Wilshire Welcome Meet & Greet this Sunday, July 25
9:15 – 10:45 a.m. in Community Hall
Are you a guest or new member? Maybe you joined during the pandemic and don’t yet have a full picture of everything Wilshire has to offer. Mark your calendar for our Wilshire Welcome Meet & Greet on July 25 in Community Hall. This informal session will help you learn about Wilshire, with topics ranging from Sunday morning options to volunteer and advocacy opportunities, plus a Q&A time with Senior Pastor George Mason. The Wilshire Welcome Class will meet monthly this fall. Questions? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Monday is deadline for Rangers tickets
Join us for a churchwide outing to the new Globe Life Field to see our Texas Rangers play the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, Aug. 1, at 1:35 p.m. Our two chartered buses will depart from Springside Lane behind the church at 12:15 p.m. and will return after the game. (Your response has been so great, we added the second bus.) Our group seats are located in the Upper Box section. Don’t worry about the heat; this new state-of-the-art venue is fully enclosed and air-conditioned. Tickets cost $20 per person and need to be ordered by Monday, July 26. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration. Those who purchase tickets will receive an email with more details about the outing. Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org with questions. If you miss the Monday deadline but wish to buy tickets on your own, contact Carolyn. You may still be able to sit with the group, and we may still have room for you on one of our buses.
Sign up for Wednesday blood drive
Carter BloodCare will have its bus in Wilshire’s north parking lot on Wednesday, July 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parish Nurse Linda Garner reports that there is still a critical need for blood and that the supply of blood is at a 30-year low. Each blood donation has the potential to save three lives or more. See page 7 for more information and a QR code you can scan to make an appointment. You can also find the appointment link at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Realm is here: Give and connect easier with new modern platform
Wilshire’s database was successfully converted this week from ACS to a new platform, Realm. Everyone with an email address on file with Wilshire will receive an email in the next week or two with an invitation to join Realm.
Realm will provide a modern, easy to use platform for online giving and connection. We will use it for event registration and payments, and classes and groups may choose to use Realm as a way to communicate and connect with members.
If you already have online giving set up through Access ACS, your giving information should have transferred seamlessly and securely to Realm, and recurring contributions will continue uninterrupted.
Once you accept your emailed invitation, you’ll be able to access Realm through a web browser and on the Realm Connect mobile app. Stay tuned to learn more about using Realm in the coming weeks. If you have issues or questions related to online giving, contact Lori Gooden at lgooden@wilshirebc.org or 214-452-3131. For login issues and other questions, contact Susan Kimball at skimball@wilshirebc.org or 214-452-3108.
Learn more at wilshirebc.org/realm.
Midweek Bible Study
Wednesday, July 28, at noon in the Sanctuary
Join us for the final Midweek Bible Study in the Sanctuary before we return to Community Hall on Aug. 18. (See p. 10 for more details.) Watch the livestream at youtube.com/wilshirebaptist.
Wilshire history book available
Blest Be the Tie, a hardcover book covering the history of Wilshire, is available free of charge. During July, copies can be found in high-traffic areas of the building, and you are free to take one if you don’t already have it. The book contains informative text and hundreds of photos covering Wilshire’s history from its 1951 founding until the 2011 publication of the book. Contact Debby Burton at dburton@wilshirebc.org if you need help getting a copy.
Restroom construction continues
Construction is underway to renovate and enlarge the restrooms on the first floor near the library. These restrooms are closed. The hallways around the Sanctuary will be open but narrowed due to plastic sheeting put up for construction. If you have concerns or questions, contact Facilities Manager Dale Pride, Director of Operations Randy Crosland or notify any church staffer.
Library open during construction
Wilshire’s library is open as usual despite the restroom construction. Hours are Sunday, 8:30 – 10:45 a.m.; Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tuesday 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., closed on Thursday.
Love Your Neighbor welcomes Sullivan, Reeves in August
Love Your Neighbor is a new Zoom-based Sunday School class that meets the first and third Sundays each month at 1 p.m. Class directors are Shelly and David Beck. The class is aimed at our long-distance church members, but anyone is welcome. To get the Zoom link, send an email to loveyourneighbor@wilshirebc.org.
• Pastoral Resident Jenna Sullivan will teach on Aug. 1. Jenna is a graduate of Wake Forest University School of Divinity and was associate pastor at Magnolia Road Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas, before coming to Wilshire.
• Stephen Reeves will speak on Aug. 15. Reeves is the new executive director of Fellowship Southwest and is leading the organization this year alongside outgoing executive director Marv Knox. An attorney, Reeves has led advocacy efforts for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship since 2013.
Ushers, greeters needed
Wilshire’s Hospitality Team is seeking volunteers to serve as ushers and greeters for both the 9 and 11 a.m. services. If you can help out, contact Ministry Assistant Barbara Clayton at bclayton@wilshirebc.org or 214-452-3125.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
• The WOW! Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On Aug. 5 the group will discuss Jane Kirkpatrick’s Something Worth Doing. Contact Abbey Adcox at aadcox@wilshirebc.org for more information.
• The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets in the Parlor monthly at 7 p.m. On Aug. 10 the group will discuss Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. Contact Debby Burton at dburton@wilshirebc.org for more information.
Preschool Friends Camp
Preschool Friends Camp was held at the church July 19–23. Minister to Preschoolers Joan Hammons says, “The camp was designed to give preschoolers the opportunity to enjoy playing with other preschoolers. Due to COVID, many haven’t been able to play with others very much. Eighteen preschoolers, ages three to five, formed three small groups. They played, made friends, enjoyed creating art and heard Bible stories about God’s love.”