Preparing for worship

Transcription

1 Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost November 11, 2018

2 Preparing for worship The home where I grew up was full of faith, love and laughter. It began with my parents, who committed themselves to God and one another, then allowed their abundance of love to overflow into me and my sisters. They took us to church, where the generosity of a cloud of witnesses nurtured and shaped our lives. The generosity of Sunday School teachers, choir directors, pastors, my parents friends in the 2x2 Sunday School class, youth volunteers and peers modeled for me the joys and struggles of living the Christian life. We celebrated baptisms, rejoiced in confirmations. We cried at memorial services and shared deep grief and pain when tragedies befell families in the church. It was all lived out in front of me how to love large, how to allow God s abundance to flow through my life, sustain me in times of heartbreak and dance with me in times of exaltation. The generosity of these faithful people not just in giving of their money, but of their time, their talents and even of their struggles allowed me to grow in the faith that God s abundance is in the hearts of God s people. When the surgeon came out and told our family there was nothing they could do to remove the cancer from my father s body, we were devastated. Dad was one of the most loving, faithful and generous people you could ever know, and I m not just saying that because he was my dad. In the last moments of his life he gave me what may be a most precious gift faith and laughter. See Jesus were his last words to my mom in the early dawn, as my sisters and I were dozing near his bedside. As we gathered closer, laying hands on him, he took his last, very LOUD breath, startling us all into laughter, and I knew in my core he gave us a gift faith and laughter. It s who he was. At the house, following his service, a friend of my parents summed up my dad s spirit of generosity. He said, You never left a conversation with your dad without feeling better about yourself. My dad had spent his life sharing God s abundance, overflowing to others. Thanks to the great cloud of witnesses of faith, I knew how to grieve the loss of my dad and how to celebrate the life he had lived. Generosity is a mindset, a worldview, a heart perspective out of which one lives their life. As you prepare for worship today, I invite you to reflect on those who have been generous to you. Reflect on ways you can let go of fear and share. Be generous not only in sharing the joyful times, but in sharing the struggles, the heart-wrenching moments. Perhaps in those moments, another will be allowed to offer generosity. Seek this service to be filled with the abundance of God s Spirit so that your heart is transformed to know God s abundance. Vanessa Vaughter Wilshire Baptist Church 4316 Abrams Road Dallas, Texas (214) Partnered with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Building a Community of Faith Shaped by the Spirit of Jesus Christ ON THE COVER: The Peasant Wedding, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1567, currently housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. 2

3 November 11, :30 and 11:00 a.m. Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost Chiming of the Hour The people of Wilshire gather this morning to worship God. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers and alarm watches. Prelude Down to the River to Pray arr. McGinty Wilshire Winds Shana Gaines, director Opening Sentences on Psalm 37 Shannon Nadalini / Jennifer Wagner Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and the Lord will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in the Lord, and the Lord will act. The Lord will make your vindication shine like the light and the justice of your cause like the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently. +Hymn 570 Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus trust in jesus Bill Jernberg, piano Greeting to Worshipers Jakob Topper Guests are invited to take a Response Card from the pew rack, complete it and place it in the offering plate when it is passed later in the service. You also are invited to take the red fabric rose from the card and place it on your lapel or blouse to help others identify that you are our honored guest today. Prayer concerns will be received and prayed for this week when listed on an intercessory prayer card from the pew rack and placed in the offering plate. Epistle Reading Acts 2:42 47 Kile Brown / Christie Michie They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. *8:30 worship service / **11:00 worship service +All congregants who are able are invited to stand. Hearing devices are available in the Narthex and South Atrium. 3

4 Conversation on Community Prayers of the People Mark Wingfield Heather Mustain / Julie Girards +Hymn 271 Christian People, Sing Together jubilee Giving of Tithes and Offerings When you give to Wilshire s Unified Budget, you create community among diverse people through Sunday School classes, choirs, programs for all ages, fellowships and missions projects, just to name a few. Your gifts make it possible for everyone to participate in the Wilshire community of faith regardless of income or status. Offertory Sanctus arr. Curnow Wilshire Winds +Offertory Response old 100th Our God is making all things new, a promise that we know is true. Through eyes of faith we long to see a love-transformed community. A place where truth and justice reign and healing triumphs over pain, Where all have dignity and worth and peace is passed throughout the earth. Old Testament Reading Deuteronomy 15:7 11 Kevin Cabaniss / Britt McClung If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking, The seventh year, the year of remission, is near, and therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Anthem *Prayer of the Children arr. Klouse Shekinah Can you hear the prayer of the children on bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room? Empty eyes with no more tears to cry turning heavenward toward the light. Cryin, Jesus, help me to see the mornin light of one more day, but if I should die before I wake, I pray my soul to take. 4

5 Can you feel the hearts of the children aching for home, for something of their very own. Reaching hands with nothing to hold on to but hope for a better day, a better day. Cryin, Jesus help me to feel the love again in my own land, but if unknown roads lead away from home, give me loving arms, away from harm. Can you hear the voice of the children softly pleading for silence in their shattered world? Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate, blood of the innocent on their hands. Cryin, Jesus help me to feel the sun again upon my face. For when darkness clears, I know you re near, bringing peace again. Dali čŭje te sve dječje molitve? Can you hear the prayer of the children? Kurt Bestor **My Hope is Built Sanctuary Choir arr. Trenney My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found; Dressed in his righteousness, alone, faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. Message The Power of a Generous Community Meredith Stone Third in a series on Generosity +Hymn 272 They ll Know We Are Christians st. brendan s Sharing of Decisions Benediction Postlude Trumpet Tune on jubilee arr. Brummel The flowers on the chancel today are given in honor of our choirs, who lift our spirits with song every week. All guests are invited to a coffee reception in the James Gallery immediately after the service. 5

6 Meet today s worship leaders Kile Brown and his wife, Leigh Ann, came to Wilshire in They are the parents of two adult daughters, Chelsea and Alison, and a son, Blake, a high school senior. Kile is a deacon and teaches youth Sunday School. He works in communications sales and development. Kevin Cabaniss grew up at Wilshire and is married to Carol. They are the parents of Peyton, a student at the University of Texas; Tanner, a high school senior; and Trace, a high school freshman. Kevin is a deacon, serves on the Building & Grounds Committee, sings in Sanctuary Choir, plays with Carillon Ringers and teaches fifth grade Sunday School. He works as vice president for legal affairs and general counsel at Airbus Helicopters. Britt McClung and his wife, Carole, joined Wilshire in They are the parents of Ava, a high school freshman; Miriam, a fifth grader; and Ruby, a second grader. Britt and Carole are members of Genesis Class, and he teaches Globetrekkers on Wednesdays. He is a litigation partner at the law firm Hedrick Kring. Christie Michie and her husband, Iain, came to Wilshire in They are members of Seekers Class but she teaches preschool Sunday School. Christie and Iain are the parents of Duncan, an eighth grader, and Staff contacts George A. Mason Senior Pastor (214) Mark Wingfield Associate Pastor (214) Doug Haney Minister of Music (214) Jeff Brummel Associate Minister of Music/ Organist (214) Tiffany Wright Minister for Care Ministries (214) Heather Mustain Minister of Missions & Advocacy (214) Jessica Capps Minister to Senior Adults (214) Darren DeMent Minister to Students and Young Adults (214) Julie Girards Minister to Children (214) Joan Hammons Minister to Preschoolers (214) Jakob Topper McIver Fellow (214) Aaron Coyle-Carr Pastoral Resident (214) Finn and Claire, who are fourth graders. Christi teaches at Mountainview College and is a substitute teacher in Richardson ISD. Shannon Nadalini grew up at Wilshire and now is raising her own family here. She is the daughter of Pagett Gosslee. She and her husband, Jim, are parents of four boys: Taubert, an actor in Los Angeles; Travis, a student at Sewanee; Austin, a high school senior; and Alex, a high school sophomore. Shannon is a deacon, sings in Sanctuary Choir, is a member of Avodah Class and teaches the 3-year-old choir. She teaches fourth grade at St. Mark s. Meredith Stone serves as assistant professor of Scripture and ministry at Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin- Simmons University. She earned the bachelor of arts degree in Bible and the master of arts degree in religion at Hardin-Simmons and a Ph.D. in philosophy and biblical interpretations at TCU s Brite Divinity School. Jennifer Wagner has been a Wilshire member since She is married to Ed, and they are the parents of Noah, a seventh grader, Hadyn, a fourth grader, and Elly, a third grader. Jennifer and Ed are members of Avodah Class. Matt Dodrill Pastoral Resident (214) Jared Jaggers Pastoral Resident (214) Ryan Wilson Pastoral Resident (214) David Nabors Director of Business Admin. (214) Dale Pride Facilities Manager (214) J. Preston Bright Associate Pastor Emeritus To any staff member, use the first letter of the first name combined with the full last name and

7 Wilshire calendar Sunday, November 11 Interfaith trip to Israel Morning worship 8:30 a.m. Wilshire Welcome 9:40 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Choir lunch noon Connections Class noon Library Committee noon Finance Committee noon Weekday Ed. Comm. noon Costume fitting for One Starry Night noon Sanctuary Choir 12:45 p.m. Nova 2:30 p.m. Deacon Nominating Committee 2:30 p.m. One Starry Night puzzle project 3:00 p.m. Youth Choir 4:00 p.m. Carillon Ringers 4:00 p.m. Paradiso 5:00 p.m. Shekinah 5:30 p.m. Monday, November 12 Game of 42 10:00 a.m. Fall prevention class 10:30 a.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Costume fitting for One Starry Night 5:00 p.m. Wilshire Winds 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 13 Stephen Ministry leaders meeting noon Yoga class 12:15 p.m. Building and Grounds Committee 6:00 p.m. One Starry Night puzzle project 6:30 p.m. JazzStand on Abrams 7:00 p.m. WOW! Tuesday Night Book Club 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 14 New Song 9:30 a.m. Adopt a Book 10:30 a.m. Gentle Voices 11:00 a.m. Koinonia Café 11:00 a.m. Bible Study noon Wilshire Adventurers Committee 1:15 p.m. Adopt a Book 2:00 p.m. Children s handbells 5:00 p.m. Koinonia Café 5:00 p.m. Adopt a Book 5:00 p.m. Music & Missions 6:00 p.m. Boys Will Be Boys 6:00 p.m. Praying the Labyrinth 6:00 p.m. Gallery Café 6:00 p.m. The Enneagram Journey 6:00 p.m. Yoga class 6:15 p.m. Watershed 6:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 15 Knit Unto Others 1:30 p.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 17 Youth Fall Retreat Sunday, November 18 Youth Fall Retreat Morning worship 8:30 a.m. Diana Butler Bass book signing 9:30 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Meet and greet with guests noon Thanksgiving Luncheon noon Nova 2:30 p.m. Carillon Ringers 4:00 p.m. Monday, November 19 Game of 42 10:00 a.m. Fall prevention class 10:30 a.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Costume fitting for One Starry Night 5:00 p.m. One Starry Night puzzle project 6:30 p.m. Wilshire Winds 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 20 Yoga class 12:15 p.m. Stephen Ministry supervision 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 21 No Wednesday activities Thursday, November 22 Church closed in observance of Thanksgiving Day Friday, November 23 Church closed in observance of Thanksgiving Day Sunday, November 25 Morning worship 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Wilshire Welcome 9:40 a.m. Coffee and Conversation with George 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Meet and greet with guests noon Nova 2:30 p.m. Youth Choir 4:00 p.m. Paradiso 5:00 p.m. Shekinah 5:30 p.m. 7

8 The Wilshire Tapestry gender? Does it enforce healthy or unhealthy habits for young boys? All Wednesday night classes begin at 6 p.m. Decorate Sanctuary with poinsettias Thanksgiving luncheon Wilshire s longstanding tradition of a churchwide Thanksgiving dinner will continue this year as a luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 18. This is a great time for Sunday School classes, friends and others to sit together and enjoy fellowship. A Thanksgiving buffet with all the traditional foods will be offered in Community Hall at noon with reserved seating. Tickets are on sale now in the front office. Cost is $9 for adults, $6 for children 10 and under, with a maximum charge of $30 for immediate families. Bestselling author Diana Butler Bass will offer brief words about the power of gratitude to shape us into thankful people. This Wednesday evening at Wilshire Two short-term adult classes will be offered this Wednesday night, Nov. 14 Jeff Hampton will reprise a study titled Praying the Labyrinth. Ever wonder what s up with that unusual swirl of decorative pavement at the north end of Wilshire s Columbarium? Come learn how and why this ancient spiritual practice is relevant today. This week only, Nov. 14, Matt Dodrill will teach Boys Will Be Boys : A Conversation on Toxic Masculinity. We hear it on the playground, in the grocery store and in the schools: Boys will be boys. But what do we mean when we say this? What prompts it? What does it assume about Help decorate Wilshire s Sanctuary with poinsettias for the upcoming Advent season. Each year, the festive flowers are provided by congregants in honor or in memory of loved ones, friends, family members and teachers. All dedications will be listed in the worship folder on the second Sunday of Advent. Each plant costs $10. Donors are invited to take the plants home after the Christmas Eve services. Place your order using forms available in the church office or online at wilshirebc.org/ registration. Deadline is Sunday, Dec. 2. Generosity update As of Oct. 31, gifts to Wilshire s Unified Budget totaled $2,996,260, which was $216,740 or about 6.7 percent below projected revenue for the period. By comparison, gifts to the Unified Budget through October 2017 totaled $2,931,490, which was about 11.7 percent below projected revenue for that period. Expenses through October 2018 totaled $3,350,014, creating a year-todate operating deficit of $353,754. Designated gifts for specific missions and ministries totaled $97,529. The current value of the George A. Mason Pathways to Ministry Endowment stands at $4,570,478, with $55,624 given toward the endowment thus far this year. Thinking ahead to year-end giving Each year, a number of Wilshire members give year-end contributions to the church from appreciated assets. If you would like to know more about arranging a gift of stocks or other Keep up with all the Wilshire news at wilshirebc.org or by using our Wilshire app or via social media. Worship is live streamed every Sunday at 11:00. 8

9 assets, contact David Nabors, director of business administration, at (214) Also, if you are age 70½ or older, there s a way to support Wilshire s ministry that might be advantageous to you. It s called a Qualified Charitable Distribution. If you have an IRA with a Required Minimum Distribution, you may be able to make charitable contributions and lower your income for tax purposes at the same time. This previously temporary provision is now a permanent part of the tax code. Talk to your broker or CPA, or call David Nabors. Koinonia Café Nov. 14: Braised burgundy beef, citrus-grilled chicken, red potatoes, egg noodles, broccoli, green beans with bacon, salad bar, dessert bar. Condolences to: Joyce Ehrenberger, former Wilshire member, on the death of her husband, Josef Ehrenberger, Aug. 5. Jeff Lewis on the death of his sister-in-law, Jacque. Chad and Allison Brown on the death of Chad s father, Rodney Brown, Oct. 31. Pies for a Purpose Do you love pie? Do you love helping others? Here s a deal for you. Four Wilshire youth are working together to earn the funds to support their attendance at summer church Youth Choir mission tour and youth camp. Their goal is to work to raise these funds so that they are not dependent on scholarships. Together with Paula Woodbury, they have created a plan to bake pecan and pumpkin pies for the holidays, with 100 percent of the profits supporting their summer church activities. Pie orders will be taken through Sunday, Nov. 18. The pies will be baked fresh in Paula s home on Nov. 19 and 20 and available for pick-up Nov. 21. To order, send an with name, address, phone number and your pie order to: pies4apurpose@gmail.com. Pecan pies are $20, and pumpkin pies are $15. Lifetouch photo pickups If you were to receive a free 8x10 portrait from Lifetouch and did not order other photos, your free print is ready for pickup in the church office. Please stop by and take yours. JazzStand Nov. 13 The November JazzStand on Abrams concert is this week, Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Come hear the John Adams Quartet play originals and original arrangements. The quartet is John Adams, bass; Noel Johnston, guitar; Peter Rioux, piano; and Sean McCurley, drums. The concert is free and open to the public. Advent of Jazz Dec. 4 The annual Advent of Jazz series sponsored by JazzStand on Abrams will kick off with A Williams and Wallace Christmas on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This will be a CD-release concert featuring vocalists Andrea Wallace and Garry Williams. The band will include Allen Cato, guitar; Shaun Martin, piano; Jerome Allen, bass; Jamil Byrom, drums. The event is free. Save the date Wilshire s annual Hanging of the Green Advent service will be held on Sunday evening, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m., featuring Sanctuary Choir, Nova, Youth Choir, Shekinah, Carillon Ringers, Youth Handbells and Young Musicians. One Starry Night Mark Friday night, Dec. 14, on your calendar and plan to participate in One Starry Night at Wilshire. Community Hall will be transformed into the village of Bethlehem, with shops, tradesmen, food and storytelling about the whispered birth of a special baby. This event is especially suited for children with families but is fun for all ages. Bring friends and family and neighbors. One Starry Night will be open from 6:30 to 9 p.m. 9

10 The Wilshire Tapestry Story Bibles available Wilshire s preschool ministry will sell the Growing in God s Love story Bible during the month of November for $10 each. This story Bible is designed for preschoolers and children up to 8 years of age. This Bible could be used for families to read together and is a great Christmas gift for grandparents to buy for their grandchildren. Find the Bibles at the table between the preschool hallway and Library. Free event at SMU Everyone is invited to attend a free event featuring Brian McLaren and Sandra Van Opstal at Highland Park United Methodist Church on Monday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The service is sponsored by SMU s Perkins School of Theology and is part of the annual Perkins Fall Convocation. The topic of the evening will be, How Can Worship Save or Destroy the Planet? McLaren is a noted author and speaker whose most recent book is The Great Spiritual Migration. Van Opstal is a pastor at Grace and Peace Community on the West side of Chicago. She is a preacher, liturgist and activist re-imagining the intersection of worship and justice. Next Sunday in worship We welcome to the Wilshire pulpit on Nov. 18 author Diana Butler Bass, who also will make comments at the noon Thanksgiving luncheon in Community Hall. On Monday evening, Nov. 19, she will speak at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in downtown Dallas. That event is free and open to the public. Diana is a renowned scholar of American religion and an award-winning writer on the intersection of religion and culture. She will speak about a new paradigm for social and political relationships that is based in a spiritual understanding of gratitude and shared communal life, with a goal to bring people together in these contentious times. 10 Women s Brown Bag Book Club Bring a dish to share for the holiday potluck and join book discussions from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 1205-L. No reservation required, and guests are always welcome. The book for Dec. 13 is Two Sisters, by Asne Seierstad. Spring break mission trip This year s spring break mission trip to Shaw, Miss., will be March A team from Wilshire will work with our missions partner, Delta Hands for Hope, to lead a children s camp, complete a few manual-labor projects and tour important Civil Rights locations. Families are encouraged to participate on this trip together, as children of all ages are welcome. The average cost of the trip per person is $220. Contact Heather Mustain at hmustain@wilshirebc.org or (214) Reading Partners service opportunity Jill Stone Elementary in Vickery Meadow has reached out to Wilshire for help beginning a Reading Partners program. Reading Partners mobilizes communities to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade. This is an important opportunity for us to continue to advocate and meet the needs of children in our community while deepening our commitment to public education. Currently, 41 children at Jill Stone are awaiting reading tutors. Do you have one hour a week to give to the children at Jill Stone? For more information, contact Heather Mustain at hmustain@wilshirebc.org or (214) Education trip to Tanzania A summer 2019 trip to Tanzania is being planned with the African Inland Church of Tanzania. This trip will focus on teacher training to help teachers at the local school in Nyamakombu, Tanzania. Contact Heather Mustain if you are interested in receiving more information as it develops. The average cost of the trip per person is $2,900, and scholarship assistance is available so that no person called to serve will be excluded based on financial need.

11 Brunch and Learn with A Christmas Story All ages are invited to a special performance of the touring Broadway musical A Christmas Story at the Winspear Opera House on Thursday, Dec. 13. The group will depart from the church on a chartered motor coach at 8:30 a.m. and return around 2 p.m. Cost is $35 per person and includes the show, a pre-show conversation with the cast and brunch. To sign up, contact Mark Wingfield at mwingfield@ wilshirebc.org. The musical is based on the popular film of the same name. Adventurers Christmas luncheon Signups are now open for the Wilshire Adventurers Christmas luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 11:30 a.m. in Community Hall. Seasonal entertainment will be provided by local vocalist Linda Petty. The luncheon menu is maple-pecan-glazed chicken breast with cranberrymint chutney; sweet potato cornbread dressing; citrus-glazed green beans; mixed green salad; cheesecake with chocolate sauce or gingerbread bread pudding. Cost is $18 per person. Sign up with Pat Tilley at the Adventurers table in Community Hall on Wednesdays at noon or in the South Lobby on Sunday mornings. Audition for spring musical Wilshire s 2019 Faith in 3-D production will be scenes from Pompeii!!, a new musical created by local artists Cameron Cobb, Michael Federico and Max Hartman. Faith in 3-D combines drama, dialogue and dessert in a free event over two nights. This show, which has received one of the Dramatist Guild Foundation s 10 inaugural Writers Alliance Grants, is styled in the tradition of vaudeville and features the citizens of Pompeii singing, dancing and joking in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Auditions will be held Nov. 26 and 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. Rehearsals will be scheduled on an individual basis beginning the week of Jan. 7. Both men and women are encouraged to apply to audition by Nov. 19. Find the application at wilshirebc.org/registration. Upcoming Wednesday night classes Come and Go Advent Wreath Craft Class, Nov. 28, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Adults are invited to stop by and make an Advent Wreath that you can take home and use during the Advent season. All supplies will be provided, and there is no charge for this churchwide craft opportunity. Cookie Decorating Class with Chef Elizabeth, Dec. 5, 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. This class is limited to 10 adults, and you must RSVP by Dec 1 to twright@ wilshirebc.org. Chef Elizabeth will exhibit royal icing cookie decoration techniques. Come learn by watching her years of mastering skills. Adults will learn how to make icing and walk away with cookies to take home as well as a cookie and icing recipe. The class is free. Adopt a Book is back Once again, the Wilshire Library will offer new books for adoption into the permanent collection in honor or in memory of those designated by donors. Select from adult, children s or youth books at discounted prices. All adopted books will be placed in the Library s collection with gift plates recognizing leaders and teachers of your choice or in honor or memory of a loved one. Visit the Adopt a Book table on Wednesday, Nov. 14, in James Gallery from 2 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7:30 p.m., and in Community Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 11 Gratefulness, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 6:00 to 6:50 p.m. Join the pastoral residents for a discussion of Diana Butler Bass s new book, Grateful. Diana will be at Wilshire Nov. 18, so this conversation will follow her preaching and dialogue on that Thanksgiving Sunday. Children s Choirs Christmas Program, Dec. 12, 6 to 7 p.m., in the Sanctuary. Begin the season with the music of our preschool and children s choirs and children s handbell choir. Holiday breaks. There will be no Wednesday activities on Nov. 21, Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. On Dec. 19, there will only be the noon meal and Bible study and no evening activities.

12 Holiday boxes for the homeless Wilshire families and individuals are invited to participate this year in a program of The Stewpot that uses shoebox gifts locally. You are invited to fill a shoebox with inexpensive necessity items that might make living on the streets of Dallas a little easier. Please only use boxes that have separate bottoms and lids. Gift wrap the lid and the box separately; the box should not be wrapped shut when finished. Fill the box with a variety of small, inexpensive, unisex gifts for adults only. In a separate envelope, you may enclose a holiday card or note from you or your family. Boxes will be distributed by The Stewpot and shared with community partners that also assist those in need. The contents of excess boxes may be used to supplement distributions of items throughout the year. Thank you for showing, by word and deed, you care for our friends in need. Drop-off boxes will be located in the main office and the education suite on the second floor. Please turn in your boxes between now and Nov. 30. For more information, go to the registration page on Wilshire s website. Help prepare for One Starry Night 12 Help is needed to prepare for One Starry Night, Wilshire s Christmas-season interactive Bethlehem village that is a witness to the community. Volunteers are needed to prepare nativity puzzles that will be given away to community guests who attend the Dec. 14 event. These wooden puzzles need finishing touches by coloring figures with paint pens, gluing puzzle bases together, spraying clear coat on finished items, and preparing the boxes for the puzzles. All supplies will be provided. If the puzzle activity doesn t match your skill set, help also is needed cutting yarn and gluing sticks for another One Starry Night activity, and for making homemade playdough from an easyto-follow recipe. There s something for every skill level. An added bonus for participating in these events is getting acquainted with others within our congregation as we work together to provide this special event. All helpers are invited to several come-and-go work periods. Come as you re able and stay as long as you re able. Sunday, Nov. 11 3:00-5:30 p.m. James Gallery Tuesday, Nov. 13 6:30-8:30 p.m. James Gallery Monday, Nov. 19 6:30-8:30 p.m. James Gallery Tuesday, Nov. 27 6:30-8:30 p.m. James Gallery Wednesdays 1:00-2:30 p.m. Room 2221

13 Six ways to support Wilshire s mission 1. In worship: Place your cash or check (payable to Wilshire Baptist Church) in the offering plate during any of our worship services. 2. By mail: Send to Lori Gooden, Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams Road, Dallas TX, Please write on your check if it is intended for the Unified Budget or another purpose. 3. Online: Schedule a recurring or one-time gift charged to either your debit or credit card or directly as an ACH from your checking account. Visit wilshirebc.org/give (be sure you have enabled cookies on your phone or tablet) or scan the QR Code in today s order of worship. 4. Automatic bank pay: Go to your bank s website, log in to your individual bank account and follow your bank s instructions to set up Wilshire as a new payee. Your bank will print and cut a check. 5. Text: Using your smartphone, text WILSHIRE and the dollar amount (example: WILSHIRE 50) to 73256, then follow the link that pops up. The first time you use this option, you will enter credit card and contact information. All text gifts will be applied to the Unified Budget. 6. Wilshire app: Download the Wilshire app from the App Store or Google Play to make gifts easily from your phone or tablet. 13

14 Wilshire is among the sponsors of an upcoming Red Letter Revival in Dallas. Everyone is invited to attend on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16 and 17. There will be daily workshops on leading for justice from the heart of the gospel, followed by revival worship each evening beginning at 6 p.m. All events will be held at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church, 5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway. Register now for free at A movement of Jesus and justice, Red Letter Christians bring the words of Jesus to today s most important issues. The movement was co-founded by Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne, who will be among the keynote speakers. Shane Claiborne is a best-selling author, activist, speaker and self-proclaimed recovering sinner. He writes and speaks about peacemaking, social justice and Jesus and is the author of numerous books including The Irresistible Revolution, Jesus for President, Executing Grace and Beating Guns. William Barber II is president and senior lecturer of Repairers of the Breach. He serves as cochair of the Poor People s Campaign: A National Call For Moral Revival. He is visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary and pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, N.C. He is the architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement that gained national acclaim with its Moral Monday protests at the North Carolina General Assembly in He is an author and public speaker following in the footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr. Alicia Crosby is a Chicago-based justice educator, minister and activist whose work addresses the spiritual, systemic and interpersonal harm people experience. She helps individuals, communities and institutions explore topics related to identity, intersectional equity and inclusivity. A native New Yorker, she leads the nonprofit Center for Inclusivity. 14 Alexia Salvatierra is the author with Peter Heltzel of Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World and founder of the Faith-Rooted Organizing UnNetwork. She is a Lutheran pastor with 40 years of experience in congregational and community ministry, including church-based service and community development programs, congregational/ community organizing and legislative advocacy. She serves as affiliate faculty for the Centro Latino and School of Intercultural Studies for Fuller Theological Seminary and as adjunct faculty in at Eastern University and Azusa Pacific University.

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16 Holiday donation and volunteer opportunities Thanksgiving Wilkinson Center: Turkey basket collection Thursday, Nov. 15 Provide a turkey basket and deliver to the church Nov. 15 between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Our goal is to collect 75 complete baskets. Help also needed to collect baskets and load them onto a U-Haul at the church. White Rock Center of Hope: Canned food collection Sunday, Nov. 18 Take a brown bag with a list of canned food items and fill it. Bags can be turned in to the main office between now and Friday, Nov. 16. Gateway of Grace: Thanksgiving Feast Thanksgiving Day Donate food or gift cards, which may be dropped off at church and Heather Mustain will deliver. Help also needed to provide transportation to refugee families the morning of Thanksgiving. Cornerstone Baptist Church: Thanksgiving Feast Thanksgiving Day Serve a meal to those experiencing homelessness the morning of Thanksgiving at Cornerstone Kitchen. Volunteers (ages 12+) will check in at 11 a.m. and serve through 1 p.m. Heather Mustain at hmustain@wilshirebc.org to reserve your spots. Christmas Giving Tree in James Gallery Nov. 25 through Dec. 9 Pick a tag off the tree from one of our local missions partners, purchase the suggested items and return them to the church unwrapped. Wilkinson Center: Christmas Store Saturday, Dec. 15 Help out at the Wilkinson Center s Christmas Store (ages 12+). Gateway of Grace: Christmas Party Saturday, Dec. 15 Donate food or gift cards. Or provide transportation to a refugee family the morning of the party. Cornerstone Baptist Church: Christmas Eve lunch Serve a meal to those experiencing homelessness the morning of Christmas Eve at Cornerstone Kitchen. Heather Mustain at hmustain@ wilshirebc.org to reserve your spot. The Stewpot: Holiday shoeboxes for the homeless through Dec. 17 Wilshire will put together shoeboxes for the homeless and will deliver to the Stewpot downtown. See the details on page 12 or Julie Girards at jgirards@wilshirebc.org for more information. We will collect through December 17th. 16