Tapestry News.
Wednesday Night Live
- For everyone – Family Dinner on the Grounds, 5 – 6 p.m. • Weekly. Each Wednesday evening begins with a chance to eat together outdoors behind the church along Springside Lane. Bring your own food or, better yet, pick up Koinonia Café To Go. Drinks and dessert will be provided by the church. Arrive when you can; tables will be open starting at 5 p.m.
- Preschool – grade 6 – Music, Missions and More, 6 – 7 p.m. • Weekly except the first Wednesday of each month. Fun, age-based activities and lessons for 3-year-olds through sixth graders, including music and missions-related topics. Children in kindergarten through sixth grade will learn Bible skills; preschoolers will engage in activities that focus on caring for others.
- Childcare for infants to 2-year-olds whose parents are involved in church activities will be offered Wednesdays, 6 – 7 p.m., in the preschool area.
- Resident-led study – God of Many Names, 6 – 6:45 p.m. • Oct. 13 & 20 • Parlor. Join Pastoral Residents Ashley Robinson and Jenna Sullivan for a two-week discussion on broadening our imagination for God. This brief but thorough series will give you a basic history on the language of God and emerging ideas from current theologians. Bring your questions, favorite Bible stories and a willingness to learn something new about our majestic God in this safe space.
Host homes needed. Wilshire is making plans to host several Fireside Chats the evening of Sunday, Nov. 14. The hope of this churchwide social event is to deepen relationships and connection among us while also expressing our collective gratitude in an intimate setting. Hosts will be able to determine the number of guests with a maximum of 20 at one location. Our preference would be to provide an outdoor space in a variety of locations across the Metroplex, with indoors being a backup for inclement weather. All Wilshire COVID protocols will need to be observed. Hosts will be provided a gratitude liturgy, refreshments and help with logistics. Don’t have a firepit? No problem. Wilshire can assist with that, too. If you are interested in hosting or learning s’more about being a host, please contact Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org) by Oct. 18.
Restroom construction continues. The project to enlarge the first-floor restrooms near the library is ongoing. These restrooms are closed. The hallways around the Sanctuary are 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. We apologize for the inconvenience. The library is open as usual during construction.
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.
New to Wilshire?
• The monthly Wilshire Welcome Class helps 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. The class meets during Sunday School in the Prayer Room. Dates are Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.
• Coffee and Conversation with Senior Pastor George Mason will be held this fall during the Sunday School period on 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.
Worship together on Zoom. Those unable to attend worship in person are invited to view the 11 a.m. livestream with others on Zoom. The Zoom session will begin each Sunday at 10:45 so participants can chat before the service. Email Pastoral Resident Ashley Robinson at arobinson@wilshirebc.org for the Zoom link.
Looking for a flexible ministry? Let’s talk. Compassionate adults or families are needed to make monthly connections with our senior adults who are no longer able to attend church. COVID has been hard on this age group and has caused a great deal of isolation. We are hoping to make this fall a better season for our homebound members. Our homebound ministry focuses on a monthly in-person contact, when safe. Cards and calls are encouraged when visits are not possible. Some live in their own home while others live in group homes or senior adult communities. If you are looking for a ministry that fits your busy schedule, being a homebound visitor might be a good fit for you. Please contact Jessica Capps at 214-452-3129 or jcapps@wilshirebc.org for more information.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
• The WOW! Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On Nov. 4 the group will discuss The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult. Contact: Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org).
• The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets in the Parlor monthly at 6 p.m. On Oct. 12 the group will discuss Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Contact: Debby Burton (dburton@wilshirebc.org).
Wilshire volunteers needed to help with pop-up eviction clinics. In collaboration with the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Wilshire will lend its energy to support the efforts many of our nonprofits are undergoing to keep people housed. Dallas County has seen a drastic increase in eviction filings now that the federal moratorium has ended, making many in our community susceptible to housing instability. This issue is large and complex, but we have found a way in which we can lend a hand in order to make a meaningful impact. Many of you have given your resources for this purpose; we now need your time and abilities. The Dallas Rental Assistance Collaborative provides rental and/or utility assistance for up to 15 total months. This can be used for direct financial assistance, including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears and other expenses related to housing. For the remainder of the year, this collaborative will host pop-up eviction clinics in areas of high eviction filings in order to get resources to the most vulnerable. We have the opportunity to volunteer at these clinics and the days immediately following, helping neighbors apply for assistance as well as entering that data into a system to help fast-track applications. There are a variety of ways to serve, and a 30-minute training will be made available within the next few weeks. If you are interested, please contact Abbey Adcox at aadcox@wilshirebc.org.
WOW! Women’s Retreat – Feb. 11–13, 2022, at The Prothro Center. Come get away with us and find community, encouragement and time with God. We will worship together, create art, learn, relax, laugh and have fun in nature. Wilshire Pastoral Residents Ashley Robinson & Jenna Sullivan will serve as camp pastors. Cost for the retreat is $225 per person, with a $100 deposit due by Nov. 15. Full payment is due by Jan. 23, 2022. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration. Visit prothrocenter.org to see the beautiful facility that is our 2022 retreat location. The majority of our rooms are double occupancy with two queen beds. Everyone will have their own bed. We also have use of some cabins with four singles. If you are interested in the possibility of a single room for an additional $30, based on availability, please indicate your interest with your registration.
The retreat theme, schedule and breakout session information are coming soon.
WOW! Fall Fun
The Women of Wilshire ministry is excited to offer some small, outdoor gatherings this fall. Since space is limited, please sign up for only one event. Sign-ups will be monitored and spots added if needed. As the events get closer we will communicate if there are open spots. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration.
- Sunday, Oct. 24, Outing to Dallas Arboretum, 3 p.m. Buy your own ticket and parking. Meet at the gift shop.
- Saturday, Oct. 23 or Saturday, Nov. 6. Brunch at Dream Cafe, 10:30 a.m., Mockingbird & Abrams
- Tuesday, Oct. 19 or Thursday, Nov. 18. Dinner at Manny’s Tex-Mex, 6:30 p.m., Mockingbird & Abrams
ECLC has space available. Wilshire’s Early Childhood Learning Center is into a regular rhythm and having lots of fun. Our teachers are busy reading aloud and planning great activities for our children. We have space available for more children in ECLC. Learn more by visiting wilshirebc.org/learn/eclc.
Benefits to reading aloud:
1. It expands children’s vocabulary and world knowledge.
2. Reading develops essential competencies that children will need to become skilled readers later in life.
3. It also helps children relate to characters’ feelings and actions.
4. Using different voices while reading, varying the pace, using eye contact, gestures, and props make reading aloud to your child exciting and fun.
5. Lastly, reading to your child allows you to spend quality time with your child.
Faith Commons event features Jennifer Butler
Power of Scripture in the Public Square – Thursday, Oct. 14 • Noon • Sanctuary. Free with optional lunch purchase. When the same Scripture passage can lead people to make totally different political decisions, how do we know which way is right? And how do we accept the truth and sacred responsibility of teaching Scripture in a manner that reflects God’s love for us and all creation? Jennifer Butler, founder and executive director of Faith in Public Life, will explore these questions in a workshop called “Power of Scripture in the Public Square” at Wilshire on Thursday, Oct. 14, at noon in the Sanctuary. The free event, presented by Faith Commons, is geared toward anyone who preaches or teaches Scripture, including lay leaders. A $10 box lunch will be available for attendees who wish to continue the conversation with Butler from 1 to 2 p.m. The noon workshop will be live-streamed on Wilshire’s YouTube channel. Butler, an ordained minister, has been on the front lines of faith-based organizing and activism. Her recent book is Who Stole My Bible?: Reclaiming Scripture as a Handbook for Resisting Tyranny.
- In addition to her appearance at Wilshire, Butler will be featured at two other Dallas events this week: Faith Commons and Temple Emanu-El are co-sponsoring Butler for the Temple’s annual lecture series on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. After Butler’s presentation, she will join George Mason and Rabbi David Stern in conversation. The free event can be attended in person or online.
- On Wednesday, Oct. 13, Butler will speak at Women in Ministry Day, presented by the Baptist House of Studies at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. Other speakers are Lynn Brinkley of Baptist Women in Ministry and Nora Lozano of the Christian Latina Leadership Institute. The $10 admission includes a box lunch and parking.
Faith Commons is a nonprofit organization founded by George Mason to promote public discourse rooted in the common values of many faiths. Faith Commons cultivates unexpected relationships through educational programs that inspire more people to participate in public life with mutual respect, hospitality, and generosity. Visit faithcommons.org/events for more information and registration links for all events.