Preparing for worship

Transcription

1 Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost September 2, 2018

2 Preparing for worship In 1995, the First Baptist Church in Odessa celebrated its 100th birthday. This was the church I grew up attending, where I was baptized, sang in the children s and youth choirs and was a regular in Sunday School and Training Union. So when the celebration was announced, I made plans to fly back out to West Texas and join in the festivities. Along with the singing, preaching and general fellowshiping, attendees enjoyed looking through the many pictures that had been collected from throughout the church s history. If you ever have been to Odessa and think of it as a barren landscape, let me just tell you it did not look any better in 1895, according to the early pictures. As I was walking along the rows of tables looking at the thousands of photographs, I stopped to study a congregation picture taken from the pulpit and looking out at a packed Sanctuary. It was a crystal-clear black-andwhite picture, and I began intently looking at the faces in the congregation expecting to see people I knew. But even though the focus was sharp and the faces were visible, I could not find a single person I recognized. After a while, I moved on, still thinking it odd that I didn t find a familiar face in that crowd. It was some time later, as I was still puzzling over the picture, that I thought about the faces I had expected to see. They would have been the faces of a Sunday School teacher, choir sponsor, maybe a friend s parent, or the older family matriarch who sat in the same pew for a lifetime. Even though I didn t find any of those faces, I had the growing awareness that the faces in that picture were nonetheless the faces of the people who built the church that built my faith in Christ. In the first 100 years of First Baptist, Odessa, there was a time when the folks in the picture had invested themselves in that church. They had given their time to help with the kids, serve on committees and do hospital visits. Many had been a part of Bible studies, prayer groups and mission teams. Many also were regular givers to their church, not always out of abundance, but generally with an appreciation of shared responsibility. So, I still think about those faces, and I am grateful they built a place where I could learn that God is love, that Jesus loves the little children and that the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Now, friends, it is our turn to be in the picture. Let s be fall in next Sunday, Sept. 9, for a congregational photo in worship. Ed Francis 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 Burning Bush 2018 Yoram Ranaan. Used by permission. 2

3 September 2, :30 and 11:00 a.m. Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Chiming of the Hour The people of Wilshire gather this morning to worship God. In order for this service of worship to be focused upon that purpose, please turn off all cell phones, pagers and alarm watches. Prelude Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578 J.S. Bach Opening Sentences Hart Robinson / Annette Miller We gather this morning on holy ground in a place made holy not because of brick and mortar but because we meet here to seek the Lord. It is our intent that makes this holy ground today. It is the presence of God among us that makes this holy ground today. It is the singing, praying, preaching, responding that make this holy ground today. It is the body of Christ, broken and spilled out once again, that makes this holy ground today. +Hymn 2 Come, Thou Almighty King italian hymn Greeting to Worshipers Mark Wingfield 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. Prayers of the People Matt Dodrill / Aaron Coyle-Carr Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, As we forgive those who sin against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. *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 Epistle Reading 1 Peter 4:8 11 Jessica Capps / Darren DeMent Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Celebration of the Lord s Supper Tiffany Wright / Heather Mustain All followers of Christ are invited to partake of the Lord s Supper, whether you are a Wilshire member or not. The bread used this morning is gluten-free. Passing of the Bread Amazing Grace arr. White Passing of the Cup Put Peace into Each Other s Hands arr. Brummel +The Passing of the Peace The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. +Hymn 231 Breathe on Me truett Giving of Tithes and Offerings Throughout this month, Wilshire seeks to engage every member in giving someting to the Unified Budget, regardless of amount. We hope to achieve 100 percent participation. However you are able to give, and in whatever amount you are able to give, please be part of the church at worship through stewardship. Offertory *Psalm 34: Taste and See Haugen Mike Korson Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I will bless the Lord at all times, God s praise ever in my mouth. Glory in the Lord for ever, and the lowly will hear and be glad. Glory in the Lord with me, let us together extol God s name. I sought the Lord, who answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Look to God that you might be radiant with joy, and your faces free from all shame. The Lord hears the suffering souls and saves them from all distress. 4

5 **Come Dwell in Solomon s Walls Sanctuary Choir Stroope When the final timber lay gainst the measured stones, With the doorposts in their place overlaid with gold, The Lord appeared to Solomon blessing all the house, The temple of the ark of God, pure and whole. Come dwell in Solomon s walls, Come and dwell in the house of the Lord, Where the humble bow down, seeking wisdom and strength, For the Lord dwells within and heals their land. Come dwell in Solomon s walls, Come and dwell in the house of the Lord, Where wisdom and righteousness, justice and holiness, Join at the feet of God. When the people of this house kneel and humbly pray, When they turn from dark to light and your will obey. O Lord of heaven and Lord of earth, show favor on this house, And heal, restore, forgive and bless, Lord we pray. +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 Exodus 3:1 12 Mark Eggert / Jim Nadalini Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up. When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here I am. Then he said, Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. He said further, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So 5

6 come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? He said, I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Message * Called to Serve Ryan Wilson ** Just Do It Jakob Topper +Hymn Lord, You Call Us to Your Service cwm rhondda WORDS: Wiliam H. Willimon and Stephen P. West, 2005 MUSIC: John Hughes, 1907, cwm rhondda Sharing of Decisions Benediction Postlude Postlude on italian hymn arr. Travis The flowers on the chancel today are given in honor of the Woodbury family for their unending love for the children of our community. All guests are invited to a coffee reception in the James Gallery immediately after the service. 6

7 Meet today s worship leaders Mark Eggert and his wife, Linda, met and married at Wilshire in They are the parents of Preston, a student at Belmont University, and an adult daughter, Rebecca. Mark is a deacon and veteran adult Sunday School teacher currently teaching in Concordia Class. Professionally, Mark is vice president for accounting services at CiraConnect. Mike Korson and his wife, Teri, joined Wilshire in They are members of Discovery Class, sing in Sanctuary Choir and serve together on the Missions Committee. Mike is an engineer and manager with Texas Instruments. He and Teri are the parents of three adult children. Annette Miller is a new member at Wilshire. She is married to Rich, and they are the parents of two adult sons. She attends Epiphany Class and is a new member of Sanctuary Choir. She is a life coach and holds certification as a Birkman consultant. Jim Nadalini joined Wilshire after marrying Shannon, who grew up here. They have taught children s Sunday School in the past but currently attend Avodah Class. They are the parents of four boys: Taubert, Travis, Austin and Alex. Jim works at HighGround Advisors as chief technology officer. Hart Robinson joined Wilshire in 2015 and is active in Discovery Class. Her professional background is as a Montessori teacher and consultant. Her husband is Tony. 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 (214) Julie Girards Minister to Children (214) Joan Hammons Minister to Preschoolers (214) Kevin Gardner-Sinclair McIver Fellow (214) Jakob Topper McIver Fellow (214) Aaron Coyle-Carr Pastoral Resident (214) 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

8 fall In Service Sunday survey On this Service Sunday, our goal is to document 100 percent member participation in acts of service to the church and the community. Wilshire s hope is that every member will find at least one place to serve others during the year. Please place a checkmark by any of the items below that describe how you currently serve or intend to serve this year. Then pull out these pages and place them in the offering plate when it passes or take them to the church office. The survey is anonymous, unless you want to ask for a staff member to contact you to tell you how to get involved in a particular ministry. Global missions o Travel to Tanzania to work with Wilshire s missions partner, African Inland Church. o Commit to pray regularly for our CBF field personnel serving around the globe. o Other: USA missions o Participate in the new work of Fellowship Southwest. o Participate in spring break mission trip to Shaw, Miss. o Participate in Youth Choir mission tour. o Serve through Texas Church Builders. o Other: Dallas missions o Participate in youth Tuesday missions. o Serve through Room in the Inn at Wilshire. o Cornerstone Baptist Church: volunteer in the food pantry, clothes closet, homeless outreach, adult and children s literacy and computer literacy classes or at the Care Center. o Serve in a supporting role or as a prayer partner for the KidsHope USA program. o Gateway of Grace: Become an advocate and friend to a refugee who has moved to Dallas or host a baby shower for a refugee mom. o Genesis Women s Shelter: volunteer to help with children, assist with resume writing or special events, provide clerical/office help or help staff the thrift store. o White Rock Center of Hope: help sort donations for the thrift store, or serve as an intake counselor for those seeking assistance. o Wilkinson Center: Provide and serve meals for seniors. o North Texas Food Bank: Volunteer to sort and package donated food. o Austin Street Shelter: Create welcome home baskets for new residents. o CitySquare: Volunteer in a wide range of opportunities, from hospitality to culinary education to legal aid. o Stewpot/The Bridge: volunteer to serve lunch to the homeless one Thursday a month. 8

9 o Interfaith Housing: Help clean up and set up apartments for families fleeing domestic violence. o Serve as a reading partner or mentor through a local school. o Attend a fundraiser for one of our local missions partners. o Serve on the board of a nonprofit ministry or agency. o Grief and Loss Center of North Texas: Volunteer to lead grief groups or to provide office support to this Wilshire-birthed ministry. o Use a Turquoise Table in your front yard to build relationships with your neighbors and share with them the love of Christ. o Volunteer through the PTA or other support organizations in your child s school or in a school that needs adult volunteers. o Serve children in the summer through Food on the Move. o Prison Entrepreneurship Program: Serve as an executive volunteer to help inmates develop plans for businesses after release. o Donate non-perishable food items the second Sunday of the month. o Other: On-site service o Serve a half day each week as a receptionist or substitute in the front office. o Volunteer in the Library or music library. o Serve as an office volunteer. o Help visiting nursing students by volunteering to be interviewed by them in your home. o Serve as a kitchen intern. o Serve full time or part time as a teacher for adult classes. o Serve as a director, missions leader, outreach leader or other leader for adult Sunday School classes. o Serve on a church committee. o Serve on a Vision 20/20 strategy team. 9 o Help prepare for baptismal services and assist baptismal candidates the day of their baptisms. o Become a blood donor and save a life. o Help new members find their way at Wilshire and integrate well into our community of faith. o Volunteer to write notes of encouragement. o Work with Wilshire s parish nurse to address health education and enrichment needs within the congregation. o Volunteer to sit in the same place in the Sanctuary every Sunday and take note of who s missing and who s new in order to greet worshipers. o Offer a welcoming presence at one of the doors to the church on Sunday mornings or at the Welcome Center. o Volunteer at the library circulation desk or to help catalog or shelve books. o Help prepare the elements for monthly observances of the Lord s Supper. o Join the team of those who greet worshipers on Sunday mornings and take the offering. o Help produce the live stream of Sunday morning worship. o Serve on the Sunday morning intercessory prayer team. o Serve in leadership for the Women of Wilshire activities. o Other: Care ministries o Be trained or use your training to serve as a Stephen Minister to be paired one-on-one with individuals facing times of life crisis, as a listening companion offering practical, emotional and spiritual support. o Make personal visits to Wilshire s homebound members at least once a month. o Gather with a group of knitters in the Parlor on Thursday afternoons to create and bless

10 prayer shawls that are given to people at critical times when they need to be wrapped in prayer. o Friday Friends: Serve as a friend and helper to an adult with dementia every other week. o Provide meals or reception food for bereaved families at the time of funerals. o Be part of a special team that helps people during specific times of difficult life circumstances. o Help senior adults and singles with simple home repairs or driving to doctor appointments. o Other: Serve preschoolers, children, youth o Provide extended child care for preschoolers during either the 8:30 and 11:00 Sunday morning services. o Volunteer to help with preschool special events throughout the year. o Care for preschoolers and teach them the Bible as a Sunday School teacher or substitute teacher. o Serve as a teacher, helper or in a variety of roles at Vacation Bible School. o Help teach children the Bible as a regular or part-time Sunday School teacher. o Teach preschoolers and children about global missions as a Globetrekkers teacher or helper on Wednesday nights. o Teach children Bible skills on Wednesday nights. o Volunteer as a substitute teacher on Wednesday nights. o Volunteer to help with any of a variety of summer camps: cooking camp, MusiCamp, preteen camp, Preschool Friends Camp, adoption camp. o Become a foster parent. o Adopt a child in need of a home. o Help with Wilshire s adoption and foster care family fun nights. o Volunteer with One Starry Night. o Volunteer to provide child care for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meetings. o Serve as a youth Sunday School teacher. o Host a youth social event at your home. o Serve as a Youth Choir or youth missions volunteer. o Other: Music ministry o Sing in Sanctuary Choir, New Song, Youth Choir or a children s or preschool choir. o Dust off your wind instrument and play in Wilshire Winds. o Play in a handbell choir. o Volunteer to help teach or assist with a Wednesday evening preschool or children s choir. o Other: If you d like a contact: Would you like a staff member to contact you with information on how to volunteer in any of the ways listed above? If so, please include your name and preferred contact information here: Please place this completed form in the offering plate when it passes or take it to the church office. 10

11 One Starry Night brings Bethlehem to Wilshire Imagine Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born the village bustling with merchants and artists, musicians and storytellers, beggars and royalty. Now, imagine you are a baker, potter, weaver, carpenter, scribe or palace guard and you are welcoming guests who have come from far and wide to shop in the colorful tents, register for the census and hear the news about the baby. You can do that and more on Dec. 14 when One Starry Night fills Wilshire s Community Hall with the sights and sounds of a firstcentury village. It s an interactive outreach event for the community and an intergenerational experience for church members and their families. It takes a village to pull off a village such as this, so there are many ways to be involved. Volunteers are needed for a variety of booths and activities: census, palace, scribe, stargazing, Bible storytelling, the manger, musicians, Bethlehem Inn, baker, carpenter, weaver, painter, potter, jeweler, herbs and spices. Help is also needed to set up the village during the week before One Starry Night and to clean up afterward. Won t you consider joining the effort and joining the fun by playing a role? You may volunteer as an individual, a family, a group of friends or a Sunday School class. Stop by the promotional tables in the north and south atriums today and learn more. Or contact LeAnn Kite Hampton at KiteL@tx.rr. com or (214) , or Joan Hammons at jhammons@wilshirebc.org or (214) for more information. Roles available: Census Greet guests and give them passports for their visit. Memories Take photos (in costumes) that will be sent to the individual or family. Palace See King Herod and hear what he is saying about the census. Scribe See how a scribe works and place sealing wax on a rolled document. The document will go in the bag with instructions to open it on Christmas. The document is the passage from Luke describing the birth of Jesus. Stargazer Hill Discover what led the Wise Men to Jesus. Bible story Hear the story of the birth of Jesus. Manger Visit the Holy Family and see the baby. Musicians Perform with musical instruments and dance typical for that time period. Bethlehem Inn Sample foods typical for that time period. Baker Knead bread and take a sample home. Carpenter Use samples of wood to make designs. Weaver Watch a weaver work at the loom and try to weave. Painter Paint an ornament. Potter Use clay to create something. Jeweler Use beads and string to make jewelry. Herbs and spices Use a mortar and pestle to crush herbs and take home a sample. 11

12 The Wilshire Tapestry Today is Service Sunday This week s Tapestry includes a simple survey (see pages 8-10) for every member to indicate anonymously the various places they currently serve or intend to serve in the church and community this year. The goal is to have 100 percent of our membership committed to at least one place of volunteer service, regardless of where that is. Please complete the survey and drop it in the offering plate or take it to the church office. Be in the all-church picture Sept. 9 Everyone is invited to one joint worship service at 11:00 next Sunday, Sept. 9, which will be church photo day. At the end of that service, the choir will come down to the aisles and preschoolers and preschool workers will come into the front of the Sanctuary, then we ll pose for an all-church photo that will adorn the cover of our new church pictorial directory. There will be no 8:30 service. Explore handbells James Steel will offer a six-week class on Wednesday evenings for any adult who would like to try their hand at ringing handbells. The only prerequisite is the ability to read music. No prior handbell experience is required. The class will meet Sept. 12 through Oct. 17 from 6 to 6:45 p.m. To learn more, contact James at jsteel@wilshirebc.org. Don t forget church pictorial directory Additional dates in September have been added for church directory portraits. If you have not yet been photographed or made an appointment, time is running out. We want everybody to be included. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration. concluding Sept. 19. The class will meet in Room 1205-L at 6 p.m. The four parables to be discussed are the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Sower. Music and Missions A new year of Music and Missions and Bible Skills for preschoolers and children began last week. The age-graded choirs and classes meet beginning at 6 p.m. every Wednesday. Dinner is offered in Koinonia Café beginning at 5 p.m. New Song resumes Wilshire s senior adult community choir, New Song, will kick off the fall semester this Wednesday, Sept. 5, with a fellowship time at 9 a.m., followed by rehearsal at 9:30 a.m. All interested senior adults are welcome to attend and learn more about the New Song community. Koinonia Café Sept. 5: Cajun roasted chicken, smoked sausage with peppers and onions, red beans and rice, fried okra, corn casserole, green beans, salad bar, dessert bar. Kids: Chicken nuggets, potato chips, green peas. Speaking God Again An upcoming Wednesday night class for adults will draw on Jonathan Merritt s newest book, Speaking God from Scratch, to examine why Christians are slow to speak God in shared spaces. It will be led by Chad Mustain, boardcertified chaplain, and his father, Jim Mustain, founder of the local ministry Loving Community. The class will meet Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. Blood drive success Parables study George Mason and Mark Wingfield are leading a four-week study titled Parables: Heard A New Way on Wednesday nights beginning Aug. 29 and Last Sunday s blood drive drew 18 participants who donated 15 pints of whole blood and 4 pints of double-red cells. According to Carter BloodCare, these donations could help up to 57 patients in their time of need. 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. 12

13 Condolences to: Carol Vathis on the death of her step-father, August 23. New members: Ralph Manuel, Donna Manuel, Linda Lyles, Abby Veach, Luke Hill. Flu shots Sept. 16 Flu vaccinations will be offered at Wilshire on Sunday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the McIver Chapel classroom area. Flu shots for ages 9 and up will cost $29 but will be free with Medicare and most Medicare replacement plans. Other vaccinations available include the high-dose flu shot, pneumonia vaccinations, tetanus and pertussis. For more information, contact Parish Nurse Linda Garner at lgarner@wilshirebc.org. No appointment is necessary. Tanzania mission A group of 10 from Wilshire will travel to Tanzania Sept. 6. They will visit a few of the AICT community development projects and spend time with the village of Nyamakombu, where gifts from Wilshire s Phil Strickland Offering for World Hunger were given to build a girls dormitory. This dormitory will accommodate up to 80 girls who are attending the local school and reduce the risk of these girls being assaulted on the long walks to school, which will allow them to finish their educations. The group asks for your prayers for safety, meaningful relationships and good health. They will return Sept. 16. Beginnings Class Wilshire s annual Beginnings Class for nearly married and newly married couples will be offered for six weeks starting Sept. 9. The class meets in Room 3204 during the Sunday School hour, from 9:40 to 10:40 a.m. on Sundays. Weekly topics include introduction and couple communications, taught by Pat and Jim Austin; five love languages, taught by Tiffany Wright; finances, taught by David Nabors; conflict resolution, taught by Gloria and Phill Martin; understanding your families of origin, taught by Amy and Cory Anderson; and spirituality in a marriage, taught by George Mason. To sign up, contact Tiffany Wright at twright@wilshirebc.org. Participating couples get $70 off marriage licenses after attending the sixweek course, plus everyone gets a free premarital inventory and one-hour session with a minister. Brummel ordination Associate Minister of Music Jeff Brummel will be ordained to the gospel ministry on Sunday, Sept. 16, at 4 p.m. All are invited to this special service in the Sanctuary and a reception afterward. The service will include guest organist Al Travis and Wilshire s Youth Choir. Bone marrow drive volunteers Wilshire congregants will have an opportunity to sign up as potential bone marrow donors on Sunday morning, Sept. 9, in James Gallery. Interested adults between the ages of 18 and 55 will be invited to fill out a short form and submit a cheek swab. It will take about 5 minutes. Volunteers also are needed to help staff the signup table in three shifts. Contact Linda Garner, lgarner@wilshirebc.org or (214) Computer classes offered A new term of Wilshire s free computer classes will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 11, with group registration. Classes will be offered for PCs, ipads, iphones and Android devices. Registration will be held in Room 3103 at two times: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Contact Max Post at (214) Marriage Connections A new year of Marriage Connections for marriage enrichment will begin with a kickoff event on Friday, Sept. 14. Marriage Connections will be offered on Oct. 12, Nov. 9, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, April 12 and May 10. Free child care is provided at the church while couples have a chance to learn from a speaker s brief presentation and then couples leave and enjoy dinner out on their own. Reservations for child care are required by the Sunday prior to the event and may be made at wilshirebc.org/ registration. Couples without children at home also are welcome to attend, with no reservation needed. Learn more from Tiffany Wright at twright@wilshirebc.org or (214) JazzStand needs volunteers The monthly JazzStand on Abrams series will begin its new season this month, and volunteers are needed to help with some functions of hospitality and logistics. Contact Lynette DeBose at lynettedebose@gmail.com or (214)

14 The Wilshire Tapestry Christianity and Empire: From Christ to Constantine Join Pastoral Resident Aaron Coyle-Carr for a two-week discussion about how early Christianity came face-to-face with the dominant world empire of Rome. The class will be offered on Wednesday nights, Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, from 6 to 6:45 p.m. In the middle of the first century, Christianity was born from a minority religion in an insignificant corner of the mighty Roman Empire. By the middle of the fourth century, Christianity had captured the imagination of that same empire. This is the first of a two-part series, with a subsequent study by Matt Dodrill on how Christianity reacted to the rise of Nazi Germany. Ireland trip An information session about the May 2019 Ireland trip led by Mark Wingfield will be offered on Sunday, Sept. 9, at noon in Community Hall. A representative from Collette Tours will be present to highlight the trip and answer questions. Any interested adult is invited to join the 13-day tour. Anyone who makes a reservation and pays the $500 deposit at the presentation or before will receive an additional $50 per person discount. You do not have to be a senior adult to participate in this trip. Trip details are available by following the link at wilshirebc.org/registration. Register now by calling Collette at (800) or ing groupsservices@collette.com. The trip is limited to 44 participants and is nearly one-third booked. Tony Campolo Sept. 23 Noted author, lecturer and preacher Tony Campolo will be the guest preacher at Wilshire on Sunday, Sept. 23. He will be speaking that week at Wilshire s annual Preaching Practicum. His Sunday morning message will be The Gospel of Hope for a Weary People, calling Christians to become radically committed to the mission of the church at a time when there is much confusion as to what that mission should be. Adventurers to Arboretum All senior adults are invited to a picnic and visit to the Dallas Arboretum on Thursday, Sept. 27. The first 35 participants to sign up will ride a chartered bus from the church to the Arboretum at 9:45 a.m. Others are invited to carpool or drive on their own. A picnic lunch will be provided. The event is free. Sign up with Pat Tilley at the Adventurers table on Wednesdays in Community Hall or on Sunday mornings in the South Lobby. Learn about Stephen Ministry Wilshire will host a Stephen Ministry introductory workshop on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The workshop will help congregations explore ways to expand their caring ministry through Stephen Ministry. Congregations from around the Metroplex are anticipated to attend. All Wilshire members are invited to attend free of charge. This would be an opportunity for anyone considering Stephen Ministry to learn more about the program. Since 2005, 94 Wilshire members have been trained as Stephen Ministers, and 250 persons have received care. To register, contact Linda Garner at (214) or lgarner@ wilshirebc.org. Overview of Wednesday night classes Aug. 29-Sept.19 Parables: Heard A New Way Sept. 12-Oct. 17 Explore Handbells for adults Sept. 26-Oct. 3 Speaking God Again Sept. 26-Oct. 3 Christianity and Empire Oct A Theology of Work Oct. 24 Resident-led vespers 14

15 Wilshire calendar Sunday, September 2 Service Sunday Morning worship 8:30 a.m. YourCall Meeting 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Meet and greet with guests noon Youth Choir 4:00 p.m. Paradiso 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 3 Church closed in observance of Labor Day Tuesday, September 4 Game of 42 10:00 a.m. Yoga class 12:15 p.m. Stephen Ministry CE and supervision 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 5 New Song Fellowship 9:00 a.m. New Song 9:30 a.m. Koinonia Café 11:00 a.m. Bible Study noon Stephen Ministry supervision 1:30 p.m. Koinonia Café 5:00 p.m. Parables: Heard A New Way 6:00 p.m. The Enneagram Journey 6:00 p.m. Committee on Committtees 6:00 p.m. Gallery Café 6:00 p.m. Music & Missions 6:00 p.m. Cord of Three prayer group 6:15 p.m. Yoga class 6:15 p.m. Watershed 6:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 6 Tanzania mission trip The Bridge/Stew Pot 11:15 a.m. Women s Ministry Brown Bag Book Club noon Knit Unto Others 1:30 p.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 7 Tanzania mission trip MOPS 9:00 a.m. Silent retreat planning meeting 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 8 Tanzania mission trip Sunday, September 9 Church photo Sunday Tanzania mission trip Bone marrow donor drive 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Beginnings Class 9:40 a.m. Wilshire Welcome 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Meet and greet with guests noon Ireland trip presentation by Collette noon One Starry Night leadership team noon State of the Youth Group meeting - noon Nova 2:30 p.m. Youth Choir 4:00 p.m. Paradiso 5:00 p.m. New member fellowship 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 10 Tanzania mission trip Game of 42 10:00 a.m. Cardiac Support Group 11:30 a.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Wilshire Winds 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 11 Tanzania mission trip Yoga class 12:15 Computer class orientation and registration 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. JazzStand on Abrams 7:00 p.m. WOW! Tuesday Night Book Club 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 12 Tanzania mission trip New Song 9:30 a.m. Koinonia Café 11:00 a.m. Bible Study noon Children s handbells 5:00 p.m. Koinonia Café 5:00 p.m. Parables: Heard A New Way 6:00 p.m. The Enneagram Journey 6:00 p.m. Gallery Café 6:00 p.m. Music & Missions 6:00 p.m. Explore Handbells class 6:00 p.m. Yoga class 6:15 p.m. Watershed 6:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 13 Tanzania mission trip Knit Unto Others 1:30 p.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. 15

16 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 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.