Faith in Democracy event Aug. 23. Wilshire is one of several Dallas churches co-hosting Faith in Democracy: Lifting Dallas Faith Voices for Justice on Sunday afternoon, August 23. Hosted by Texas Impact, this online event will feature faith and community leaders in four panel discussions concerning the upcoming election and a preview of the 2021 legislative session. Texas Impact is a statewide grassroots network established to be a voice of religious social concern to the Texas Legislature, and it provides concrete strategies for people of faith to work for justice. The event is free but registration is required to receive the links. To learn more and register, visit texasimpact.org.
Passport preteen camp goes virtual. Traveling to preteen camp this summer was another casualty of COVID-19, but Wilshire’s 3rd through 6th graders are participating in a virtual camp experience produced by Passport Camps. BEtogether is the theme for the online offering, which includes six weeks’ worth of daily devotions, worship videos and activities for kids and families to complete on their own time. For more information, contact Minister to Children Julie Girards.
Facebook Live Bible study. A rotation of teachers leads the Facebook Live
Bible study class Sundays at 10:15 a.m. Scott Spreier will teach on on August 2. All are invited to participate via Wilshire’s Facebook page. The lesson will remain available for viewing on Facebook and will be posted on Wilshire’s YouTube channel as well.
Wednesday videos. The pastoral resident-created Wednesday video is on a short hiatus but will return August 19 with second-year resident Leigh Curl interviewing new resident Ashley Robinson. The August 26 video will feature Leanna Coyle-Carr’s interview with new resident Jenna Sullivan. George Mason’s midweek video update will continue.
Library offers curbside pickup. Wilshire librarian Barbara Peterson is making it possible to check out books from the church library even while the building is closed. First, search the library’s online catalog by visiting wilshirebc.booksys.net/opac/wbc/#menuHome. This link is available in the library section of the Wilshire app and website. Then send an email to bpeterson@wilshirebc.org with “Book Requests” in the subject line and tell her what titles you wish to check out (limit 5). She will work out a safe plan to get the books to you via curbside pickup at the church building or delivery to your home.
WOW! Book Clubs
*The Women of Wilshire Tuesday Evening Book Club meets via Zoom once a month at 7 p.m. The next meeting is August 18, when Carla
Siegesmund will lead a discussion of Sheldon Vanauken’s A Severe Mercy. To register, contact Debby Burton at dburton@wilshirebc.org.
*The WOW! Brown Bag Book Club meets via Zoom the first Thursday of each month. Upcoming dates and books: August 6, The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris; September 10, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. To register, contact Abbey Adcox at or Carolyn Murray .
Evolving Faith Live Conference. Several “Women of Wilshire” will be in virtual attendance at this year’s Evolving Faith Live Conference, which will be held online October 2 and 3. Conversations will continue in WOW! discussion groups starting October 6. The conference will feature favorite speakers like Sarah Bessey, Jen Hatmaker, Nadia Bolz-Weber and Barbara Brown Taylor. Registration is required and includes access to all sessions until April 1, 2021. Register and learn more at evolvingfaith.com and watch WOW! communications for more info on discussion groups.
Gateway of Grace’s Project Mask. If you or your family needs face masks as the pandemic drags on, consider getting them through Gateway of Grace, one of Wilshire’s local missions partners. In Gateway’s Project Mask, refugee clients of the agency are making masks that are available to the public for a donation. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the refugees, and for many refugee women, this is the first time in their lives they’ve been paid for their work. Instructions for ordering masks can be found here: https://form.keela.co/gateway-of-grace/project-mask-dfw