Timothy Peoples’ Installation Service is Sunday, Feb. 26.
Plan to be in attendance at morning worship next Sunday, Feb. 26, for a special Installation Service for Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples. The message will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Almeda Wright, an associate professor of religious education at Yale Divinity School, where Timothy earned his Master of Divinity degree. The service will also include participation from members of Timothy’s family, representatives from his home church in Oklahoma and other special guests.
Lent 2023: seen. known. loved.
Natural disasters. War. Disease. Change. Loss. As we enter into this season of Lent, it is not that difficult to contemplate on suffering. We can often wish to be someone else or to at least live a life that is much easier than the one we have. Even as we experience grief of all kinds, it is our deepest hope that you still know that you are seen, known and loved — by Christ and your community.
• A brief Ash Wednesday service for children will be led by Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples as part of KidConnect at 6 p.m. in Room 2224.
• Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples will lead a brief Ash Wednesday service for children as part of KidConnect at 6 p.m. in Room 2224.
Childcare for infants to 2-year-olds whose parents are involved in church activities is offered 6 – 7:15 p.m.
New members
Joan Cullum
Catherine and Todd Dyer with daughters Bella Dyer and Becca Dyer
• Questions about these events? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Kids seeking hat, glove donations
Our Wednesday night KidConnect kids are collecting hats and gloves for all ages to give to the clients of Homeward Bound, a local nonprofit organization. Donation boxes decorated by the children can be found near the church office and the north building entrance. Please bring your donations by the end of February.
WOW! mini-retreat is Feb. 25
Wise Bodies: Coming Home to Trusting and Loving Ourselves is the theme for the Women of Wilshire mini-retreat on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Community Hall. Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs will lead. Visit wilshirebc.org/registration to sign up.
Art exhibit begins Feb. 22
Who Is My Neighbor? is the theme of a new art exhibit that will be on display from Feb. 22 to April 19 in Wilshire’s South Lobby. The show is a collection of etchings, lithographs, woodcuts and paintings that give visual insight into Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan. It includes the work of 22 artists from the last four centuries, including Rembrandt, Ernst Barlach, Tanja Butler, Ed Knippers and John August Swanson, plus political cartoons and illustrations that demonstrate the parable’s continued societal relevance.
Save the dates for Faith in 3D
This year’s Faith in 3D production, a staged reading of selected scenes from Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, will be presented Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25, in Community Hall at 7:30 p.m. Faith in 3D is returning to live theatre after two years of video projects. “3D” stands for drama, dessert and dialogue, and after the show we’ll enjoy a tasty treat and a moderated discussion of the play’s themes.
Wilshire Sports Survey
Looking to get active this spring? Heard about Pickleball and want to see what the fuss is all about? Want to be part of a team with some of your favorite people? A group of Wilshire folks is looking to start some fun physical activities and is conducting an online survey to see which sports people are most interested in playing. Please fill out the survey by Sunday, Feb. 26. Look for the survey link at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Fill the loft for Doug’s final months
If you’ve sung in Sanctuary Choir under Doug Haney, or if you’ve considered it, consider joining as the choir prepares for Lent, Easter and a concert on Doug’s last day before retiring from full-time ministry. Music on Easter, April 9, will include Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus and a new anthem on a text by British poet Malcolm Guite. The April 30 evening concert on Doug’s final Sunday will be a benefit for the Grief and Loss Center of North Texas. Music will include excerpts from Fauré’s Requiem, Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light. Songwriter and pianist Ken Medema will also be featured. Rehearsals are held Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in Choral Hall. No audition. Contact: Doug Haney (dhaney@wilshirebc.org)
February Sunday School option: Faithful Women
Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs is leading a Sunday School series, Faithful Women, on the four Sundays of February at 9:45 a.m. in McIver Chapel. 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 is a good option for anyone not connected to a class or those new to Sunday School.
Brianna Childs’ wedding shower
All are invited to a wedding shower for Pastoral Resident Brianna Childs and her fiancé, Blake Davenport, on Saturday, March 4. Compass Class is hosting the event, which will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Parlor. Brianna and Blake will be married on May 20 in Waco. You can find their gift registry by searching for their names at zola.com.
Silent auction items sought for March 5 Spaghetti Lunch
The annual Youth Choir Spaghetti Lunch and Silent Auction will be held Sunday, March 5, in Community Hall after worship. This event will help fund the choir’s summer trip to San Francisco to sing, serve and sightsee. If you’d like to donate items or services to the silent auction, contact Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org). Suggestions include restaurant gift cards, new household items and event tickets. Professional services make great donation items, so if you’re a musician, tutor, photographer, baker, designer, accountant or have some other service to provide, consider donating a gift certificate of your time or service.
CPR and AED classes 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 classes in March for those who would like to learn or refresh their skills. There will be a $25 per person charge to cover materials. If you’re interested, contact Linda (lgarner@wilshirebc.org) or see the dates and sign up via the link at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Haney is next Lunch & Learn guest
Lunch & Learn will be held March 1 at 11:30 a.m. in Community Hall. The program will feature Associate Pastor Doug Haney, who will reflect on his career in music ministry and discuss his work with Polyphony Music Resources. 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)
Adventurers to Bush Library
The Wilshire Adventurers will tour the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on Thursday, March 2, at 11:30 a.m. The tour is $9 per person; tickets must be purchased in advance. To register and buy tickets, visit wilshirebc.org/registration. Parking costs $5 per car, paid upon arrival. The group will meet at Wilshire at 11 to carpool to the SMU campus. Lunch is on your own.
Monthly knitting group begins
Anyone who enjoys knitting is invited to Sara Tinsley’s home one evening each month to work on their projects in fellowship with others. The first meeting of the group, open to knitters of all skill levels, will be Thursday, Feb. 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Contact Sara for more details at saratinsley1@yahoo.com.
• The WOW! Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On March 2, the group will discuss Anne Tyler’s Digging to America. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)
Summer events for children and preschoolers
Registration opens Friday, Feb. 24, at wilshirebc.org/summer-camps.
Vacation Bible School
June 12 – 16, 9 a.m. – noon,
Older preschool – Grade 6
Full Day: Cooking Camp & Creative Arts Camp
July 10 – 14, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grades 2 – 6
Cooking Camp
July 10 – 14, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Grades 1 – 6
Listen to Your Art! Creative Arts Camp
July 10 – 14, 1 – 5:30 p.m., Grades 1 – 6
Passport Kids! Preteen Camp
July 22 – 25, Grades 3 – 6
Preschool Friends Camp
July 31 – Aug. 4, 9 a.m. – noon
New for completed kindergartners: Creation Station
July 31 – Aug. 4, 9 a.m. – noon