This Week at Wilshire Tapestry Weekly newsletter of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas Building a community of faith shaped by the Spirit of Jesus Christ Volume 60 No. 51 u December 16, 2012 CBF workers find a new path in storm SOUTHEAST ASIA Cindy Ruble never will forget that day in 2007 when the morning was interrupted by the earth rumbling and the house shaking. The first 6.1 magnitude quake was followed two hours later by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. The two quakes combined to kill 80 people in West Sumatra, Indonesia, where Cindy and her husband, Eddy, served as Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel. The Rubles quickly learned that the earthquakes were not isolated incidents, but were caused by the major fault line on which they lived suddenly entering an active phase. And in September 2009, another earthquake shook West Sumatra, registering at a 7.8 magnitude, killing about a thousand people, destroying more than 115,000 homes and more than 1,100 classrooms. By necessity and through God s call, the Rubles, who now live in Malaysia, shifted their ministry from focusing solely on education to using education to help people rebuild their lives. Throughout their ministry in Indonesia and Malaysia, Continued on page 4 Christmas Eve at Wilshire Family candlelight services 4 and 5:30 p.m. Liturgical candlelight service with communion 11 p.m. Today 8:30 a.m. Worship 8:30 a.m. YourCall Youth Center 11:00 a.m. Worship 12:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir lunch Comm. Hall Monday, Dec. 17 10:00 a.m. Domino group Room 1205-G Tuesday, Dec. 18 1:00 p.m. Spousal loss grief group Room 2370 6:30 p.m. Spousal loss grief group Room 2370 Wednesday, Dec. 19 11:30 a.m. Koinonia Café Comm. Hall 12:00 p.m. Christmas caroling with Doug and Jeff Comm. Hall Friday, Dec. 21 12:00 p.m. Charlie s Angels party James Gallery Sunday, Dec. 23 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:40 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship Monday, Dec. 24 Church offices closed 4:00 p.m. Family candlelight worship 5:30 p.m. Family candlelight worship 11:00 p.m. Liturgical candlelight worship Tuesday, Dec. 25 Church offices closed
Winter rains Growing up working on my grandparent s ranch, I learned quickly that the Texas climate is a far cry from a tropical rainforest. While most people immediately think about the summer heat, many of us native Texans know the winter can be a tough time as well. Winter droughts, like the one we re in now, begin to choke our gardens while we watch the water of White Rock Lake drop lower and lower. You might have noticed despair moving into Dallas, revealing itself in every polite conversation that begins: I sure hope we get rain some time soon. We really need it. There s a collective head nodding and a big sigh as we all wait for rain. If you re like me, you might have even begun to dream of a Texas-sized thunderstorm rolling in off the plains to bring those big, clumsy raindrops that always seem to revitalize our struggling land. Longing for similar rain clouds, the psalmist writes: Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Like us, the Israelites were in desperate need of some winter rain to bring new life to fields made burnt Another Voice yellow and brown by drought. But they were longing for more than just bluebonnets and lilies; they longed for a return from exile. The psalm asks for a reversal of the years of heartache and sorrow the people had endured. The Israelites pray for new dreams, new laughter, new joy. This Advent season we celebrate the coming of restoration to our own lives. Right now you may be in the middle of a spiritual drought, a job search that has dried up or a relationship reaching new winter lows. No matter where you find yourself, Advent reminds us that restoration is coming. God is breaking into this old world to make all things new, and so we eagerly await the celebration of Christ s birth a birth accompanied by the announcement that healing, comfort and joy have come to the world. Today, may we be reminded that the winter rains of restoration are coming. And may we soon join the psalmist in singing, The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Austin Almaguer Briefly... u Single Moms Night Out. Single Moms Night Out is designed to be a monthly time of fellowship and dinner with other single moms. Join the group at Alfonso s Italian Restaurant Jan. 4. at 7 p.m. Contact Sheri Brooks at (214) 663-8868 to let her know you are coming, and Joan Hammons at (214) 452-3141 to make a child care reservation by Sunday, Dec. 30. All single moms are welcome. u Faith and Grief luncheon. The monthly Faith and Grief luncheon held at Wilshire in conjunction with Faith Presbyterian Hospice is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 27, at noon in Community Hall. To RSVP for the luncheon, call (214) 699-4709 or visit www.faithpresbyterianhospice.org/ luncheon. These luncheons offer a safe space for men and women mourning the death of a loved one to be strengthened by food, Scripture, prayer and community. The December luncheon theme is Broken Hearts. u Wednesday schedule. Regular Wednesday evening programming is suspended for the holidays and will resume on Jan. 9. However, the Wednesday noon Koinonia Café will continue this week, Dec. 19, with a special Christmas caroling program led by Doug Haney and Jeff Brummel. All are invited to Community Hall for lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m., followed by the program at noon. u Adventurers to Yellowstone. Registration is now open for the fall 2013 Wilshire Adventurers trip to Yellowstone National Park. Dates for the trip are Sept. 3-10. Cost is $1,900 per person. Trip fliers are available in all senior adult classrooms today or in the front office. Reserve your place with a $250 deposit. Participate in the Giving Tree Today is the last day to participate in Wilshire s Giving Tree. While shopping for your own family and friends, how about putting something in the cart for someone you don t know? You can be a secret Santa for someone who might otherwise not get much at all for Christmas. We re working with our local missions partners to offer paper ornaments on the Giving Tree in James Gallery. Each ornament contains information about basic needs for someone a child, a parent, a family. Take the ornament off the tree, go out and obtain what you think is the best fit for that need, then bring the unwrapped gift back to the front office at the church no later than tomorrow morning. We ll distribute the gifts through the agencies on Monday, Dec. 17. Tapestry (USPS 022025) is published weekly except Christmas week by Wilshire Baptist Church, 4316 Abrams Rd., Dallas TX 75214. Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, TX. Telephone: (214) 452-3100. Website: www.wilshirebc.org. Editor: Mark Wingfield. Contributing writer: Sue Coffman. Postmaster: Send change of address to 4316 Abrams Rd., Dallas TX 75214. 2
Tips to nip holiday stress in the bud By Linda Garner Parish Nurse Fourth in a series on Hymns We Love By Alison Wingfield Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in His hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand. King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth He stood, Lord of lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood; He will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food. Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of light descendeth from the realms of endless day, that the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away. The holidays are upon us, and while they can be fun and joyous, they also may be stressful. Some may even dread all of the festive activities of parties, shopping, cooking, cleaning and entertaining. Depression is a common symptom, especially for those who have experienced a loss that impacts celebration. How can you cope with or prevent holiday stress? u First, acknowledge your feelings. If someone close has died or you cannot be with loved ones, recognize that it is normal to feel grief and sadness. Do not try to force feelings of joy and happiness. u Seek community, church or other social events. Volunteer your time to help others. u Be realistic in your expectations. The holidays do not have to be perfect or just like last year. Traditions and rituals often change as families grow and change. Establish a new tradition for your holiday that will be more meaningful at this time in your life. u Accept others as they are and set aside differences. Often the other person also feels the effects of holiday stress. u Stick to a budget. Before shopping, decide how much Hymns We Love: Let All Mortal Flesh... At His feet the six-winged seraph; cherubim, with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Lord Most High! Silence is not my strong suit. But whenever I hear this hymn and its admonishment to be silent to listen, to be aware and in awe of just how incredible Christ s Advent into the world was and is I am speechless. Other hymns at this time of year readily cause a lump in my throat; I always get weepy at the first lines of Silent Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem. This hymn affects me differently. For lack of a better term, it sends chills down my spine. Rather than the longing for rescue we hear in O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, this hymn speaks to the power and awesomeness of God coming to earth. Think about it. Christ, who was present at the beginning of the world, who is the King money you can spend and stick to your budget. u Plan ahead. Set specific days for shopping, cooking, visiting and other activities. And be sure to secure adequate help for party preparation and cleanup. u Learn to say no. Friends will understand when you cannot participate in every activity. Saying yes when you should say no can result in feelings of resentfulness and being overwhelmed. u Stick to healthy habits. Eat a healthy snack before attending a party so you do not eat too many sweets. Get plenty of sleep and physical activity. of kings and Lord of lords, became a human (love the word vesture, which means something that covers like a garment ). The tendency at this time of year is to get caught up in the tenderness of the baby Jesus, but we should always remember the mystery and majesty of God come down to us. And we should fear and tremble because of it. Composed in Greek as a chant in the fourth century for the Offertory of the Divine Liturgy of St. James, these lyrics reach out in time, bringing images of solemn processions and echoing sacred spaces. They have been sung and recited over many centuries by many tongues. Again, chills. The chant is based on Habakkuk 2:20: But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him! It was used during the Eucharistic portion of the service, as can be seen in the second verse, which includes u Make time for yourself. Spending 15 minutes alone without distractions may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Reading your advent devotional, listening to music, taking a walk can help minimize stress. u Seek help if you need it. For example, a Wilshire Stephen Minister may provide a listening ear or you may want to seek professional help if needed. Taking steps to prevent or cope with stress before a meltdown occurs can help you find peace and joy during the holiday. the body and the blood, and heavenly food. When it was wedded to a seventeenth-century French carol in 1906, the chant took on a new life and meaning for Protestants, thanks to Ralph Vaughan Williams harmonizing of it for The English Hymnal. Rather than focusing on the Eucharist, or Communion, Protestants have chosen to use it primarily for Advent. The imagery in the third verse is stunning, with angels forming a vanguard for the Light of light to descend all the way from the realms of endless day and clear away the darkness. That s an image to hold onto for Advent and the rest of the year. When you sing this ancient Advent hymn this season, approach it with a sense of awe and humility, joining with a chorus of people who have gone before us singing Alleluia! Lord Most High! Traveling during the holidays? Stay tuned in to Wilshire s worship through the live stream online. www.wilshirebc.org/media 3
CBF workers bring worlds together Continued from page 1 the Rubles used their skills, training and gifts to be the presence of Christ through educational projects, programs and partnerships. We surveyed the needs and what our gifts and skills were, and we saw education not only as a universal need, but also as a common bridge for Christians working together with Muslims, Eddy said. In West Sumatra, the Rubles have focused their educational ministry in three areas: providing scholarships for students, providing teacher training and rebuilding homes and schools destroyed by the earthquakes. I believe education empowers, Cindy said. I believe that as Christians we are called to care about marginalized people and about kids that are economically disadvantaged. In October 2011, a new school that was built through the Rubles work was dedicated in West Sumatra. Because the school needed to be rebuilt in an area that has a lot of seismic activity, we wanted to make sure that a building we rebuilt was strong and would protect children as much as possible in the event of another earthquake, Eddy explained. As a result, the construction of the new school was much stronger than that of the average public school. In the same area as the new school, the Rubles worked to help rebuild homes using an earthquake-resistant method called interlocking compressed earth blocks. In order to complete this project, a business was created to make the blocks, providing local jobs and making earthquakeresistant building materials available in West Sumatra. The Rubles work does not stop with the buildings. One of their most successful projects has been implementing a curriculum for teachers and principals to be trained by local educators in new, hands-on learning methods for students. The project started by sending several teachers to 4 Eddy Ruble visits with members of the community where he and his family serve in Southeast Asia. Jakarta. One headmaster, who later attended on-site training in West Sumatra, took what he learned and transformed his school s curriculum. The school soon was winning awards and now is ranked as the second-best elementary school in Indonesia. The 2009 West Sumatra earthquake caused landslides, which buried and destroyed entire villages on mountain slopes. In one village, a young girl named Septiani returned from boarding school to find earth-moving equipment where her home had been. Her entire village had been destroyed and her whole family was dead. In the aftermath of the earthquake, a CNN reporter interviewed Septiani and told her story. Jan Williams, a former The Ruble family serves in Southeast Asia with support from CBF. CBF missions worker with the Rubles and member of First Baptist Church of Rome, Ga., saw the story and asked Eddy to find Septiani. Williams wanted to sponsor her through her church s partnership with the Rubles, which provides educational opportunities for students in Indonesia. With a name and a picture, Eddy traveled to Septiani s village to find her. Today, as a result of this scholarship, Septiani is in a midwifery school and one day hopes to open her own clinic. The partnership with First Baptist Church supports not only students like Septiani, who study in Indonesia, but also high school and college students who study in the United States. Through partnerships with Berry College, Shorter University and Darlington High School, all in Rome, Indonesian students can study in the United States and improve their chances for further education or employment in Indonesia. Syaweli is one of the students who was given an opportunity to spend his senior year at Darlington High School. But when he first arrived in the United States, he was unsure of what he would experience. He was nervous that because he was a Muslim and most of his classmates were Christian, he wouldn t be accepted. When he attended his first chapel service at Darlington, he was nervous and afraid. One week he was asked to be a speaker at chapel and give a presentation on Islam. This was life-changing for Syaweli. He had the opportunity to share with his classmates about his faith while also learning about theirs. For the first time he felt people really understood him. The world is so big, Syaweli said. If we cannot understand each other, there will be war again; we will be fighting each other. But if we can understand each other, life will become happy. Once Syaweli was chosen to receive a scholarship to study in America, everything changed for his family in Indonesia. Living in a simple board house, Syaweli s family was supported by his mother selling food on their front porch and his father driving a motorcycle taxi. In many ways, they were marginalized within their community. After Syaweli s acceptance, his parents became respected members of the community. Syaweli returned from his year abroad and was able to gain entry to the University of Indonesia, the most prestigious university in the country, where he is now studying public health. For Cindy Ruble, being the presence of Christ also includes partnering with education and advocacy initiatives to eliminate violence against women and children. She gives community talks in schools, factories, churches and other venues, helping individuals and families recognize the signs of abuse, identify the perpetrators and create safer communities for women and children. This advocacy work is deeply linked to Cindy s calling as a Christ follower. She feels compelled to serve among some of the world s most neglected people. Partnerships with churches is essential to everything we do here, Eddy said. We are the hands and feet in these countries, but the body which supports us is a network of stateside church partners and organizations. Without their support, we cannot do what we do.
I Am Wilshire Lillie Campbell After a challenging early life, Lillie Campbell has lived a full and successful life marked by many miracles and blessings. Born in Frederick, Okla., she lived on a farm with no running water or electricity. Her mother died when Lillie was 9, and she and her two younger brothers grew up in the Baptist orphans home in Oklahoma City. It was the best thing that ever happened, Lillie said. It gave me options. I took piano and voice, and beginning in seventh grade I sang in a double trio. We sang all over the state doing public relations for the children s home. We went off campus for school and church, she explained. At John Marshall High School, where she graduated in 1960, she played clarinet in the band, was on the Student Council and was a member of the National Honor Society. I grew up at First Baptist Church under Pastor Herschel Hobbs, and Bill Reynolds was minister of music, Lillie said. I was president of the youth choir as a senior. She went to Oklahoma Baptist University, which was the only choice for our graduates. I had to start college the Monday after graduating on Friday. If my grades were good enough, I could continue my education there. We got a preacher s discount, and I worked in the library all four years, she said. In the summers I worked for a company in Oklahoma City. I was involved in Bisonettes (an all-female choral group) and was president of the Baptist Student Union as a senior. Lillie majored in sociology and psychology and minored in history. Before and after her senior year, she interned for the Department of Public Welfare in Oklahoma City, then won a federal grant to attend graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis. I majored in social work and thought I was going to work with children, she said. She met her husband, John, on a stairwell when she came home for Christmas her first year of graduate school. His friends had told him about me. He asked me out, and on our first date he said he was going to marry me, she recalled. She had planned not to marry until she finished graduate school, and that s exactly what happened. John had been teaching at Berea College in Kentucky, but they spent the next two years in Rochester, N.Y., where he studied at the Eastman School of Music and she worked for the Convalescent Hospital for Children. They spent the next year in Germany, where John studied at the Cologne Conservatory on a Fulbright scholarship. We traveled all over Europe with our host family, and we became lifelong friends, Lillie said. After a year back at Berea, John joined the faculty of Hardin-Simmons University in 1971 and became organist at First Baptist Church of Abilene. Over the next 12 years, Lillie was a social worker for God s Little Ones, director of Abilene Girls Home and a sociology professor at McMurry College. In order to stay at McMurry, she was required to earn a doctorate, so she decided to go into private practice. Several years later she set up Abilene Professional Center, where she worked off and on for a number of years. She then worked for Hospice of Abilene and Hendrick Hospital. In 1992, Lillie became the social worker for Hospice of the Big Country. She continued in private practice at first, then worked full time for the organization before returning to private practice. She transitioned back and forth between private practice and work at the state hospital in Big Spring until 2007, when she worked briefly for Sears Methodist Hospital. She then cared for John until his death in 2009. At First Baptist in Abilene, Lillie taught Sunday School, was active in Women on Mission and began a new ministry visiting shut-ins. Both her sons, Russell and Matthew, now live in the Dallas area, and she has many connections here, so she has moved to Carrollton. Joining Wilshire last October was an easy transition. Wilshire is so much like home to me, Lillie said. It has the kind of service I grew up with and at First Baptist Abilene. I also knew Sarah Stafford, who was John s student, and several other members. She is amazed at the friendliness of Wilshire s members. After the first time I met people, they knew my name. With experience in grief and loss, Lillie is involved in the Grief and Loss Center of North Texas. She is treasurer of New Song and has joined Whosoever Wilshire Sunday School class. By the numbers Financial report for Dec. 9 Weekly Ministry Fund projected... $90,285 Weekly Ministry Fund received... $69,395 Annual Ministry Fund projected... $1,419,852 Annual Ministry Fund received... $1,389,249 Annual ahead/behind... -$30,602 Crossings campaign this week...$11,577 Crossings campaign total received... $3,127,249 Pathways Endowment this week... $697 Pathways Endowment total received... $1,941,711 Special missions for year... $22,182 Sunday School Dec. 9 Officers...18 Preschool... 80 Children... 99 Youth... 68 Young adult...67 Median adult... 224 Senior adult... 246 Total present...802 Total previous week... 864 Total last year... 977 Condolences to: Tina and Jim Burgin on the death of their grandson, Bryan Burgin of San Angelo, Dec. 6. New members: Alan Brooks Robert Fisette 5
Wilshire contacts To e-mail any member of the Wilshire staff, use the first initial with the full last name and then add @wilshirebc.org. To phone staff, dial (214) 452-3 and the three-digit extension: Wilshire Baptist Church 4316 Abrams Rd Dallas TX 75214 PERIODICALS RATE Pastoral offices George Mason (132) Debby Burton (132) Mark Wingfield (128) Kathi Lyle (130) Pathways to Ministry Geri McKenzie (159) John Jay Alvaro (154) Annette Thornburg (153) Austin Almaguer (155) Samuel Gunter (152) Business offices Paul Johnson (157) Teresa M. Newtown (131) Susan Kimball (108) Dale Pride (101) Sandy Allen (150; sgallen) Lauren Crain (111) Age-graded ministries Jessica Capps (129) Darren DeMent (102) Julie Girards (103) Joan Hammons (141) Holly Irvin (106) Care ministries Tiffany Wright (107) Debby Burton (132) Missions offices Sandy Allen (150) Music offices Doug Haney (123) Sarah Stafford (121) Barbara Clayton (125) Jeff Brummel (122) Food services John Jost (117) Weekday Education Mary Browder (115) Parish nurse Linda Garner (151) Library Jeri Baker (114) 6 Around the World It s Christmas