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Blessing of the Backpacks
Sunday, Aug. 15 • 9 & 11 a.m. services
The annual Blessing of the Backpacks will be held during both worship services on Sunday, Aug. 15. Children are encouraged to bring their backpacks or school bags to church, and during each service they will be invited to the front of the Sanctuary to receive a blessing for themselves, their teachers and parents as the new school year begins.
Restroom construction continues
Construction continues to enlarge the first-floor restrooms near the library. 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. The library is open as usual during construction.
Dot Laux party canceled
The birthday party for Dot Laux scheduled for Aug. 21 in Community Hall has been canceled due to concerns around the Delta variant and the challenges it presents to throwing the party Dot deserves. Photos are still being collected to create a special video and should be sent to dotlaux101@yahoo.com. Wish Dot a happy 101st birthday when you see her at church.
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.
Love Your Neighbor Class
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 Wilshire members, but anyone is welcome. Stephen Reeves will be the guest speaker for Love Your Neighbor 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 work for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship since 2013. To get the Zoom link, send an email to loveyourneighbor@wilshirebc.org.
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 Aug. 22, 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.
Volunteer opportunity
Pamper Lake Highlands needs adult (18+) volunteers to assist in its preschool program Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30–11:30 a.m. Pamper Lake Highlands strengthens the community by empowering women and children to break the cycle of poverty. Contact: Abbey Adcox at aadcox@wilshirebc.org.
Women of Wilshire book clubs
• The WOW! Tuesday Evening Book Club meets in the Parlor monthly at 6 p.m. On Aug. 10 the group will discuss Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. 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).
New pastoral residents start
Wilshire’s next class of pastoral residents started work Monday, Aug. 2. Brianna Childs graduated in May with a Master of Divinity degree from Baylor University’s Truett Seminary and a Master of Social Work degree from Baylor’s Garland School of Social Work. John Kelly graduated in June with a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. They join Jenna Sullivan and Ashley Robinson to form the 2021-22 pastoral resident cohort. Each Wilshire resident is connected with an adult Sunday School class that serves to directly support them during the two-year term. John’s support class is Avodah while Brianna will be supported by Compass.
Curbside takeout extended through August!
The resumption of Wednesday in-person dining has been postponed as we consider extra COVID-19 precautions. Wilshire’s Koinonia Café To Go will therefore continue to be available for online ordering and curbside pickup every Wednesday through Aug. 25.
Christian Advocacy Committee events
Remembering Black Dallas Freedman’s Town Bus Tour
Saturday, Aug. 28 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Remembering Black Dallas is a local nonprofit that preserves and promotes the African American life, history, artifacts and culture of Dallas. This chartered tour will explore several Freedman towns in Dallas County and suburban areas, highlighting the importance of these settlements that were created by force during reconstruction. Participants will be led through a journey of how the landscape and racial divide came to be in Dallas County. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration.
Depolarizing Conversations About Race
Monday, Sept. 13, 6 – 9 p.m., Community Hall. Facilitated by Braver Angels, this event is described as 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: Want to communicate more constructively about race and public policy. Believe in the equal worth and dignity of persons of all races. Are concerned about our nation’s problems with race and want to see progress. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration. We hope to offer a light dinner at 5:30 p.m. by reservation.
Save the Date for Families in Politics
Monday, Nov. 8, 6 – 9 p.m., Community Hall. If you want to preserve important family bonds while still being true to your values and political beliefs, this workshop is for you! Although the focus is on family relationships, you can use strategies in this workshop with any loved one. You’ll laugh and have some fun in this workshop — it won’t be all serious. After all, we all come from quirky families.
Wilshire aids migrant efforts
Wilshire was one of 16 faith groups or organizations to provide compassionate hospitality to 38 individuals from Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti as they arrived in Dallas from Del Rio, Texas, last week.
The goal was to make sure migrants were successfully united with their sponsors or connected to the next stage of their journey. Dozens of volunteers shared their time and goodwill in order to facilitate the process.
Some of the activities were: scheduling and managing volunteers, which was done by Wilshire member Mary Lu Hare; personally greeting each guest; assisting with the intake process; driving and escorting guests to the airport and bus station; helping develop guests’ travel plans; entertaining children with kids’ activities; providing expert medical consultation; supplying health and hygiene needs; identifying immigration consultation; engaging youth in preparing complimentary backpacks; arranging food for guests requiring overnight stays and travel; sharing time in conversations with guests.
Rangers outing a hit
From Carolyn Murray, coordinator of congregational life: “The churchwide outing to Globe Life Field on Aug. 1 was a huge hit! After church 102 of us loaded onto two charter buses, snacked on Cracker Jacks and enjoyed being together. Once there, we ate nachos, pizza, ice cream and more — and that was just Elias DeMent. The game started out slow, but the Rangers secured a 4-3 win over the Mariners with two home runs in the bottom of the ninth. We got caught in the rain downpour making our way back to the buses, but nevertheless a good time was had by all.”
• What fun thing should we do next? Submit ideas for churchwide outings and events to
Carolyn at cmurray@wilshirebc.org.
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