Preparing for worship

Transcription

1 Epiphany Sunday January 6, 2019

2 Preparing for worship There s an old German prayer for the Feast of Three Kings that goes like this: Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar, protect us again this year from the dangers of fire and water. It s an apt prayer for our times, conjuring images of California wildfires and Indonesian tsunamis, not to mention the crisis of a warming planet with rising sea levels. But how can these three kings (tradition assigns them the names Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) protect us from the ravages of fire and water? This morning we ll be singing Arise, Your Light Is Come, which is based on the words of Isaiah 60. As these lyrics make clear, the light that dawns in the Christmas manger shines on prisoners, the poor and the broken-hearted. Rather than arriving in a vacuum, the Son of God treads the same ground as poor Galileans who endure raging fires and surging waters. Indeed, as you enter this worship space today, you can be sure that Jesus Emmanuel, God with us is also standing with you in your own fiery trials. But the question still lingers: Why does the German prayer call on the three kings for protection? The answer, it seems to me, is that those who recognize the epiphany of God in Christ can act in accordance with his liberating mission on earth. The three kings were sent by Herod, but their mission was radically altered when they recognized Jesus for who he is, and they went home by another road. Likewise, we come to church on one road, but we stand before the living God in this space of worship and get sent home by another road. Why? Because it s here that God s revelation provides new vision, enabling us to point to those places and spaces where Christ is at work in the world. The earth is engulfed in flames (literally), and many of us seem hard-pressed to notice. But when we, like the three kings, receive a sight adjustment, we re able to point to the ravages of fire and water and sound the alarm. We can t save the world, but we can become participants in the mission of One who can. And for that, there s a sense in which we provide protection. So as you prepare for worship, open yourselves to the possibility of receiving new vision. For only those with vision can respond faithfully when the world cries out: Church of the living God, protect us again this year from the dangers of fire and water. Matt Dodrill 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: Isaiah 60: Timothy R. Botts Eyekons 2

3 January 6, :30 and 11:00 a.m. Epiphany Sunday 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 Noel of the Strangers Daguin +Gospel Reading Matthew 2:1 12 Mark Wingfield In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage. When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage. When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. +Processional Hymn 151 We Three Kings kings of orient Coming of the Magi *Christopher Granberry, Clara Granberry, Garrett Woodbury **Drew Easley, Gideon Krieger, Collin Adcox *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 Greeting to Worshipers Mia Wilson / Linda Goelzer 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. We would love to know you were here 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 Reading Isaiah 60:1 5a Heather Mustain / Tiffany Wright Ben Holden / Carol Tommey Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Celebration of the Lord s Supper Matt Dodrill / Jared Jaggers 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. The Bread Meditation on a French Carol The Cup Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence arr. Martin arr. Travis +The Passing of the Peace May the peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. +Hymn 87 Arise, Your Light Is Come festal song 4

5 Giving of Tithes and Offerings If you give regularly or periodically through direct bank withdrawal or credit/debit card transaction, you may need to renew your authorization for the new year. Be sure to check that your scheduled gifts continue as you intend. And if your intention is to tithe 10 percent or more of your income to the work of the Lord, be sure to adjust your giving to reflect your 2019 compensation. For assistance in online giving, contact Lori Gooden at *Solo Offertory Shine arr. Wilson Ryan Wilson As in the East a light told magi of a king And led them through their night our light should seekers bring. Victorious dawn! Oh Holy Light! Here ends the night in glorious morn! Now see the glory rise and see the darkness flee! The curtain from our eyes is shred and now we see a truth divine: We shine most bright reflecting light he on us shines! And if our light does shine the glory s not for us: The hopeless, lost and blind must find the Light s true source. Oh, see them come! With praising lips and precious gifts unto the Son! Thus do his people grow in number and in faith, As each reflected glow for one more shines the way. So day by day we spread the Light which gave us sight and bring him praise! **Choral Offertory Star in the East arr. Pesci Sanctuary Choir Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining, Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Savior of all. Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid. Star in the east, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Vainly we offer each ample oblation, Vainly with gifts would his favor secure. Richer by far is the heart s adoration, Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. 5

6 +Offertory Response lasst uns erfreuen Message The Gifts We Give George Mason +Hymn of Commitment 159 Fairest Lord Jesus st. elizabeth Sharing of Decisions Benediction Postlude March of the Three Kings arr. Martin All guests are invited to a coffee reception in the James Gallery immediately after the service. Welcome to Wilshire today. If you are a guest with us today, we welcome you warmly to our congregation. We would like to get to know you and tell you more about our church. Please take a Response Card from the pew rack, fill it out and place it in the offering plate when it comes by. Someone to talk with. If you are facing a life challenge and would like to have a spiritual friend to walk alongside you for a season of healing, perhaps you would benefit from a Stephen Minister. Learn more at wilshirebc.org or contact Tiffany Wright at (214)

7 Meet today s worship leaders Linda Goelzer came to Wilshire in She was among the first class of Stephen Ministers trained at Wilshire and currently chairs the Pathways to Ministry Committee. Linda is a member of Foundations of Faith Class and works as director of public relations for Carter Blood Care. Carol Tommey has been a Wilshire member since She and her husband, Terry, are the parents of two adult children, Blake and Claire. Carol has been active in support of Wilshire s student ministry and is a Youth Choir sponsor. She is a member of Cord of Three Class. She is a retired elementary school teacher. Ben Holden came to Wilshire in 2018 and is a member of Ithaka Class. He is a greeter and serves on the Vision 20/20 Belong Team. He is an aerospace engineer. Mia Wilson and her husband, Ryan, arrived at Wilshire last August as part of the pastoral residency program. They are the parents of Bates, who is 2. Mia is a graduate of Candler School of Theology and is a consultant with Rodan + Fields. 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) 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 The Wilshire Tapestry Wednesday activities resume this week Koinonia Café January menus: All Wednesday programs will resume this week on Jan. 9. This includes daytime and evening activities, Koinonia Café, New Song, preschool, children, youth and adult programs. Vespers on Jan. 9 Healing Waters, a resident-led vespers, will be offered in McIver Chapel this Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. All are welcome. Child care will be available. Affirmation of baptism Anyone who has joined the church or would like to join the church by affirmation of a previous Christian baptism is invited to participate in this simple ceremony at the vespers service in McIver Chapel on Wednesday, Jan. 9. For information, contact Debby Burton at dburton@wilshirebc.org. JazzStand features Booker T. Washington This month s JazzStand on Abrams features students from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in a program titled Spontaneous Reorganization: A Tribute to Roy Hargrove. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8, in the Sanctuary. In honor of the legendary trumpet player and Booker T. alumnus, students of the jazz studies program will perform under the direction of Fredrick Sanders, who himself was a student at Booker T. with Hargrove. Tuesday s concert will last approximately an hour and a half without a break, followed by a reception with the artists. JazzStand on Abrams is open to all, free of charge. Jan. 9 Chicken Florentine, peppercorn salmon, smashed red potatoes, baked beef ravioli, peas with bacon, grilled zucchini and squash, salad bar, dessert bar. Jan. 16 Thai flank steak, cashew chicken, coconut rice, ginger green beans, stir-fried veggies, sesame noodles, salad bar, dessert bar. Jan. 23 Chicken and beef fajitas, cheese enchiladas, Spanish rice, black beans, grilled vegetables, green chile corn, salad bar, dessert bar. Jan. 30 Grilled pork loin, chicken fricassee, mashed potatoes, snap peas, fried zucchini, sautéed mushrooms and peppers, salad bar, dessert bar. Annual Church Conference Wilshire s Annual Church Conference will be held on Sunday, Jan. 20, at noon in Community Hall. This is the once-a-year time for the church to gather to hear updates on our shared ministries and approve the annual budget, committee nominations and deacon nominations, along with any other business to come before the church. Lunch will be served. No reservation is needed; just show up. Child care will be available by reservation. Marriage Connections The next Marriage Connections is Friday, Jan. 11. The topic is Parenting Communication and More. Couples are invited to attend the brief program at 6:30 p.m., then leave children for free child care while going to dinner on their own. Register for free child care at wilshirebc.org/ registration by Sunday, Jan. 6. If you do not need child care, no advance registration is necessary. 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 Single Parents Night Out Free child care for the next Single Parents Night Out will be offered on Friday, Jan. 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Register at wilshirebc.org/registration by Sunday, Jan. 6. Reclaiming Joy book signing and luncheon On Sunday, Jan. 13, Ella Wall Prichard will speak at a noon luncheon in Community Hall about her new book, Reclaiming Joy: A Primer for Widows. She wrote the book she needed, but could not find, after her husband died. She offers practical advice on how to achieve joy. Each chapter focuses on a different trait needed to move from grief to joy. The book is part memoir, part guide, part inspiration. Women s Brown Bag Book Club Bring your own lunch and join the monthly discussions in Wilshire s Brown Bag Book Club. The group meets from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 1205-L. No reservation is required. The first gathering of 2019 will be on Jan. 10, and the book discussed will be Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray. Future dates and books are Feb. 7, The Awakening by Kate Chopin; March 7, Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce; April 4, Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver; May 2, Recipes for Love and Murder by Sally Andrew; June 6, A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline. For more information, contact Tiffany Wright t (214) or twright@wilshirebc.org. Deacon ordination Wilshire s annual deacon ordination will be held on Sunday morning, Jan. 27. Deacon nominees will be voted on at the Annual Church Conference the week before. Five members have been nominated for ordination to deacon service: Allison Brown, Linda Imhoof, Richard Luttrell, Jon-Erik Schoellhorn and Alison Wingfield. Nine ordained deacons have been nominated to new three-year terms of service: Pat Austin, Carol Cabaniss, Bob Coleman, Craig Keith, Kenton Keller, Michael Moorhead, Shaeron Moorhead, Hank Thompson, Everett Williams. Texas Legislature update On Wednesday, Jan. 16, join Heather Mustain, minister of missions and Christian advocacy, in Room 1205-L at 6 p.m. for a preview of the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature. She and the Christian Advocacy Committee will speak about Wilshire s identified priorities in the session and review the how-to s of advocacy and ways you can be involved. Joy: A Study of Philippians A three-week study of the book of Philippians will be led by pastoral residents beginning Wednesday, Jan. 16, and concluding Jan. 30. The class will meet in Room 1205-G at 6 p.m. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Few verses in Paul s letters are as oft-quoted as this one from Philippians. But what does it mean? What s the context? Come explore the book of Philippians. Farm-to-Table class Leanna Coyle-Carr will facilitate a two-week class about the farm-to-table movement on Wednesday evenings, Jan. 23 and 30, at 6 p.m. in Room 1205-L. Farm-to-table is a phrase indicating that the food on the table came directly from a specific farm or a local farm or garden. This movement focuses on eating and supporting food that is grown close to where you live. Does it make sense to adopt this practice? Does it make a difference where we buy our food? What about what we put in our bodies? How can the table and a simple meal help us feel more community? Participants will have practical discussions about the sacredness of an ordinary meal and thoughtful discussions on this farm-to-table idea. Adventurers to Alamo Drafthouse All senior adults are invited to a Wilshire Adventurers private screening at the Lake Highlands Alamo Drafthouse (Abrams and Skillman) on Monday, Jan. 14, at 11 a.m. The movie to be screened will be Secondhand Lions, which includes in its cast Travis Willingham, son of our own Trish Willingham. This star-studded movie (Michael Caine, Robert Duval, Kyra Sedgwick) is a coming-of-age story 9

10 The Wilshire Tapestry about a shy, young boy sent by his irresponsible mother to spend the summer with his wealthy, eccentric uncles in Texas. Reserve your $10 seat by contacting Kathi Lyle at klyle@wilshirebc.org or (214) Adventurers will be able to order and pay for their own lunch off the Alamo Drafthouse menu before and during the movie. support the Pathways to Ministry Endowment or a special missions cause or the Building Reserve Fund. For assistance, contact David Nabors at dnabors@ wilshirebc.org or (214) Women of Wilshire mini-retreat Spark Joy! is the theme of a one-day retreat for Women of Wilshire on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $25 per person and includes lunch. There will be breakout sessions, fellowship time and a surprise guest speaker. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration. WOW! Women s Tuesday Night Book Club Adventurers Valentine s program All senior adults (and wanna-be senior adults) are invited to a special Valentine s program on Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Community Hall. The Dallas Recorder Society will present a musical program titled Romancing the Recorder. The small ensemble will perform a four-part arrangement of Pachelbel s Canon, a Corelli solo sonata with delightful ornamentation and some love songs from both ancient and modern times. The recorder is a woodwind instrument in the flute family. Recorders are made in different sizes with names and ranges corresponding to vocal ranges, such as soprano, alto, tenor and bass. The program is free, and a special Valentine s luncheon will be served at noon for $10 per person. No reservation is needed. All are welcome. Make a will January is an ideal time to make a will or update an existing will. As you plan for a new year and prepare for taxes, take time to be sure you have written down your wishes for how your assets should be distributed upon your death. And as you do, consider that you can make a lasting and recurring contribution to God s work by including Wilshire in your will. Would you consider at least a tithe of your estate to the church s work? You might choose to This book club meets the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Parlor. All women are welcome. On Tuesday, Jan. 8, the group will discuss A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. WOW! Swap Meet Women of Wilshire will sponsor a swap meet on Saturday, Jan. 12, from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants are invited to bring good-quality clothing, toys, housewares, kitchen items, rugs, lamps. Then participants will shop the swap meet for donated items they would like to take home. For details and to participate, Christie Michie at wownewsletter@wilshirebc.org. MLK weekend events On Saturday, Jan. 19, Wilshire congregants are invited to join Friendship-West Baptist Church for A King Teach In. George Mason and Freddy Haynes will engage in a dialogue focused on justice. On Monday Jan. 21, 50 volunteers are needed for our MLK Day of Service. We will package 10,000 meals from 10 a.m. to noon All ages are welcome, but advance registration is required at wilshirebc.org/registration. Homeless count On Jan. 24, Wilshire will again be a training center for the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance 10

11 annual homeless count. Volunteers will be sent out all over the city. To help, register at wilshirebc.org/ registration. This is a great opportunity to engage your work colleagues as well. Room in the Inn dates Many volunteers are needed to make these evenings of respite lodging for homeless women happen at Wilshire. Upcoming dates are Jan. 18/19, Feb. 15/16 and March 15/16. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration. 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) Wilshire calendar Sunday, January 6 Morning worship 8:30 a.m. Wilshire Welcome 9:40 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Pathways to Ministry Committee noon Personnel Committee noon Vision 20/20 Belong Team noon Nova 2:30 p.m. Carillon Ringers 4:00 p.m. Monday, January 7 Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Faith in 3-D rehearsals 7:00 p.m. Wilshire Winds 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 8 Yoga class 12:15 p.m. Stephen Ministry CE and supervision 6:30 p.m. Faith in 3-D rehearsals 7:00 p.m. JazzStand on Abrams 7:00 p.m. WOW! Tuesday Book Club 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 9 New Song 9:30 a.m. Koinonia Café 11:00 a.m. Bible study noon Wilshire Adventurers Committee 1:15 p.m. Children s handbells 5:00 p.m. Koinonia Café 5:00 p.m. Music & Missions 6:00 p.m. MOPS Steering 6:00 p.m. Vespers worship 6:00 p.m. Cord of Three prayer group 6:15 p.m. Watershed 6:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 10 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, January 11 Friday Friends 10:00 a.m. Alzheimer s support group 1:00 p.m. Adoption and foster care support group 6:30 p.m. Marriage Connections 6:30 p.m. Single parents night out 6:30 p.m. 11 Saturday, January 12 WOW! Swap Meet 10:00 a.m. Sunday, January 13 Morning worship 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Children s division teacher appreciation breakfast 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Reclaiming Joy luncheon noon Nova 2:30 p.m. Carillon Ringers 4:00 p.m. Youth Choir and Paradiso 4:00 p.m. Shekinah 5:30 p.m.

12 Vespers A PATHWAYS SERVICE Healing Waters Wednesday January 9, :00 p.m. McIver Chapel 12

13 WILSHIRE BAPTIST CHURCH with The Grief and Loss Center of North Texas IS PROUD TO HOST Ella Wall Prichard in celebration of her book RECLAIMING JOY A Primer for Widows and the launch of SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 Wilshire Baptist Church 4316 Abrams Rd. Dallas, TX Interviews during 8:30 and 11:00 worship services 12:30 luncheon presentation: Resolve to Claim Joy BOOK SIGNING TO FOLLOW SERVICES AND LUNCHEON Ella Wall Prichard writes the book she needed, but could not find, after her husband died. She offers practical advice on how to achieve joy. Each chapter focuses on a different trait needed to move from grief to joy. The primary narrative arc is spiritual, even though stories of struggle, conflict, and loss are recurrent themes. Her book is part memoir, part guide, part inspiration. It captures the pain felt in the first years of widowhood in the move from grief to joy. It offers encouragement and advice to women who seek the strength to rebuild their lives and reclaim their joy. Ella Wall Prichard is is the president of Prichard Oil Company and provides resources for widows at ellaprichard.com. 13

14 Dear Wilshire: If generosity is a vital sign of a church s spiritual condition, your pastor-doctor is pleased to pronounce you fit to play in the fields of the Lord. Well done, church. Once again. Year after year, we face the threatening calendar flip to the new year and step up in stewardship. This year we gave well beyond expenses and came within a whisker of giving our budget. When I ed you in mid-december that we needed to give $716,000 to reach budget by year end, many of you gasped. Apparently, you also grasped your checkbook, because we have given within $18,600 of that target. Remarkable. Here are the highlights (recognizing that the books are not yet closed on the year): Unified Budget gifts of $4,181,388 (or $18,612 short of our $4.2 million goal for the year). This represents a slight increase over the prior year of about $3,500. We accomplished this by broader-based giving than in recent years, indicating our newer members are giving at a growing rate. Remember that last year we had a matching gift from a non-member donor of $150,000, which gave us a great boost, but such a gift was not part of this year s results. We do not have all expenses accounted for yet, but it appears that due to careful management of spending throughout the year, we will have a surplus of more than $100,000 for the Finance Committee to recommend for funding allocations. The George A. Mason Pathways to Ministry Endowment Fund received $84,506 in contributions this year. Special thanks for that, as we work toward fully endowing our pastoral residency program. (By the way, have you considered including the Pathways Endowment in your will?) The annual church conference is January 20 after the late service in Community Hall. You will receive a final report on 2018, the proposed budget for 2019, and other recommendations about leadership nominations for deacons and committees. Mark your calendar for lunch and conference. With another year in the books, on behalf of your whole church staff, I want to tell you what a privilege it is to serve with you. Wilshire truly is building a community of faith shaped by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Happy New Year, George 14

15 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.

16 What is Christian advocacy at Wilshire? By Heather Mustain Minister of Missions and Advocacy Over the course of the last five years, our congregation has been on a journey to broaden our understanding of missions to include both measures of benevolence and advocacy. We ve been coming to believe that a lack in either would equate to an incomplete witness of God s love to our community and world. Mark Wingfield has explained it this way: This turns the focus not just on giving assistance to people in need, either through money or handson service but by addressing the systemic issues that create the need for assistance. From this viewpoint, while it is commendable to give food to a hungry person, the better way to engage is to address the root causes of hunger in our community, to advocate on behalf of those cannot feed themselves. Members of Wilshire s Missions Committee and Christian Advocacy Committee believe needed change will come only through the use of both our hands and our voices. It will come through both committed acts of charity and our persistent pressure to change policies that harm the most vulnerable. This is the way of Jesus, captured in Jesus first sermon found in Luke 4: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. One of the ways in which we have engaged in the work of advocacy has been to pay particular attention to the happenings during our state legislative session. On Tuesday lawmakers will convene in Austin for the 86th Texas Legislature, a biennial session lasting 140 days. Bills will be introduced and filed, committees will process, public hearings will be held, the House and Senate will debate, readings and amendments will be made, bills will be sent back and forth, most will die and even fewer will make it to the governor s desk. However, this is the time where issues like payday lending, criminal justice, health care, foster care, immigration and public-school finance will be hotly debated and budgets will be determined. The Christian Advocacy Committee has once again prioritized hunger, public education, payday lending and foster care to be of high importance for our attention this session. We will rely on our partners like Pastors for Texas Children, Texas Hunger Initiative, North Texas Food Bank, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Texans Care for Children, Children at Risk, Texas Impact and others to help us stay effectively informed and engaged. If you are interested in staying involved throughout the session, here are five recommendations: Attend Weekly Witness at Wilshire every Monday at lunch through the months of February, March and April. Each week, we will live-stream a weekly briefing by Texas Impact that will feature a different issue, how it is showing up in the session and ways to engage. Fill out the interest card below based on your interest, tear it out and drop it in the offering plate. These will be used to mobilize rapid response teams as needed. Consider joining Wilshire on an advocacy action day in Austin or participating in a letter-writing campaign at some point throughout the session. Subscribe, or follow, the above listed partners on social media. Download Texas Legislative App and track bills based on your own interests. Business Name Christian Advocacy Legislative Interests Please indicate which issues you most wish to become engaged with. Updates and calls to action will be provided during this legislative session. Criminal Justice Domestic Violence Foster Care Human Trafficking Hunger Immigrants/Refugees Payday Lending Public Education Religious Freedom Name: 16