinner for the whole family. Pricing at wilshirebc.org/wednesdays. Feb. 1: Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Vegetables, Veggie Noodle Soup, Salad, Bread, Desserts. Kids: Buttered Pasta, Meatballs w/ Marinara, Carrots w/ Ranch.
Music, Missions & More
6 – 7 p.m. | Age 3 – Pre-K | Fun activities and lessons focused on God’s love.
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.
Global Missions Updates
Ever wonder how Wilshire engages in global missions or how God is moving around the world? Over the next three Wednesdays we will hear three of our global missions partners share how they are seeing God transform communities as a result of our giving and partnerships. Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs will moderate.
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
Brianna Childs to lead February Sunday School option
Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs will lead a 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.
Marriage Connections, Feb. 10
The next Marriage Connections will be held Friday, Feb. 10. As usual, there will be free childcare at the church (infant – grade 6) from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., but this month there will be no program; couples will have the whole evening for a Valentine’s outing. Registration is required and closes Feb. 5; visit wilshirebc.org/registration. Contact: Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org)
Single, Adoptive and Foster Care Parents Night Out, Feb. 10
Wilshire will offer free childcare (infant – grade 6) for single, adoptive and foster parents on Friday, Feb. 10, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Registration is required and closes Feb. 5; visit wilshirebc.org/registration.
Greg Garrett to lead racial mythologies workshop Feb. 11
Baylor professor Greg Garrett will return to Wilshire on Saturday morning, Feb. 11, for a workshop called Racism, Racial Mythologies and the White Church. For more than 400 years white people have cultivated myths about people of color to create artificial hierarchies. This is America’s original sin of racism, and facing this sin is an essential component of repentance, moving us a step closer to reconciliation. In the Feb. 11 event, Dr. Garrett will help us recognize and acknowledge some of the most hateful racial myths and discuss with us how we might move forward to correct these narratives. Dr. Garrett is a longtime friend of Wilshire whose preaching and teaching has called us to continue our journey forward on issues of race and justice. Registration is requested; visit wilshirebc.org/registration.
Preschool/ECLC breakfast, Feb. 12
Preschoolers and their families are invited to a breakfast before Sunday School on Feb. 12. The event will start at 9 a.m. in James Gallery. ECLC families will also be invited to the breakfast and are encouraged to stay for Sunday School and worship. Please RSVP for the breakfast by Feb. 8 at wilshirebc.org/registration. Contact: Minister to Preschoolers Joan Hammons (jhammons@wilshirebc.org)
Women of Wilshire book clubs
- The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets monthly at 6:30 p.m. in the Parlor. On Feb. 14, the group will discuss The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. 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)
Adventurers Valentine’s lunch
Singer Toney Walsh will entertain at the Adventurers Valentine’s Luncheon on Monday, Feb. 13, starting at 11:30 a.m. in Community Hall. Lunch is $10 per person; no RSVP required. Walsh will perform Great American Songbook standards made popular by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole.
WOW: Women of Wilshire Mini-Retreat
Wise Bodies: Coming Home to Trusting and Loving Ourselves is the theme for the WOW mini-retreat on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Community Hall. Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs will lead. Learn more and sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration.
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. More at https://bit.ly/3VbXjLt.
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 6 p.m. To learn more, contact group leader Annette Miller at annette.a.miller@gmail.com.
CPR and AED class planned
On Jan. 2, NFL player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a game and was given CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillation). You may know what these terms mean, and you may even know that there are 10 AEDs at Wilshire, but do you really know what to do in an emergency? Parish Nurse Linda Garner is planning a class for those who would like to learn or refresh their skills. If you’re interested, contact Linda (lgarner@wilshirebc.org) or find the sign-up link at wilshirebc.org/registration. The class will likely be offered on a Friday or Saturday morning, depending on the wishes of the group.
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).