Wednesday Night Live
There’s a new schedule for Wednesday at Wilshire! Please see our newly updated Wednesday page for details about something for everyone.
About the September study:
As we journey through incredibly difficult times together, we want to encourage you to pause and observe all that you might be feeling in this season. To do that, we’ll be looking at the theologies of three men often called The Trinity of Wholesomeness: Fred Rogers, Bob Ross, and Steve Irwin (“The Crocodile Hunter”). Each used his life to teach us how to love others, love ourselves and love creation. Join us in the Parlor Sept. 8, 15 and 22 at 6 p.m. as we remind each other of these foundations for living.
Collection for Afghan evacuees
The Dallas office of Refugee Services of Texas is in need of items for those resettling in the area following evacuation from Afghanistan with Special Immigrant Visas. Items most needed are razors, bars of soap, toothpaste, diapers of all sizes, diaper rash cream, diaper wipes and U-shaped bicycle locks. Collection bins can be found outside the main office, at the north entrance and in the North Atrium through Sunday, Sept. 5. An Amazon wishlist is linked at wilshirebc.org/registration and can be used if you wish to order items and have them shipped to Wilshire by Sept. 5.
ECLC begins school year
Wilshire’s Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) is off to a great start after being closed for the previous school year due to the pandemic. On Aug. 12, Senior Pastor George Mason offered an opening blessing at ECLC’s Meet the Teacher event. On Monday, Aug. 16, parents and children marched in with smiles on their faces. ECLC director Ramona Randle says, “We welcomed some familiar families from pre-COVID days as well as many new families. In addition, almost half our staff has returned to ECLC. It is wonderful to hear children’s voices in the Preschool hallway.” ECLC has room for more families. If you know of anybody who is looking for a place for their preschool child, please have them email eclc@wilshirebc.org or call 214-452-3115.
Depolarizing Conversations About Race, Sept. 13
Join us Monday, Sept. 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Community Hall for a “skills workshop for difficult (and necessary) conversations between white Americans about race and public policy.” While open to all, the workshop is designed for self-identified white people who believe in the equal worth and dignity of persons of all races and are concerned about our nation’s problems with race. The free event will be presented by Braver Angels, a nonprofit organization aiming to unite red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize the country.
Boxed meals are available for purchase and can be picked up in James Gallery starting at 5:30 p.m. and enjoyed at tables in the Prayer Garden before the workshop. Boxes are $8.50 each and include a wrap (choose chicken salad, turkey or veggie), two sides, a cookie and bottled water.
Register for the workshop and purchase a meal at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Marriage Connections returns
Friday, Sept. 10, is the first meeting this fall for Marriage Connections. In this monthly event, free childcare (infants – grade 6) is provided at the church while couples learn from a speaker’s presentation before heading out to dinner on their own. Childcare is provided only for couples participating in the programming. Registration for childcare is open at wilshirebc.org/registration through Sept. 5.
- Drop off kids in Preschool area, 6:30 p.m.
- Program in James Gallery, 6:45 – 7:15 p.m.
- Dinner on your own, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
- Pick up children by 9:30 p.m.
- This year’s dates are Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, Jan. 14, Feb. 18, April 8, May 13. Feel free to leave out the future dates.
Youth Choir, Shekinah start Sept. 12
Wilshire’s Youth Choir and the select choral ensemble Shekinah will resume rehearsals on Sunday, Sept. 12. Associate Minister of Music/Organist Jeff Brummel directs both groups.
- 11:45 a.m.–12:10 p.m. Students eat a provided snack lunch on the back lawn.
- 12:15–1:15 p.m. Youth Choir rehearsal in Choral Hall.
- 1:20–1:50 p.m. Shekinah rehearsal in Choral Hall.
New option for online worship
Those unable to attend worship in person are invited to worship with a group on Zoom. Each Sunday, a Zoom session will be open starting at 10:45 a.m. for people to gather and chat. At 11 the live worship service will be streamed through Zoom so participants can experience worship together. There will time to share prayer concerns and celebrations, check in with one another and just have face-to-face contact. To receive the Zoom link, email Pastoral Resident Ashley Robinson at arobinson@wilshirebc.org. The Zoom meeting is recurring, so the same link will work every week.
Ushers, greeters needed
The Hospitality Team needs people to serve as ushers and greeters. Contact Barbara Clayton at bclayton@wilshirebc.org if you can help.
Enroll for piano lessons
Wilshire’s Academy of Fine Arts is enrolling piano students for the academic year. The cost is $40 per 30-minute lesson. To sign up, contact Jeff Brummel at jbrummel@wilshirebc.org.
“I Am Wilshire” returning to Tapestry
A Wilshire member will be profiled in the Tapestry each week when “I Am Wilshire” returns starting Sept. 5. The Belong Team is bringing back the feature to help Wilshire members get to know each other and become more engaged with the church. You might even learn something new about someone you’ve known a long time. “I Am Wilshire” will spotlight newer members, longtime members — maybe even you. A new question-and-answer format will make the feature easy to read and easy for participants to answer. If you are interested in being featured, contact Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org) and a member of the Belong Team will be in touch. Special thanks to Vicki Briley-White and Anna Hines for heading up this initiative.
New here?
The monthly Wilshire Welcome Class is designed to help guests and new members quickly learn what Wilshire is all about. Topics include our philosophy of worship, Bible study options on Sunday mornings and during the week, mission and advocacy partners and ways Wilshire serves in the community and beyond. Sessions are held during the Sunday School period in the Prayer Room (Room 1100B, McIver Chapel hallway). Upcoming dates are Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14, Dec. 12.
Coffee and Conversation with Senior Pastor George Mason will be held this fall during the Sunday School period on Sept. 5, Oct. 31 and Dec. 5. This informal time in George’s study (Room 2203) is an opportunity for you to ask questions about Wilshire.
Questions? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
WOW! to study Rachel Held Evans’ Inspired
- Women of Wilshire will read and study Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans.
- Every other Monday, 7 p.m.
- Dates are Sept. 27, Oct. 11 & 25, Nov. 8
& 29, Dec. 13, Jan. 10 & 24, Feb. 7 & 21 - Led by Joannah DeMent in the
DeMents’ backyard - Register at wilshirebc.org/registration.
If the Bible isn’t a science book or an instruction manual, what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she began a quest to better understand what the Bible is and how it is meant to be read. What she discovered changed her — and it will change you too. Drawing on the best in recent scholarship and using her well-honed literary expertise, Evans examines some of our favorite Bible stories and possible interpretations, retelling them through memoir, original poetry, short stories, soliloquies and even a short screenplay. The Bible, she discovers, is not a static work but a living, breathing, captivating and confounding book that is able to equip us to join God’s loving and redemptive work in the world.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets in the Parlor monthly at 6 p.m. On Sept. 14 the group will discuss Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by J.B. West and Mary Lynn Kotz. 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. 2 the group will discuss The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Contact: Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org).