The offering returns.
Starting April 9, Wilshire will once again pass the offering plates during worship as it always did before the pandemic.
The offering was cut from the service as a time-saving measure in 2021 when we resumed in-person worship after a period of online services. Back then, we felt it best to shorten our gatherings to limit the time spent in the same enclosed space, and we were still wary of handling communal items. The pandemic accelerated our shift to online giving, and passing the plates no longer seemed as crucial as it once was.
Now, nearly two years later, the ministerial staff, in consultation with the Finance Committee, has had time to fully consider the benefits of collecting an offering during worship:
■ Passing the plates is a visible reminder of stewardship and models giving for our children.
■ It provides an opportunity for reflection and meditation during the service.
■ It creates an additional opportunity for musical groups or individuals to lead in worship.
In short, the theological, intangible benefits of passing the plate outweigh any reasons we may have had for discontinuing the practice. The offering is returning to the service today because it makes our worship richer and more complete.
Easter Sunday, April 9
■ Sunrise Service: 6:30 a.m. at White Rock Lake’s T.P. Hill.
■ Columbarium Service of Remembrance: 9:30 a.m. This brief service is geared toward those with a loved one inurned or memorialized in the Columbarium, which will be open on Easter from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
■ Worship in the Sanctuary: Join us at 11 a.m. as the shutters are opened and we celebrate the risen Christ. Wilshire Winds will play the prelude, and Sanctuary Choir will sing a new anthem with a text by poet Malcolm Guite. Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus will serve as the choral benediction, and Organist Jeff Brummel will close with the Widor Toccata.
■ Flowering Cross: Stop by Easter morning to place a flower into the mesh-wrapped wooden cross outside the Sanctuary. Bring your own fresh-cut flowers or take one from a limited supply provided by the church.
Friday Friends receives grant
For the fourth consecutive year, Wilshire’s Friday Friends program has received a $2,500 grant from the AWARE Fund at The Dallas Foundation. The AWARE Fund (awaredallas.org) supports programs, projects and research by nonprofit organizations that actively help individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Friday Friends, which meets the second and fourth Fridays each month, provides four hours of respite for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or a similar form of dementia. If you are a caregiver of a loved one with dementia seeking a few hours of respite for yourself and socialization for your loved one, please contact Marilyn Morgan at jakermo@gmail.com or Heather Mustain at hmustain@wilshirebc.org.
Limited edition shirts for sale
In celebration of Pride Month (June), Wilshire has created a special rainbow version of the familiar “We Are Wilshire” T-shirt. These limited edition shirts will be sold for $20 each, and proceeds will go to Color Splash, an inclusive summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth operated by the United Church of Christ. Visit wilshirebc.org/registration to find the ordering link. The order deadline is April 17.
New around here?
■ The monthly Wilshire Welcome class helps guests and new members learn what Wilshire is all about. Sessions are held Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in the Prayer Room (1100-B) near McIver Chapel. Dates: April 23, May 14.
■ Time with Tim is an informal chance for guests and new members to meet and visit with Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples. The next session will be held Sunday, April 30, at 9:45 a.m. in Community Hall.
■ Questions about these events? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Wednesday Night Live: April 12
Koinonia Café
5 – 6 p.m. | James Gallery this week | Buffet-style dinner for the whole family. Pricing at wilshirebc.org/wednesdays.
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.
New three-week resident-led series
6 – 7 p.m. | April 12, 19 and 26 | Room 1205-L | Join the pastoral residents for a series on Aurelia Dávila Pratt’s book, A Brown Girl’s Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power. In the book, Pratt draws on the concept of imago Dei to suggest that we already have the inner authority we need to heal from trauma and navigate life’s realities. All are welcome, even if you haven’t read the book. Pratt is a writer, podcaster and the lead pastor of Peace of Christ Church near Austin. She was a guest preacher here last summer and will join us by Zoom for our final session on April 26.
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
Childcare for infants to 2-year-olds whose parents are involved in church activities is offered 6 – 7:15 p.m.
April 14 Marriage Connections
The “Not So Newlywed Game” will be the focus of Marriage Connections on Friday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. In this monthly event, free childcare (infant – grade 6) is provided while parents enjoy a program in James Gallery and then have the rest of the night, until 9:30, to themselves. Registration is required for childcare and closes Sunday, April 9; visit wilshirebc.org/registration. Contact: Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org)
Single, Adoptive and Foster Care Parents Night Out, April 14
Wilshire will offer free childcare (infant – grade 6) for single, adoptive and foster parents on Friday, April 14, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Registration is required and closes Sunday, April 9; visit wilshirebc.org/registration.
Pray Away film screening
On Sunday, April 16, Wilshire will co-host a free screening of Pray Away, a documentary film about the harmful practice of “conversion therapy.” The 3:45 p.m. screening at Life in Deep Ellum (where former pastoral resident Jenna Sullivan is pastor) will be followed by a panel discussion with survivors, faith leaders, LGBTQ advocates and mental health experts. The film aims to elevate the conversation on conversion therapy and inform the public — particularly religious communities, where the practice is most prevalent — about its lasting harm and devastating persistence. Register and learn more at tinyurl.com/padallas.
Adventurers lunch will feature expert on aging faithfully
The Wilshire Adventurers will enjoy lunch and a presentation from author and speaker Missy Buchanan on Tuesday, April 18, at 11:30 a.m. in Community Hall. Buchanan writes and speaks on the subject of aging faithfully, and her books include Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body and Dry Bones to Living Hope. Lunch costs $10 per person. No reservation necessary. Adventurers events are open to anyone 60 and above. Contact: Barbara Clayton (214-452-3125 or bclayton@wilshirebc.org).
Adventurers Charleston trip
From Nov. 6 to 11, the Wilshire Adventurers will spend five nights and six days touring in Charleston, South Carolina. Led by Rob and Pam Banta, the group will see and experience antebellum homes and estates, local cuisine, culture and architecture, a nighttime harbor cruise with dinner, a fine arts museum, Fort Sumter, Old City Market and more, all accompanied by private guides. See full details at wilshirebc.org/registration or in a brochure available in the church office. The trip will accommodate a maximum of 50 participants and will require a minimum of 35. Registration is first come, first served.
Homelessness panel, April 18
Wilshire will host a panel discussion on affordable housing and homelessness on Tuesday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. in Community Hall. Associate Pastor Heather Mustain will moderate the event, themed Homelessness, Housing & Me. Panelists are Joli Robinson, president of Housing Forward; Mark Melton, founder of Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center; and Ashley Flores, senior director of Child Poverty Action Lab.
Children’s Earth Day outing
Wilshire’s Children’s Choir singers and KidConnect kids will sing and serve on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. The group will meet at Wilshire at 9 a.m. to travel by bus to Richardson ISD’s Spring Valley Elementary, where they will help plant a garden and work in the school’s food pantry before sharing lunch and a program with the Spring Valley Choir. After lunch the kids will head to Adventure Landing for mini-golf, laser tag and games before arriving back at Wilshire at 4:30 p.m. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Adopt-a-Book for Wilshire Library
Help the Wilshire Library grow its collection and say thank you to a teacher, minister or staff member by adopting a book in their honor or memory. Stop by the display in the South Atrium on Sunday, April 23 or 30, select a book (available at discounted prices) and let us know the name you wish to have printed on a book plate inside the cover. Adopt-a-Book is a great way to honor someone special and give the gift of reading to countless others. Hours: 9 – 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday School series on prayer
Prayer will be the topic of a three-week Sunday School series led by Pastoral Resident John Kelly from April 23 to May 7. The class, which will meet in McIver Chapel at 9:45 a.m., 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. John writes, “Prayer is as nebulous as it is transformative. For as many answers as it seems to provide, it offers us just as many new questions to ponder. Too, as often as our faith changes and grows, so does our understanding of what it means to have a ‘prayer life.’ As quickly as our understandings of Scripture, community and God grow, though, we often forget to consider how practices that have nurtured our faith might evolve as well. Join us as we discuss prayer together — what it is(n’t), how it works and its practical value for all people of faith.”
Dietitian to speak April 25
Award-winning dietitian and nutritionist Meridan Zerner of the Cooper Clinic will speak on the topic of “Aging with Better Health” on Tuesday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in Community Hall. Zerner is a certified health and wellness coach and uses behavioral change skills to help support long-term lifestyle changes. This free event is geared to those 55 and older, but all are welcome. No registration needed.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
■ The WOW Tuesday Evening Book Club meets monthly at 6:30 p.m. in the Parlor. On April 11, the group will discuss Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. Contact: Debby Burton (dburton@wilshirebc.org)
■ The WOW Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On May 4, the group will discuss This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)
Print statements with Realm
With Realm, you can view, download or print your contribution statement at any time by following these instructions:
1. Sign in to your Realm account on a computer.
2. Choose Giving from the menu.
3. Click the (funnel) icon to filter the gifts that display or to change the date range.
4. Click the (printer) icon to generate the statement.
5. Click Print. A preview of your statement will display.
6. Click the printer icon to print or click Download for a PDF file.
For help getting set up on Realm, contact
Susan Kimball at skimball@wilshirebc.org or 214-452-3108. For help with online giving,
contact Lori Gooden at lgooden@wilshirebc.org or 214-452-3131.
Art exhibit through April 19
Who Is My Neighbor? is the theme of an art exhibit that will be on display through 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.
Summer events for children and preschoolers
Registration is open 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