Christmas Eve services at 5 & 11 p.m.
Wilshire will offer Christmas Eve candlelight services at 5 and 11 p.m. The 5 p.m. service is family-friendly and suitable for all ages; it will feature carols, Scripture and a brief message from George Mason. The 11 p.m. service will be more liturgical in nature, with more extensive readings, robed ministers and celebration of the Lord’s Supper. No childcare is provided. Both services will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
Youth Choir alumni invited to sing at 11 p.m.
All alumni of Wilshire’s Youth Choir are invited to sing together for the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Anyone who has sung in Youth Choir or is currently an 11th or 12th grade singer is invited to Choral Hall at 10:30 for a cookie, coffee and a quick rehearsal.
Sanctuary Choir to be featured today
On Sunday, Dec. 19, both morning worship services will feature Christmas choral music from Sanctuary Choir accompanied by an instrumental ensemble including strings, oboe and trumpet. Selections include “What Sweeter Music” by John Rutter, Carl Schalk’s “Before the Marvel of This Night” and excerpts from Part I of Handel’s Messiah with soprano Amy Pottkotter as soloist. The congregation will join the choir on select verses of Rutter’s arrangement of “Joy to the World.”
Weekly Zoom Devotionals
Join our pastoral residents for their final Wednesday Zoom devotional at 8 a.m. on Dec. 22. This brief time of study and prayer is a great way to ponder the Advent story as we wait and watch for hope to dawn. Find the Zoom information at wilshirebc.org/advent.
Advent Devotional Book
Join with fellow Wilshire members as we read and reflect using the new book, A Surprising God: Advent Devotions for an Uncertain Time. Copies are available in the church office for $10.
Advent playlist on Spotify
Wilshire has created an eclectic Advent and Christmas playlist on the streaming music service Spotify. The basic version of Spotify is free to use, and you can find a link to the Wilshire playlist at wilshirebc.org/advent.
Advent Reflection Videos
Each Tuesday and Thursday during Advent we are releasing a video with Scripture, prayer and music. The brief videos will be available on our YouTube channel and will be shared on Facebook, Instagram and in the weekly Monday Recap email.
Help decorate Tree of Hope
Help decorate our Tree of Hope and Remembrance in the South Lobby. Blank ornaments and markers are provided; write the name of a loved one as a memorial, or your name as a survivor of cancer or another disease. Take your ornament home close to Christmas for use on your own tree.
Library Christmas decorations
Wilshire’s Library is decorated for the season with nativity sets from around the world on loan from Wilshire member Linda Garner. All are invited to stop by and take a look.
Schedule notes
■ Sunday, Dec. 26: One worship service at 11 a.m., no Sunday School. Join us at 10:15 in James Gallery for coffee and pastries.
■ Sunday, Jan. 2: One worship service at 11 a.m., Sunday School at 10 a.m.
■ The church offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 27, and Monday, Jan. 3.
Help us close the year-end gap
With two Sundays left in 2021, we’re facing a significant gap between our estimated expenses and actual income. If you committed on Gratitude Sunday to double your tithe one week, would you consider honoring that commitment before the end of this year? If you’re planning on mailing year-end gifts to Wilshire, please mail your check early and don’t wait until the last minute. Better yet, make the switch to online giving. For help with giving, contact Director of Finance Lori Gooden at lgooden@wilshirebc.org or 214-452-3131.
New here?
■ Coffee and Conversation with Senior Pastor George Mason will be held Sunday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. This informal time in George’s study (Room 2203) gives guests and new members a chance to ask questions about Wilshire.
■ The monthly Wilshire Welcome Class helps guests and new members learn what Wilshire is all about. The class will meet Sunday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. in the Prayer Room (1100B) near McIver Chapel.
■ Questions about these events? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
A note about masks and children
Our leadership team and the COVID-19 Advisory Task Force are asking parents to continue to abide by our current masking policy, which is that all children, age 2 through grade 6, need to be masked while indoors regardless of their vaccination status. We will re-evaluate this policy in January. We want to give all our families plenty of time to get their children vaccinated and not place any additional burden on our teachers to know who is vaccinated and who is not. We are taking our cues from Richardson and Dallas public schools, which will both evaluate their policies in the new year.
Sing with choir for Faith in 3D
You are invited to join with Sanctuary Choir to sing choral parts for the 2022 Faith in 3D video production, “To Whom It May Concern.” Parts will be rehearsed during the choir’s normal Wednesday night practice starting Jan. 12 and continuing weekly until the Faith in 3D video shoot on Saturday, Feb. 26. Songs for the musical will be rehearsed at the beginning of the 7 p.m. rehearsals so that participants may slip out before the choir moves on to other material. The video of Faith in 3D will premiere in Community Hall on Sunday, April 24, after worship. Questions? Contact Doug Haney at dhaney@wilshirebc.org.
January Sunday School series will give Biblical overview
Associate Pastor Darren DeMent will present an overview of the Bible in a four-week Sunday School series starting Jan. 9 and ending Jan. 30. The lessons will consider the who, what, when and where of the Bible, providing a refresher on the order of events, major figures, and how they relate to a broader historical timeline. This limited series will be a good option for anyone not connected to a class or for those new to the idea of Sunday School. Existing classes may choose to attend to give their regular teachers a four-week break. The series is also perfect for anyone looking to brush up on their Biblical literacy. The class will meet in McIver Chapel at 10 a.m.
Marriage Connections, Jan. 14
Marriage Connections returns Friday night, Jan. 14, and the deadline to register for childcare is Sunday, Jan. 9. In this monthly event, free childcare (infants – grade 6) is provided at Wilshire while couples hear a presentation before having dinner out on their own. January’s speaker will be Wilshire member and pediatrician Rhonda Walton. The same childcare is available for Single Parents’ Night Out and Adoption/Foster Care Ministry Night Out. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Valerie Kaur coming in February
Author Valerie Kaur will be in Dallas for two events presented by Faith Commons and co-sponsored by Wilshire. Kaur will deliver a lecture Wednesday evening, Feb. 2, and lead a workshop Thursday morning, Feb. 3. Details to come. Kaur is an author, activist, filmmaker, lawyer, educator and faith leader. She is the founder of the Revolutionary Love Project and the author of the 2020 book See No Stranger.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
■ The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets in the Parlor monthly at 6:30 p.m. On Jan. 11 the group will discuss Patti Callahan’s Becoming Mrs. Lewis. Zoom available by request. Contact: Debby Burton (dburton@wilshirebc.org).
■ The WOW! Brown Bag Book Club meets one Thursday a month at noon in Room 1205-L. On Jan. 13 the group will discuss The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Contact: Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org).
Women’s Retreat: Feb. 11–13, 2022
Find community, encouragement and time with God at the 2022 Women’s Retreat. Pastoral Residents Ashley Robinson and Jenna Sullivan will serve as camp pastors. The cost is $225, and full payment is due Jan. 23. Learn more and register at wilshirebc.org/registration.
MLK Day Meal Packing Event
Wilshire is partnering with the nonprofit Rise Against Hunger to host a Meal Packing Event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 17. All ages are invited to register and join us from 10 a.m. to noon to pack meals, with time for pizza and socializing afterward. Volunteers are also needed to register and assist with set-up starting at 8:30 a.m. (strong backs needed) and cleanup starting after the event. All volunteers will be required to be masked in accordance with Rise Against Hunger’s current policy. Find the link to register or donate at wilshirebc.org/registration.
ECLC 2022-23 registration
It’s almost time to enroll for the 2022-2023 school year at Wilshire’s Early Childhood Learning Center. Wilshire members will have the opportunity to register beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 24. The registration form will be available to view ahead of time, but you will be unable to submit until the 24th. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Please note: Your “in-line” number is guaranteed until 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 25. If your non-refundable registration fee ($400) is not received in time, your submission will be placed at the back of the line and not counted until your check is received. If you have questions, please contact the ECLC office at 214-452-3115 or visit wilshirebc.org/eclc.
Free session for K–12 students and parents on adolescent mental health
Wed., Jan. 19, 6 p.m. at Wilshire
Join us for this important presentation for all children, youth and parents. Grant Halliburton Foundation will present four concurrent age-based sessions on adolescent mental health and well-being. Participants will meet in four groups: K – grade 3; grades 4 – 6; grades 7 – 12; and parents. This event will take the place of regular Wednesday activities. For more information, contact Minister to Children Julie Girards at jgirards@wilshirebc.org.
Grant Halliburton Foundation is a Dallas-based nonprofit working to raise awareness and understanding of adolescent mental health and suicide prevention.
For K–3 students
RISE: Change Your World! is an interactive presentation designed to help students reframe their thinking and behavior related to bullying.
For grades 4–6 and 7–12
#SAFE is an interactive presentation designed to educate young people about mental wellness and encourage them to speak up concerning their mental health.
For parents
You’ll learn to recognize signs of stress and depression, promote adolescent brain health and mental wellness, foster strong coping skills in youth and more. Parents, teachers and other adult influencers welcome.