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.
Back to School Drive items due Aug. 13
This is the last day for our Back to School Drive for the RISD school where Wilshire member Shana Gaines is assistant principal. Needed items are listed below, and handwritten notes for faculty are also welcome. Bring items to bins near the church office and north entrance, or use an Amazon wishlist; scan code or see wilshirebc.org/registration.
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)
Gen Alpha Goes to Church: Fall kickoff for children’s parents, teachers and volunteers
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 co-editor of Children’s Ministry and the Spiritual Child. Cameron Mason Vickrey and Victoria Robb Powers will also be on hand to sell and sign copies of their new children’s book, My Love, God Is Everywhere. Dinner will be served and is free for ministry leaders. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration by Aug. 13 for a chance to win a free copy of Cameron and Victoria’s book.
Promotion Sunday features BBQ lunch
Wilshire will celebrate the end of summer and kick off a new school year with Promotion Sunday on Aug. 20. Preschoolers, children and youth will move to new Sunday School classes, and it’s also a great day for adults to try a new class or try Sunday School for the first time. Everyone is invited to stay after worship that day for a churchwide BBQ lunch in Community Hall. The western-themed event will include a special performance by the Lake Highlands High School Wildcat Wranglers country-western dance and stunt team. If you’ve never seen this group and their flying, twirling choreography, you’re in for a real Texas treat. The Wranglers will have a place in their routine for our Wilshire kids to participate, so bring the whole family! Cost for the meal is $10 per adult, $5 for kids ages 4 to 9 and free for 3 and under. No reservation required. Cash/check/credit accepted at the door. Western wear is optional.
Half-price grub for ranch hands!
We’re roundin’ up a posse to help set up Community Hall on Saturday and collect money, serve drinks and dessert and clean up after the lunch on Sunday. Volunteers get their meal for half-price. Look for a SignUpGenius link at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Timothy leads Bible Study as Wednesday Night Live resumes Aug. 23
Koinonia Café
5 – 6 p.m. | Community Hall | Buffet-style dinner for the whole family, with kid-friendly options available. Cash/check/credit card accepted at the door. Full Meal: $10 for ages 10 and up; $5 for kids 4 to 9; free for kids 3 and under; $35 household max. Soup & Salad Meal: $7.
Music, Missions & More
6 – 7 p.m. | Age 3 – Pre-K | Preschool choir, plus fun activities and lessons focused on God’s love and caring for others.
KidConnect
6 – 7 p.m. | K – Grade 6 | KidConnect features a rotation of activities to help kids learn how to love God and others with every part of themselves. Each week is different, with activities including art, music, recreation, science, puppets and cooking.
Bible Study
6 – 7 p.m. | McIver Chapel | Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples and other ministers will lead a time of Bible study at 6 p.m. in McIver Chapel this fall. Timothy will kick things off with a six-week series, Love in the Hebrew Bible.
Also on Wednesday nights
Watershed | 6:30 p.m. | Wilshire Student Ministry’s time of weekly Bible study in the Youth Center.
Sanctuary Choir | 7 p.m. | Wilshire’s main adult choir rehearses weekly in choral hall. New singers welcome. No audition.
Childcare for infants to 2-year-olds whose parents are involved in church activities is offered 6 – 7:15 p.m.
Lunch & Learn is now twice a month
Beginning Sept. 6, Lunch & Learn will be offered on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 11:30 a.m. in Community Hall. The first Wednesday each month will feature a speaker or entertainment, and the third Wednesday will feature Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples leading a time of Bible study. Open to everyone. Lunch costs $10 per person. No reservation needed. Contact: Barbara Clayton (bclayton@wilshirebc.org).
New around 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.
■ 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, Sept. 17, at 9:45 a.m. in Timothy’s office (Room 2203, second floor).
■ Questions about the above events? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Adventurers Trivia Monday night
Show off your smarts and compete for bragging rights and prizes 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). Adventurers is a fellowship group for those 60 and above.
Children’s and Youth Choirs resume Aug. 27
■ Children’s Choirs for Kindergarten through grade 6 will resume rehearsals after worship on Sunday, Aug. 27. The kids will enjoy a free snack lunch in Room 2221 before choirs meet from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.
■ Youth Choir, for all students in grades 7–12, also resumes Aug. 27. Students will eat a free snack lunch in the Youth Center before heading to Choral Hall. Youth Choir rehearsal starts at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 1:30.
Wilkinson service starts this week
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.
Friday Friends seeks volunteers
Friday Friends will resume on Aug. 25 and is seeking 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 of each month at 6 p.m. All skill levels are welcome. An extra session for those learning mahjong will be held on Friday, Aug. 18. Please sign up so we’ll know how many to prepare for. Visit wilshirebc.org/registration for a SignUpGenius link.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
■ 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)
■ The WOW Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L.
On Sept. 7, the group will discuss Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Contact: Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)
Blood drive is Aug. 30
Carter BloodCare will be at Wilshire for a blood drive on Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Carter is still feeling the effects of a decrease in donations during the pandemic. Walk-ups are welcome, but appointments are recommended. Make an appointment: https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/137985.Contact: Linda Garner (lgarner@wilshirebc.org)
Go deep on housing with Collective Consciousness Cohort
You can become an equipped advocate for housing-first solutions and affordable housing by joining Wilshire’s new housing-focused Collective Consciousness Cohort. Led by Associate Pastor Heather Mustain, the cohort will give participants in-depth knowledge on policy and perspective nuances and the chance to hear from experts as they gain the tools necessary to bring about awareness and change. The cohort will meet from 5:45 to 7 p.m. on six Wednesdays: Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27 and Oct. 4 and 18. The housing group is the first of a new cohort-based approach to advocacy at Wilshire. Cohorts will be formed around other issues in the future. Contact Heather at hmustain@wilshirebc.org for additional information.
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 and 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. Scan QR code for more information.
Compassion & Justice Conference
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 will speak, and topics will include hunger, indigenous rights, immigration and racial justice. The $99 fee includes all plenary sessions plus two of four workshops, lunch on Friday and a T-shirt. Learn more and register at fellowshipsouthwest.org.
Marriage Connections, Sept. 8
A new year of Marriage Connections begins on Friday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. In this event, held on select Friday nights, free childcare (infant – grade 6) is provided while parents enjoy a short program at the church and then have the rest of the night, until 9:30, to themselves. Registration is required for childcare and closes Sunday, Sept. 3; visit wilshirebc.org/registration. Contact: Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org)
Single, Adoptive and Foster Care Parents Night Out, Sept. 8
Wilshire will offer free childcare (infant – grade 6) for single, adoptive and foster parents on Friday, Sept. 8, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Registration is required and closes Sunday, Sept. 3; visit wilshirebc.org/registration.
Grandparents Day Celebration
Wilshire will celebrate Grandparents Day with a luncheon after worship on Sunday, Sept. 10, in Community Hall. The event is open to: Wilshire families with older preschoolers through elementary-aged children (ages 3 to 12) and their grandparents, Wilshire members or not; Wilshire grandparents and their children and grandchildren, Wilshire members or not; families who need a local “grandfriend” and older adults wishing to connect with a young family. The event will include family photos, a craft, entertainment, a presentation, resource table and more. Cost for the meal is $10 per adult, $5 for ages 4 to 9 and free for age 3 and under. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration.