PDF of Sunday, December 6, 2015

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 63 No. 49 u December 6, 2015
Hanging
of Green
tonight
Choirs and orchestra will
set the tone for tonight’s
Hanging of the Green service,
which is the traditional kickoff to the Advent season at
Wilshire.
Featured groups include
Sanctuary Choir, Youth Choir,
Nova, Shekinah and Young
Musicians, accompanied by
a professional orchestra and
harp.
Amid the music, the
Sanctuary will
get decked out
with Christmas
greenery highlighted with red
poinsettias on
it
the chancel.
My Spir
This is one
Rejoices
of the most beloved and best-attended
special services of the year.
All ages are welcome, and
child care will be available for
preschoolers.
Traditional favorites such
as “The Holly and the Ivy”
and “The Virgin Mary Had
a Baby Boy” will mix with
classic orchestral pieces like
the “Pastoral Symphony” from
Handel’s Messiah and new
arrangements for choir and
orchestra that speak to the
theology of the season.
Hanging of the Green also
will be live streamed via the
Wilshire website.
t
to Adven
A Guideions 2015
h
Devot ptist Churc
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Wilshir
A picture,
a guitar and
transforming
generosity
By Mary Kay Jackman
Leaving the salon after Vivian trimmed and polished my
nails, I happened to look up
and noticed a print hanging
on the wall. Why it caught my
attention after so many trips
in and out of that salon, I’ll
never understand.
The faded blue images
depicted the life of Jesus: his
birth in a manger, his baptism
by John, his walking with a
disciple, sitting with children,
gathering a crowd off in the
distance, riding a donkey into
Jerusalem, and walking up
steps to his trial. In the upper
right corner stood three tiny
crosses. I starred at the print,
noting a fisherman’s net strung
low across the foreground, the
bow of a wooden boat and a
tree that dominated the right
foreground, bottom to top.
“This is amazing,” was all I
could say.
“Do you like that picture?”
The owner of the salon, Vivian’s
landlady, asked as she rolled
grayish hair around a curler.
“Yes. I’ve never seen anything like it; and I love the
blue monotone.”
“Take it; it’s yours.” She
didn’t slow down, didn’t miss
a curl.
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yes, take it. I have another
one at home. Mother gave these
prints to each of her children
years ago, and I’ve had this one
hanging in the salon so long it’s
lost all its color except for the
blue. So you take this one; it’s
done its due here.”
Her spontaneous, generous act astonished me. I told
almost everyone I know about
what she did. I couldn’t think of
anything to show her my heart’s
full gratitude, but I took her
a brightly colored croton the
next day. I know she expected
nothing in return, and I know
my show of gratitude was nothing compared to her authentic
generosity.
Several days later, a young
technician came to the house
Continued on page 3
Today
8:30 a.m.
Worship
9:00 a.m.
Hospitality Ministry Team brunch
James Gallery
9:40 a.m.
Preschool birthday party for Jesus
9:40 a.m.
Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Worship
12:00 p.m. One Starry
Night group Room 1205-G
12:30 p.m. Carillon Ringers
3:00 p.m. Youth bells
6:30 p.m. Hanging of the Green service
8:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir party
Comm. Hall
Monday, Dec. 7
10:00 a.m. 42 Monday
Room 1205-G
7:00 p.m.
Wilshire Winds
Tuesday, Dec. 8
12:00 p.m. New Song Christmas luncheon
Comm. Hall
12:15 p.m. Yoga
Room 3208
7:00 p.m.
Inclusion and Diversity
Study Group
Wednesday, Dec. 9
11:00 a.m. Koinonia Café Comm. Hall
12:00 p.m. Church conf.
& Bible study Comm. Hall
5:00 p.m. Spanish as
Second Lang.
Room 3202
5:00 p.m. Children’s bells
5:00 p.m. Koinonia Café
Comm. Hall
5:15 p.m.
Adopt a Book James Gallery
6:00 p.m. 4th, 5th and
6th grade
missions
outing
6:00 p.m. Church Conf.
and preschool
Christmas
pageant
Sanctuary
6:00 p.m. MOPS
Steering
Room 3203
Continued on page 2
Another Voice
Thanks-getting
This past week I sat in the
airport waiting for my flight,
and to help the time pass by
I decided to listen to some
music. However, the musical
soundings of Patti LaBelle
and Ed Sheeran were interrupted by a brief commercial
from a cell phone provider.
Now, for someone who loves
Thanksgiving and even becomes arbitrarily upset when
people play Christmas music or
put up Christmas decorations
before Thanksgiving, I became
enraged with this
commercial. If
you haven’t heard
or seen the commercial before, it
changes the holiday’s name from
“Thanksgiving” to
“Thanks-getting.”
Our society
has continued to place high
standards on self and gain.
The day after many of us have
broken bread with family and
friends and shared gratitude,
we forget it all. We forget the
millions who wished they had
bread to break or those who
desired to be in the company
of family and friends. All
through Friday and most of
Saturday, social media and
news anchors told of the
fights, wrath and harm that
happened on Black Friday.
From those stories it seems
obvious that many of us forgot
about the day before. Because,
well, it’s “Thanks-getting.”
While Thanksgiving may be
over, I hope we approach each
day never forgetting Paul’s
words to the elders in Ephesus, “It is more blessed to give
than to receive.” It seems we
hear this Scripture only when
the offering plate is passed
around, and we might even
block out the words. But at
its core, this Scripture is filled
with much truth. When we
participate in giving our time,
talents and money, change
happens. It is
through giving
that our mission
partner Gateway
of Grace was able
to serve more
than 250 refugees Thanksgiving dinner.
Through the
giving of your
time and talents, Wilshire
becomes a better place and a
closer community; just think about the faces
of so many children during
One Starry Night.
If you are worried about receiving something back for all
that you may give, remember
this counsel: “Through our
giving we receive.” It may not
be a new 55-inch television or
20 gigs of data for the price of
10. It could be the tiniest bit
of hope of change in another’s
life. I don’t know about you,
but for me, that means our
giving is worth much more
than getting.
—Timothy Peoples
This Week at Wilshire
Continued from page 1
Wednesday, Dec. 9
6:30 p.m. Watershed, Youth Center
Thursday, Dec. 10
1:30 p.m. Knit Unto Others, Parlor
Friday, Dec. 11
11:00 a.m. Charlie’s Angels Christmas party, James Gallery
5:00 p.m. Compass Class Christmas party, James Gallery
6:30 p.m. Children’s Christmas crafts night
Saturday, Dec. 12
9:00 a.m. Handbells rehearsal, Sanctuary
12:00 p.m. Open Bible Class Christmas party, James Gallery
Wednesdays at Wilshire
This Wednesday, Koinonia Café and the noon Bible study
will continue as usual, with a called church conference held
also at noon to consider the 2016 budget and nominating
reports. The evening edition of Koinonia Café will continue
as usual at 5 p.m. However, in place of the normal Bible
study, all adults are invited to attend the preschool
Christmas pageant in the Sanctuary, which will be preceded
by the called church conference. On Wednesday, Dec. 16,
lunch will be served in James Gallery and a special program
of Christmas music will be offered by Doug Haney and Jeff
Brummel. In the evening Dec. 16, only Sanctuary Choir
will meet, and dinner will not be served. All Wednesday
programs will take a hiatus for the Christmas and New Year
holidays, Dec. 23 and 30.
Koinonia Café
Dec. 9: Carved round of beef, Southern fried chicken, wild
garden rice, glazed carrots, steamed broccoli, okra and
tomatoes, spinach salad, cheese biscuits, pecan pie.
Condolences to
xFamily and friends on the death of Andy Kostanden Nov.
30.
x Tim and Jane Morgan on the loss of Tim’s aunt, Lila
Morgan.
x Ann Hamm on the death of her husband, Ron Hamm,
Nov. 28.
x Family and friends on the death of Sara Carlyle, Nov. 27.
x Family and friends on the death of Marie Lanius, nonresident member residing in Seattle.
New members
x Kerry Horton
x Tara Horton
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
UNIFIED BUDGET
BASIC NEEDS: We’re within about $200,000 of
$3,814,359
RECEIVED YTD
$4,0
covering the church’s basic operating needs for 2015.
After that goal is reached, gifts to the Unified Budget
will begin to overflow into the four special buckets
that fund new and innovative work beyond our basic
needs. Making the overflow happen, though, requires
reaching beyond the first-level goal to the fill the Unified Budget goal.
00,0
$325,000
OUR VISION: When the
00
$355,000
Operating Budget is met, gifts
to the Unified Budget overflow
into our visionary work, providing funding for the Building
Reserve, Pathways to Ministry,
Missions Plus Fund and Vision
20/20 new initiatives.
$200,000
$190,000
Generosity becomes its own good gift
Continued from page 1
to install the equipment for
my new Internet provider. The
entire sequence of subscribing,
marshaling the needed modem,
net gear, USB link, and of being
bounced from person-to-person over the phone had already
dimmed my enthusiasm for a
new, less-expensive system.
The young installer,
though, was fresh and upbeat
and waited with me while the
company kept us on hold. In
those lulls, we drank iced tea
and talked about what we
liked to do. “I bet you really
like all this technical problemsolving,” I ventured.
“No, not really. It’s a good
job, and I’m good at it, but I
really love music. I love acous-
tic guitar, and I’m learning
how to play.” He showed me a
paper with lines representing
guitar strings and with circles
showing where fingers go to
make the various chords.
“What guitar are you playing?”
“Well, right now I’m saving
up to buy a good acoustic.
I practice on a board, and
sometimes my friend lets me
borrow his guitar.”
“Wait right here.”
I went upstairs and found
my classical Aria guitar that
I haven’t played since the
early 1980s. I took the guitar
in its case and a music stand
downstairs.
“Here ya go.” I offered him
the guitar and stand.
His mouth opened, eyes
widened; for an instant, he
was speechless. Then: “What?
Are you kidding me? Are you
serious?“ Laughing, opening
the case, touching the strings,
picking up the guitar and
hugging it, turning around
and around, almost dancing.
Breathless: “I can never thank
you enough.”
“You don’t have to. All you
have to do is come over and
play me a tune sometime.”
“Oh, I will, I will!”
The point here is that being
generous affects both giver and
recipient in positive ways, moving inwardly and outwardly
on both sides of the equation.
The generosity of the salon
owner, a woman I hardly know,
astonishes me still, as I try to
understand how her almost
matter-of-fact gesture has had
such a powerful effect on me.
Without her grand gift, I
wonder whether I would have
thought about the guitar in
my closet while listening to
the young man, let alone have
given it to him. And in giving
it away, I had no expectation
of his reciprocal gift of unaffected, exuberant joy. I cherish his gift of joy as much as
I cherish the salon lady’s gift
of the faded print depicting
Jesus’ life. And just as Jesus
changes lives for the good, so
generosity changes lives as it
circulates among us, often appearing when least expected
as its own good gift.
3
One person’s story:
Why I’m a volunteer
By Jimmy Ward
On Monday, Aug. 31, this
year I retired. My wife asked
me what I was going to do on
the days when I was not playing golf; she further informed
me I needed other activities
outside the house, as her primary office is there.
Then she asked if I wanted
to go to prison with her the
Friday after my retirement
date—not a scheduled golf day
in my new retirement schedule. She already was planning
to go to the graduation of the
first Prison Entrepreneurship
Program class to be held at
the Sanders-Estes Facility in
Venus as a representative of
Wilshire. She forwarded me
the email with the details,
I looked at the website and
said, “Let’s go.”
When we arrived, we went
through a metal detector, a
“wanding,” and then a pat
down. Yes, we were in prison.
The next thing we heard was
loud shouting and clapping.
It was a little unnerving until we reached
the lunch room for the
prison and saw what
was going on. The
volunteers were met
by a receiving line of
the PEP participants
who were clapping for
us, shaking our hands
and high-fiving us.
While we were in the lunch
room waiting for all of the
volunteers to arrive, I realized
how humbled I was with the
program and the men in it. As
the day went on and we heard
from several of the current
prisoners waiting to graduate
from PEP and from others who had graduated and
been released, I knew then I
needed to continue volunteering for this program. I now
had the time and certainly
the enthusiasm to continue
and do more if possible. After
spending 45 years in the
business world, I believe I
can help the men as they go
forward with their lives.
Along with the six-month
program in which I will go
once a month to work with
the men, give constructive
4
Jimmy Ward didn’t know he
would get to test his dancing
skills when he volunteered
with the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, but he did just
that as part of the celebration
for inmates graduating from
the program in September. The
graduation party was funded
by a grant from Wilshire’s
Missions Plus Fund.
help on their business plans
and other aspects of their
program, I am looking into
becoming a mentor, where
I will spend about one hour
a week with one parolee,
helping them cope with the
outside world.
Why did I volunteer? This
is a Christ-based program that
is having a serious,
life-changing impact
on dozens of men each
year. Not only are
Christian principles
being taught, but
these men are being
shown how to use
those principles to improve their own lives,
the lives of their loved ones
and their own communities.
PEP goes beyond just preaching the gospel; it is teaching
these men how to “fish.”
I now have the time: I want
to give back to our community
and to the men so valiantly
trying to turn their lives
around who hopefully can
use my help. There is simply
no worthier cause that I have
seen operating to which to
give my time and talent.
To learn more about how
you can be part of Wilshire’s
partnership with the Prison
Entrepreneurship Program,
contact Heather Mustain at
[email protected]
or (214) 452-3110. And to be
part of Wilshire’s undergirding support for PEP, contribute to the church’s Unified
Budget.
Briefly ...
x Men’s ski trip. All Wilshire men are invited to the an-
nual men’s ski trip led by Senior Pastor George Mason and
Doug Hill. The dates are Feb. 2-6. The location is Copper
Mountain, Colo. Packages are available for both skiers and
non-skiers. Cost for lodging, lift and equipment rentals is
$540 per person. Cost for lodging and lift only is $480 per
person. Cost for lodging only is $330 per person. Additional
costs include airport shuttle, insurance and food. Air travel
will be booked individually or through Sports Travel. Register online at wilshirebc .org/registration or with Sports
Travel at (214) 341-9777, ext. 109.
x Children’s Christmas crafts night. Come kick off the
Advent season with a little creativity. All first through sixth
graders are invited to participate in Wilshire’s Children’s
Christmas Crafts Night on Friday, Dec. 11, from 6:30 to
9:30 p.m. in Room 2220. All supplies, instructions and
leadership will be provided, as well as a snack during the
evening, but please make sure your child has had dinner
beforehand. Register online at www.wilshirebc.org/registra
tion by Sunday, Dec. 6. Preschool child care also is available by reservation to Joan Hammons at jhammons@
wilshirebc.org by Dec. 6.
x Adopt a Book. The annual Adopt-a-Book program
continues this Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in
James Gallery. Newly purchased children’s and young adult
books will be on display. For half the original cost of the
book, a book may be adopted to honor a volunteer in the
preschool, children’s or youth ministries or to honor special
family members or friends. Gift plates are placed in the
books recognizing the honoree and donor. Cards are sent to
honorees to let them know of the adoption. Cash and checks
are welcomed.
x Personal protection for women and girls. A seminar
on personal protection for women and girls will be offered
by the Dallas Police Department on Monday, Dec. 7, from 7
to 8:30 p.m. at the KC Club Hall, 10110 Shoreview. All are
invited to attend. The neighborhood event is sponsored by
Safer Dallas, White Rock Lake Partnership and Lakewood
Crime Watch/ Lakewood Neighborhood Association.
x Visit the Giving Tree. The
Giving Tree is now available
in James Gallery. Select a tag
off the tree with gift needs
listed from children and
families involved in our local
mission partners’ ministries.
Purchase the suggested
items and return them to the
church office. Help also is
needed to deliver gifts to our
partners. Contact Heather
Mustain at hmustain@
wilshirebc.org or (214) 4523110.
Dallas Marathon
Wilshire water station
Sunday, Dec. 13
Gift ideas
for adult
parents
Here’s a hint for the adult children of older adults
who are looking for Christmas gift ideas for their
parents: How about sending them on a Wilshire Adventurers trip in 2016? They’ll enjoy fellowship with
friends, get to see new places and experience new
things. This is a gift that will keep on giving.
Station location: 6921 Tokalon Drive, which is mile 12 on
the marathon route. From Wilshire, go south on Abrams
Road to Lakeshore Drive or Lakewood Boulevard. Traffic
flow along Abrams should not be obstructed during the
race. Carpooling is encouraged for volunteers. The best option for parking will be on neighborhood streets north and
west of the station.
Volunteer duties: Most runners will pass this station between 9 and 11 a.m. The bulk of our volunteers are needed
during this window. No RSVP or special training is necessary to participate as a volunteer, and you are not locked
into set times or a specific amount of time. Just show up
and help hand out water and cheer on the runners. Watch
the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
Want to know more? Water station coordinator is David
Boone [email protected], (214) 289-3778.
Two major trips are planned in 2016:
Young at Heart Senior Adult Camp
April 4-8 in Branson, Mo.
Young at Heart Camp is a camp designed just for active
senior adults. We’ve got essential camp activities, like arts
and crafts, Bible study, music and lots of fun. We’ll attend the brand new “Moses” show at the Sight and Sound
Theater, worship in the beautiful chapel at College of the
Ozarks, have lunch aboard the Branson Belle and take
in the shows and crafts at Silver Dollar City. On the way
home, we’ll stop in Eureka Springs for sightseeing and
lunch, including a visit to the Thorncrown Chapel.
All-inclusive cost is $645 per person based on double occupancy. Registration includes roundtrip transportation from
Dallas to Branson, four nights of lodging at the Radisson
Hotel in Branson, admission to all shows and attractions,
plus all but two meals. Register with a $50 per person
deposit. Register with Kathi Lyle at [email protected],
(214) 452-3130.
Fall trip to California
Hollywood to Hearst Castle
Sept. 8-15
We’ll fly from Love Field to Los Angeles to begin a weeklong journey through Hollywood movie studios, museums
and historical sites. Destinations include Warner Bros. Studio, Sony Pictures Studio, Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith
Observatory, the Getty Center, Santa Monica Pier, The
Queen Mary, the Grammy Museum, Los Angeles County
Museum of Art, Petersen Automotive Museum, space
shuttle Endeavor, historic Santa Barbara, Hearst Castle,
Solvang, and the Reagan Presidential Library.
Costs have not yet been finalized but will be less than
$2,000 per person including airfare, seven nights of lodging and all attractions. Register with a $100 per person
deposit. Register with Kathi Lyle at [email protected],
(214) 452-3130.
Wilshire Women’s Retreat
Pine Cove | Feb. 26-28
$174 per person
Registration deadline is Sunday, Dec. 13.
Register online at
wilshirebc.org/registration
Preschool pageant
All are invited to the preschool Christmas
pageant this Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.
in the Sanctuary. The program also
will be live streamed on the
Wilshire website.
5
Wilshire gratefully acknowledges
those who gave poinsettias to
beautify the Sanctuary. The love
expressed through these flowers is
dedicated to the Lord and Savior
whose birth we celebrate.
Aidan Alost in honor of Mary
Blanche Wilson
Caleb Alost in honor of Carline
Pelt
Nolan Alost in memory of
Alma Alost
Amy, Cory, Bryn and Whit Anderson in memory of Zane
Thomas Anderson
Amy, Cory, Bryn and Whit Anderson in memory of Bradley
Thomas Newsom
Amy, Cory, Bryn and Whit Anderson in honor of Dot and
Asa Newsom
Jeri Baker in honor of Barbara
Peterson
Jeri Baker in memory of Stan
Baker
Jeri Baker in honor of Wilshire
Library Committee and
volunteers
Jeri Baker in honor of
Wilshire’s music ministry
Jeri Baker in honor of Stephen
Ministry
Jeri Baker in honor of the Mark
Wingfield family
Jeri Baker in honor of
Wilshire’s support staff
Patti, Ken, Cody and Kyle Baker and Kate Baker Lane in
memory of Teresa Newtown
Patti, Ken, Cody and Kyle
Baker and Kate Baker Lane
in memory of Emily Ann
Meyer
The Banta Class in memory of
Mike, Kyle and Kris Clark
Sherry and Fred Brown in
memory of Alice and Furnon
Darby
Sherry and Fred Brown in
memory of Mable Lou and
Ralph Brown
Monna Brown in memory of
A.D. Brown
Monna Brown in memory of
Teresa Newtown
Avonne and Stan Bullock in
memory of Kathy Cabaniss
Avonne and Stan Bullock in
memory of Mr. and Mrs.
Clarence Raley
Charles Burgin in memory of
Shirley Burgin
Charlie’s Angels Class in
memory of Ray Hall
Britt Clure in memory of Richard Watt
Pat and Fred Cullum in honor
of Jessica Capps
Pat and Fred Cullum in honor
of Tiffany Wright
Pat and Fred Cullum in honor
of Wilshire Stephen Min-
6
isters
Laurie and Mike Diffee in
memory of Shirley Sanders
Laurie and Mike Diffee in
honor of Sherry and Pat
Hicks
Laurie and Mike Diffee in
honor of Wilshire’s music
staff
Peggy Earthman in memory of
Dave Fitzgerald
Peggy Earthman in memory of
Ruby Fitzgerald
Peggy Earthman in honor of
Davanel Fitzgerald
Angie and Tony Francis in
memory of Elizabeth Francis
Little and Max Francis
Angie and Tony Francis in
memory of Viola and Edgar
Beshears
Barbara and Don Floyd in
honor of Max Post
Barbara and Don Floyd in honor
of Kim and George Mason
Barbara and Don Floyd in
honor of Meredith, Matt and
Parker Mosley
Barbara and Don Floyd in
honor of Clairene and Fred
Herold
The Friendship Class in honor
of Pat Cullum
The Friendship Class in honor
of Bob Harty
The Friendship Class in honor
of Donna Bryan
The Friendship Class in honor
of Lynn Hamon
The Friendship Class in honor
of Linda James
The Friendship Class in honor
of Joanne Niemann
The Friendship Class in honor
of Carol Smith
Joe Groner in memory of Katie
Michelle Ray
Jenyce Gush in memory of Jill
Gush Hrncir
Jenyce Gush in memory of
Mimi Basden
Jenyce Gush in honor of Jenna
Worthen
Jenyce Gush in honor of Jeri
Baker
Charlene James and family in
memory of Bill James
Jackie Krieger in memory of Al
Krieger
Dot Laux in memory of Ed
Laux
Carol and Phil Laquey in
memory of Bart Willams,
Zim Zawadzki and Joe
Lancaster
Carol and Phil Laquey in
memory of Frona Laquey
and Frances Haines
Carol and Phil Laquey in
memory of Margaret and Bill
Cothrum
Carol and Phil Laquey in memory of Nancy Laquey Parnell
and Phillip DeLaRosa
Carol and Phil Laquey in honor
of Kay and Craig Keith
Debbie and Marc LaChey in
honor of Joy and Charlie
Fenner
Debbie and Marc LaChey in
honor of Adrienne, Sean and
Savannah Lothery
Debbie and Marc LaChey in
honor of Catherine LaChey
Debbie and Marc LaChey in
honor of Bob Lydecker
Joy and Don Lee in memory of
Ron Hamm
Penni Lewis in memory of
Ruth and Ben Lewis
Kathy Malesovas and Russell
Malesovas in memory of
Billy Malesovas
Angie Moore in memory of
Marilyn Moore
Marcelle and Wayne Moore in
memory of Teresa Newtown
Marcelle and Wayne Moore
in memory of Emily Anne
Meyer
Shaeron and Mike Moorhead
in memory of Katie Moorhead, Tom Moorhead and
Lois and Jesse McWherter
Shaeron and Mike Moorhead
in honor of Joyce Moorhead
and Spencer Moorhead
Shaeron and Mike Moorhead
in honor of the Compass
Class
Barbara Peterson in memory of
Arnold Peterson
Barbara Peterson in honor of
the Compass Class
Barbara Peterson in honor of
Phyllis and Joe Gross
Barbara Peterson in honor of
Charlotte and Bill Bruster
Barbara Nelson in memory of
Carl D. Nelson
Joe Park in memory of Wanda
Park
Lyn and Ross Prater in memory
of Billy Malesovas
Lyn and Ross Prater in honor
of Connie and Guy Smith
Lyn and Ross Prater in honor
of Jane and Tim Morgan
The Rivenes family in memory
of Kay Rivenes
The Rivenes family in memory
of Kelly Sparkman
The Roden family in memory
of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon
Roden
The Roden family in memory of
Eleanor and Ron Gregory
The Roden family in memory
of Julia and King Stockton
Stephanie Rogers in memory of
Timothy Rogers
Stephanie Rogers in honor of
Melinda and Norman Rogers
Stephanie Rogers in memory of
Margaret Sayre
Peggy and Joe Rose in memory
of Charlotte and Jack Wingfield
Peggy and Joe Rose in honor of
Alison, Mark, Luke and Garrett Wingfield
Peggy and Joe Rose in memory
of Mary and T.L. Wileman
Peggy and Joe Rose in memory
of Andy Wileman
Peggy and Joe Rose in memory
of Frances and Harold Dudley
Rhonda and Lee Russell in
honor of Lee and Andrew
Rhonda and Lee Russell in
honor of Lindsay, Davys and
Issabella
Rhonda and Lee Russell in
honor of Barbara Nelson
Norman W. Stepter in memory
of Maureen B. Stepter
Norman W. Stepter in memory
of Uralee Farell
Sondra Wallis in memory of
Evelyn and Richard Wallis
Dorothy Welch in memory of
John Welch
Daon and Bryan Ward in
memory of Sandra Ward
The Wilshire staff in memory
of Teresa Newtown
Alison and Mark Wingfield
in memory of Karen Rose
Turner
Alison and Mark Wingfield in
memory of Bill and Avanell
Lacy
Alison and Mark Wingfield in
memory of Karen Austin
Alison and Mark Wingfield in
honor of Bert Truax, Mark
McKenzie, Doug Haney and
James Feltenberger
Jennifer Wolff in memory of
Fred Wolff
Jennifer Wolff in memory of
Willie Mitchell
Jennifer Wolff in memory of
Cynthia Mitchell
What will be
your starring
role?
One Starry Night is a churchwide event that offers
connections for everyone, regardless of age.
What is One Starry Night? It’s an interactive Bethlehem
experience that will be created in Community Hall,
James Gallery and the Prayer Garden on Friday night,
Dec. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. Wilshire will bring the Advent story to
life. And doing so requires a huge cast of characters. Find
your starring role. Contact LeAnn Hampton, (214) 693-7335
or [email protected] for more information.
Help set up
Creating the shops and scenes of Bethlehem will require a week of intensive work,
and lots of help is needed. Come volunteer
Monday, Dec. 14, 4 to 6 p.m. and 6 to 8
p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
and 4 to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 16, 11
a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 to 3 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m. and
6 to 8 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m., 4 to 6 p.m., 6 to 8 p.m.;
and Friday, Dec. 18, 10:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m., 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Spread the word
Pick up a stack of door hangers in
the South Atrium and help us
distribute them in your
neighborhood or to your
friends and coworkers.
Also, help share the word
on social media.
Participate
Plan to attend
One Starry Night and
enjoy the experience.
Bring a friend. Also,
greeters are still needed
in the parking lots.
7
Youth fall retreat
8
The numbers
Report for Nov. 29
Sunday School
Officers................................17
Preschool.......................... 60
Children............................ 78
Youth.................................. 61
Young adult...................... 76
Median adult.................. 188
Senior adult.................... 161
Total present............... 641
Total previous week....... 805
Total last year................... 743
Generosity
Unified Budget received
$67,587
Unified Budget projected
$81,223
Unified Budget YTD
$3,814,359
Unified Budget projected
$4,416,533
Pathways Endowment
received YTD
$249,402
Pathways Endowment
current fund value
$3,601,714
December 31 goal
$5,076,475
December 1 goal
$4,416,533
November 1 goal
$4,010,415
October 1 goal
$3,655,062
September 1 goal
$3,299,708
August 1 goal
$2,842,826
July 1 goal
$2,462,090
June 1 goal
$2,055,972
May 1 goal
$1,649,854
April 1 goal
$1,269,118
March 1 goal
$812,235
February 1 goal
$456,882
Unified Budget
I Am Wilshire
Harper McKenzie
High school junior Harper
McKenzie has been a trailblazer at Wilshire. She has
consistently participated
in youth activities, but she
recently made her mark during her involvement in Vision
20/20. While serving on the
Grow Team, she suggested that
Wilshire youth be given more
opportunities to be involved in
other ways, such as serving on
church committees.
Wilshire’s youth are now
represented on several committees, including the lay
support teams for pastoral
residents, the Churchwide
Social Committee and Missions Committee. And most
recently, high school senior
Rebecca Francis was named
to the Inclusion and Diversity
Study Group.
The daughter of Mark and
Geri McKenzie, Harper has
lived in Dallas and attended
Wilshire all her life. In third
grade she was diagnosed with
dyslexia. “My teachers couldn’t
believe it because I was doing
well in school,” she said. “However, I was reading slowly and
had difficulties with spelling.
That’s when I transferred to the
Shelton School.
“Everyone there has a
learning difference. That’s
what unites us,” she explained.
“The school is small, and
we’ve created a really good
community.”
Harper is involved with
Shelton’s yearbook committee. “I take pictures, design
the spreads for the sections
and work on the student-life
section for the younger children,” she said. “I enjoy doing
something for everyone in the
school.”
She is a member of the
National Honor Society, and
since last year she has writ-
ten dialogue for the school’s
“thriving and growing” film
department.
Writing is Harper’s passion.
Even before starting school,
she made up stories featuring
her dolls and stuffed animals.
“All of my life has been story-centric,” she said. “I started
writing in middle school. I’ve
written two novels, one of
them self-published through a
website, and I’m now working
on a third. I like
to write realistic
fiction for teens,
not romances or
comedies about
shenanigans.”
Harper has
sung alto with
the Children’s
Chorus of
Greater Dallas
since sixth
grade. “We do
major concerts at the
Meyerson Symphony Center every year and
take tours every other year.
Our previous tours include
trips to Paris, New York and
Boston, and next June we will
be singing in London.”
She made her profession
of faith in second grade, and
over the years she has participated in several of Wilshire’s
camps and programs: music
camp is her favorite, along
with YourCall events, Watershed, children’s choirs and the
youth fall retreat.
Harper also has put her
skills to work by writing for
Wilshire’s Advent devotional
book three times as a teenager, including this year.
She has had additional
interesting opportunities
at Wilshire because her
mother is the administrator of
Wilshire’s Pathways to Minis-
try program. Since her freshman year, she has been the
unofficial “resident mascot,”
she said. Harper previously
helped the new pastoral residents find places to live and
now helps them move into the
houses on Resident Row.
Harper is definite about
what she wants to do when
she graduates from high
school in 2017. “I want to
major in creative writing at a
small liberal arts college in
the Northeast,”
she explained.
“I’ve been on
visits to Emerson
College in Boston;
Hampshire College
in Amherst, Mass.;
Sarah Lawrence
College in Yonkers,
N.Y.; and Ithaca
College in Ithaca,
N.Y.
“My favorite was
Hampshire,” she
said. “It felt right. I
felt at home and comfortable
with the people, and I felt a
creative sense.”
Last summer Harper
participated in a two-week
creative writing workshop at
Lake Forest College in Chicago. “It was great to be among
like-minded people,” she said.
“The experience solidified my
life calling.”
Britt Carlson, a previous
pastoral resident who is now
serving as the interim pastor
of a church in Washington,
was Harper’s YourCall mentor
in her freshman and sophomore years.
“Wilshire has provided the
foundation of who I am as a
human being,” Harper said.
“The church has taught me
that it is OK to ask questions
and that I could and should
think for myself.”
Attention, users of Sanctuary hearing devices: With the installation of a new sound
system in the Sanctuary, the old assisted hearing devices no longer work there. New
devices are available to borrow each Sunday in the Narthex and South Atrium. Some of
these are loops equipped to interact wirelessly with Bluetooth-equipped hearing aids.
The new devices will not be checked out or assigned for personal use, as before. All
hearing devices should remain at the church. If you have an old hearing device that you
kept at home, please return it to the church office; the old system is to be installed in
McIver Chapel for use at funerals and other special services.
9
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- and
the four-digit extension:
Wilshire Baptist Church
4316 Abrams Rd
Dallas TX 75214
PERIODICALS
RATE
Pastoral offices
George Mason (3132)
Debby Burton (3132)
Mark Wingfield (3128)
Kathi Lyle (3130)
Pathways to Ministry
Geri McKenzie (3159)
Erica Whitaker (3156)
Matthew Broyles (3154)
Timothy Peoples (3153)
Joshua Thiering (3155)
Business offices
David Nabors (3157)
Lori Gooden (3131)
Susan Kimball (3108)
Dale Pride (3101)
Sandy Allen (3150; sgallen)
Beverly Faubion (3111)
Adam Scheuermann (3136)
Age-graded ministries
Jessica Capps (3129)
Darren DeMent (3102)
Julie Girards (3103)
Joan Hammons (3141)
Holly Irvin (3106)
Care ministries
Tiffany Wright (3107)
Debby Burton (3132)
Missions/advocacy offices
Heather Mustain (3110)
Katie Murray (3126)
Sandy Allen (3150)
Music offices
Doug Haney (3123)
Sarah Stafford (3121)
Barbara Clayton (3125)
Jeff Brummel (3122)
Food services
Chris Terry (3117)
Weekday Education
Mary Browder (3115)
Parish nurse
Linda Garner (3151)
Library
Jeri Baker (3114)
Reception desk
(214) 452-3165
10
Please be considerate
about where you park
Your help is needed on behalf of Wilshire’s youngest and
oldest congregants. Designated parking spaces are marked
out for both preschool drop-off and for handicapped parking, but often these spaces are being taken by able-bodied
people with no children in tow.
As a result, parents wrangling babies have had problems
unloading and some senior adults with physical limitations
have returned home without attending church because they
could not secure a suitable parking space.
The south parking lot, the small lot near McIver Chapel,
is reserved on Sunday mornings for guests and for those
with physical limitations. Able-bodied people of any age
should not park in this lot on Sunday mornings unless they
are guests.
In the north parking lot, several spaces closest to the
building are clearly marked as a “preschool drop-off ” zone
on Sunday mornings. Parents of preschoolers are allowed to
park here briefly while they bring their babies and preschoolers into church. Once the children are inside, cars
should be moved to allow others to drop off their preschoolers. Parents also use these spaces to pick their preschoolers after Sunday School or worship, so these spaces should
not be used for unattended parking at any time on Sunday
mornings.
Thank you for helping us make Wilshire accessible to all
people.
On Sunday mornings, the
South lot is reserved for guests
and for congregants with
physical limitations. If you
are able-bodied, please do not
park in this lot.
On Sunday mornings, several
spaces near the building in
the north lot are reserved for
preschool pick-up and dropoff. Please do not park here
unless you are dropping off or
picking up preschoolers.