Support CBF’s Ukraine Relief Fund
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has established a relief fund in response to the crisis in Ukraine. Contributions will support the work of Village of Hope, a ministry operated by CBF field personnel in Kyiv, as well as disaster response efforts by the Baptist World Alliance. Visit cbf.net/ukraine.
Pastor Search Committee to survey congregation
Church, one of our responsibilities in the search process is to represent Wilshire well to potential candidates, which includes stating clearly the vision and passions of the congregation. While we on the committee feel that we collectively have a strong sense of what identifies Wilshire, we want to validate our shared understanding and provide a channel for members to communicate directly to the committee. This is not a re-visioning process, but an opportunity for us to take a clear picture of the congregation today to share with candidates. To that end, we have created Every Body Speaks to give everyone (children, youth, adults and staff) a voice in the process. A large part of this effort is a congregational survey which will be made available online and through hard copy on Friday, March 25 and conclude on Sunday, April 3. Details about how to access the survey will be provided in the next few weeks in the Tapestry. We look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Pastor Search Committee
Racial equity town hall at Wilshire Monday night
Wilshire’s Community Hall will be the site for a citywide town hall on racial equity on Monday, March 7, at 7 p.m. The event, hosted by Dallas City Council Member Casey Thomas, will focus on redressing racial inequities in Dallas housing and community development using findings from the city’s recently-completed Racial Equity Audit. City Council Members Paul Ridley, Paula Blackmon and Gay Donnell Willis will also attend. Casey Thomas was our guest in worship on Jan. 16, and his interview with George Mason can be found here.
Gagliardi book signing, March 13
Wilshire member George Gagliardi will hold a book signing on Sunday morning, March 13, from 9:45 a.m. to noon in the South Atrium. George, a musician and songwriter, describes his book, Some Hope for the Holidays, this way: “It’s a compilation of my reflections on Easter and Christmas from 25 years of holiday letters, written as my way of seeking to minister, in a creative way, during those special times of the year — containing poetry, lyrics, stories — in other words, a variety of, well, words.” Copies of the book will be available for $10.
Adventurers Movie Afternoon
The Wilshire Adventurers will enjoy an Afternoon at the Movies on Monday, March 14, at 1 p.m. in Community Hall. The featured movie is Going in Style (2017), and popcorn, shamrock cookies and drinks will be provided. Bring your own camping chair if you prefer lounging. Cost is $5 per person. There is no need to register. Adventurers events are open to those 60 and up.
Adventurers Chicago trip
The Wilshire Adventurers will travel to Chicago, Grand Rapids and Mackinac Island on Sept. 1–8. The week-long trip will begin with three nights in downtown Chicago, a river cruise, a lake cruise and history and arts tours. The group will then travel to Grand Rapids to see the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum and Meijer Gardens before heading to Mackinac Island for three nights. Find details at wilshirebc.org/registration or in a brochure available in the main office. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with only 50 seats available.
New here?
■ Coffee and Conversation with Senior Pastor George Mason will be held Sunday, March 20, 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, March 27, at 10 a.m. in the Prayer Room (1100B).
■ Questions about these events? Contact Carolyn Murray at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
Date set for Spaghetti Lunch and Silent Auction
The annual Youth Choir Spaghetti Lunch and Silent Auction will be held Sunday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be the main fundraiser for the Youth Choir’s summer mission tour to Denver. More details to come.
Health screenings, March 17
New Year’s resolutions may be forgotten by now, but it’s still a good time to plan ahead for good health in 2022. Life Line Screening will be at Wilshire on Thursday, March 17, to offer five screenings: carotid artery; heart rhythm; abdominal aortic aneurysm; peripheral arterial disease (poor lower-body circulation); and osteoporosis. Flyers with more details are available in the main office. Make a reservation at http://llsa.social/HSC or call 1-888-653-6450. How often should one have this screening? If the findings are normal, every three to four years is sufficient. If there are indications of problems, more frequent screenings may be indicated. If you have questions, contact Parish Nurse Linda Garner at 214-452-3151 or lgarner@wilshirebc.org.
Children’s Ministry interns sought
Wilshire is offering two paid ($12/hr.) Children’s Ministry internships this summer. Internships will run May 23 to July 31 or May 31 to Aug. 7, and will entail 25 to 30 hours weekly plus a four-day overnight camp. Interns will work with church staff and volunteers on programs including Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Preteen Camp and special events. Most hours will be weekday mornings and Sunday mornings. Hours are flexible except for camp dates. Candidates should have completed at least one but preferably two or more years of college and have experience working with children and a desire to explore the opportunity to serve in a ministry position. To learn more, contact Minister to Children Julie Girards at jgirards@wilshirebc.org.
Volunteer for Friday Friends
Friday Friends needs volunteers to engage one-on-one with individuals living with early-stage dementia at the group’s twice-monthly meetings. No experience necessary. Training is available. For more information, contact Marilyn Morgan at jakermo@gmail.com or 214-662-9451.
Piano Affinity Group, March 27
The meeting of Wilshire’s Piano Affinity Group scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 27, has been postponed to Sunday, March 27, at 4 p.m. in McIver Chapel. To learn more about the group, contact Max Tucker at 214-215-3766.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
■ The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets in the Parlor monthly at 6:30 p.m. On March 8, the group will discuss A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. 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 April 7, the group will discuss Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. Contact: Abbey Adcox (aadcox@wilshirebc.org).
CBF General Assembly
Registration is open for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s 2022 General Assembly, which will be held in Dallas June 28–30. CBF is Wilshire’s primary global partner for missions and ministry, and General Assembly is CBF’s annual gathering for learning, worship, inspiration and fellowship. Sessions will be held at the Hyatt Regency downtown. Learn more and register at cbf.net/general-assembly.
Wednesday Night Live – March 9
Family Dinner is back!
5 p.m. • Community Hall. We are once again offering tables in Community Hall for on-site dining on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Bring your own food or, better yet, order Koinonia Cafe To Go. Drinks and dessert will be provided by the church.
Music, Missions and More
6 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.
Embracing Beauty with the Residents
6 p.m. • March 9, 23 & 30, April 13 • Parlor. Join Wilshire’s pastoral residents as they explore our Lenten theme using the paintings of van Gogh as inspiration.
Looking ahead
■ March 16: No activities (Spring Break).
■ April 6: First Wednesday: Called to Care all-ages service project.
Childcare is offered, 6–7 p.m., for infants to 2-year-olds whose parents are involved in church activities.
Embracing Beauty
Lent 2022
This season of Lent, we will practice embracing beauty together. Vincent van Gogh spent his life embracing beauty and rendering it with a paintbrush. He was deeply familiar with both the sorrow of human existence and the wonder of creation. His paintings will guide us through the season as we celebrate the lengthening of the light — as well as the looming shadow of the cross. As we journey through this Lenten season, may we commit to looking closer at the world around us — imagining what the world could be if we simply committed to making it more beautiful with the love of Christ.
Devotional Guide
Join the Wilshire family as we journey toward Easter using Vincent van Gogh and the Beauty of Lent. In this new devotional, the words of Scripture and the paintings of van Gogh will be our guides, and each entry includes powerful practices to try on your own or with others. Download the guide as a PDF at wilshirebc.org/lent or pick up a printed copy from the church office. The PDF has links to online images of the referenced paintings.
Embracing Beauty with the Residents
Wednesdays, March 9, 23 & 30, April 13 at 6 p.m. • Parlor. Join Wilshire’s pastoral residents as they help us prepare our hearts for Holy Week. In each session, a resident will facilitate a spiritual practice and conversation using the paintings of van Gogh as inspiration. Postcard-sized prints of the paintings will be available to take home for further reflection. The residents will also expand from the weekly written meditations available through the Vincent van Gogh and the Beauty of Lent devotional guide. We will expand our imagination and practice embracing God’s beauty in this season of repentance and reflection.
Spotify Playlist
Wilshire has created an eclectic Lenten 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/lent.
Churchwide outing to immersive van Gogh exhibit
As part of our Lenten exploration of Vincent van Gogh, Wilshire will take a group outing to the Immersive van Gogh Exhibit at Lighthouse ArtSpace on Saturday, April 16. This cutting-edge digital experience utilizes animation and large-scale projections of the artist’s work, and has been called a completely new way of encountering art. The cost is $43 per ticket, and a bus will depart from the church at 2 p.m. for a 3 p.m. entry to the exhibit, which takes 60 to 90 minutes to enjoy. Reserve your spot at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Holy Week Videos
A brief devotional video will be released each day of Holy Week on Wilshire’s YouTube channel and social media platforms.
Maundy Thursday service
April 14, 7:30 p.m. • Sanctuary. Featuring Sanctuary Choir’s presentation of “The Seven Last Words” by John Michael Trotta.
Easter Sunday, April 17
■ Sunrise Service, 6:30 a.m., T.P. Hill
at White Rock Lake.
■ Worship in the Sanctuary, 9 and 11 a.m.
■ Service of Remembrance in the Columbarium, 10 a.m.
■ The Flowering Cross. Stop by anytime Easter Sunday and place flowers in the wire-framed cross outside the Sanctuary near Abrams Road.