Back to School Drive for Spring Valley Elementary
The Missions Committee is hosting a Back to School Drive benefiting RISD’s Spring Valley Elementary, where our own Shana Gaines is assistant principal. Nonperishable food items, hygiene items and school supplies are needed to stock their pantry. New student uniform items are also needed, and handwritten notes for faculty would be appreciated. Shop from the list below and deliver items to donation bins near the main office and north entrance, or use the school’s Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3659O9M2H25VJ?ref_=wl_share
Nonperishable food items
■ Peanut butter
■ Canned tuna or chicken breast
■ Canned soups
■ Rice-a-Roni
■ Microwaveable mac & cheese
Hygiene items and school supplies:
■ Deodorant
■ Toothbrushes
■ Toothpaste
■ Wet wipes
■ Bar soap
■ Post-It notes
■ Hand sanitizer
■ Expo markers
■ Glue sticks
■ Ticonderoga pencils
Uniforms
■ New underwear (esp. sizes 4-6) and socks
■ Navy or khaki pants
■ Green, navy or white polo shirts and sweaters (Junior sizes, esp. pants and tops)
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New here?
The Wilshire Welcome class, which helps guests and new members learn what the church is all about, will next meet on Aug. 20 at 9:45 a.m. in the Prayer Room near McIver Chapel. Questions? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Blessing of the Backpacks: Sunday, Aug. 13, during worship
The annual Blessing of the Backpacks will be held during worship on Sunday, Aug. 13. Children are encouraged to bring their backpacks or school bags to church, and during the service they will be invited to the front of the Sanctuary to receive a blessing for themselves, their teachers and parents as the new school year begins.
For new members and guests
The Wilshire Welcome class, which helps guests and new members learn what the church is all about, will next meet on Aug. 20 at 9:45 a.m. in the Prayer Room near McIver Chapel. Questions? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Sanctuary Choir resumes Wednesday, Aug. 2
After a short summer rehearsal break, Wilshire’s main adult choir will resume rehearsals Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m. in Choral Hall. New singers are always welcome, and no audition is required.
Save the dates!
• Sunday, Aug. 13: Blessing of the Backpacks in worship. Recognition during worship and reception after worship for Joan Hammons.
• Sunday, Aug. 20: Promotion Sunday: Preschoolers, children and youth move to new classes, and it’s a great day for adults to try a new class or try Sunday School for the first time.
• Wednesday, Aug. 23: Wednesday Night Live resumes with Koinonia Café and faith formation for all ages.
• Sunday, Aug. 27: Children’s Choirs and Youth Choir resume rehearsals after worship and a snack lunch (provided).
BBQ lunch on Aug. 20
Stay after worship on Sunday, Aug. 20, as we kick off the new school and church year with a western-themed BBQ lunch and a performance by the Lake Highlands High School Wildcat Wranglers dance team. Details to come.
Adventurers Trivia Night, Aug. 14
Show off your smarts and compete for bragging rights at the Wilshire Adventurers Dessert & Trivia Night on Monday, Aug. 14, at 6:30 p.m. in Community Hall. Sam Tinsley will serve as host, and cobbler and ice cream will be served. Cost: $5 per person. No RSVP necessary. Contact: Barbara Clayton (bclayton@wilshirebc.org).
Friday Friends seeks volunteers
Friday Friends will resume on Aug. 25 and is seeking additional volunteers. The ministry provides a twice-monthly time of respite for caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Friday Friends meets at Wilshire the second and fourth Fridays every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes activities followed by lunch. No special skills or experience are needed to volunteer. To learn more about volunteering or participating in Friday Friends, contact coordinator Marilyn Morgan at 214-662-9451 or jakermo@gmail.com.
WOW Fall Study looks at Psalms
Women of Wilshire are invited to study Sandra McCracken’s Exploring the Psalms on six Monday evenings this fall. The video series provides a fresh take on the psalms via reflections and music from McCracken, a prolific songwriter and author. Study materials will be provided. Sessions will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Joannah DeMent. Dates are Sept. 11 and 25; Oct. 9 and 23; and Nov. 6 and 27. Please register at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Let’s play mahjong!
Join other Women of Wilshire for mahjong on the first Friday of each month at 10 a.m. or the second Wednesday at 6 p.m. Upcoming sessions are Friday, Aug. 4, and Wednesday, Aug. 9. All skill levels are welcome, and play will take place in Room 1205-L. Please sign up so we’ll know how many to prepare for. Visit wilshirebc.org/registration to find a SignUpGenius link.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
• The WOW Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On Aug. 3, the group will discuss Steven Rowley’s The Guncle. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)
• The WOW Tuesday Evening Book Club meets monthly at 6:30 p.m. in the Parlor. On Aug. 15, the group will discuss Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast. Contact: Debby Burton (dburton@wilshirebc.org)
Gen Alpha Goes to Church: Ministry with and by Children
Children’s spirituality will be explored at a special fall kickoff event for children’s and preschool parents, teachers and volunteers on Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 6 to 7:45 p.m. in Community Hall. The evening’s main speaker will be Robin Turner, director of family ministries at All Saints Church in Dallas and the co-editor of Children’s Ministry and the Spiritual Child. Cameron Mason Vickrey will also be on hand to share about the new children’s book she co-wrote with Victoria Robb Powers, My Love, God Is Everywhere. Cameron will have copies of the book to give away, sell and sign. Dinner will be served and is free for ministry leaders. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration by Aug. 9. Childcare provided by reservation.
Border experience with CBF
Wilshire has spots for five people to join an educational experience at the Texas-Mexico border from Oct. 22 to 27. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel Elket Rodriguez and CBF global missions staff will lead the experience, which is designed for those who have not previously participated in a border trip. Costs include airfare, hotel and food. To reserve your spot, contact Abbey Adcox at aadcox@wilshirebc.org. More information.
Compassion & Justice Conference
Missions partner Fellowship Southwest will present a Compassion & Justice Conference on Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9 at Life in Deep Ellum. Eugene Cho, Kaitlin Curtice, Alexia Salvatierra and Jemar Tisby are the keynote speakers, and topics will include hunger, indigenous rights, immigration and racial justice. The $99 registration fee includes all plenary sessions plus two of four workshops, lunch on Friday and a T-shirt. Learn more and register at fellowshipsouthwest.org
New monthly service opportunity at Wilkinson Center
Wilshire member Cindy Estee is coordinating volunteers to serve as food pantry assistants at the Wilkinson Center on the third Tuesday of each month from noon to 3:45 p.m. Wilkinson’s food pantry serves all ages in all stages: kids, single moms, fathers trying to support their families and seniors on a fixed income. Assistants greet and help clients, restock shelves and pack food boxes. Volunteers do not need to serve every month. If you are interested, contact Cindy at cesteedallas@aol.com. She will reach out monthly to confirm our team of four to six. Our first date of service is Tuesday, Aug. 15. The food pantry is located at 3402 N. Buckner Blvd.
Sermon podcast
Sermons from Timothy Peoples and other Wilshire preachers are now available as a weekly audio podcast on all major podcast platforms. To find the podcast and subscribe, search “Wilshire Baptist Church” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or iHeartRadio.