March 29, 2020Fifth Sunday in Lent

How does one prepare for worship when we’re as scattered as we are today? When you can come to worship in your pajamas with breakfast laid out in front of you, how much preparation do you really need?

Having been at home watching the livestream along with you the last two Sundays instead of being present in the Sanctuary, I get how hard it is to turn our minds toward worship. No car ride to change the scene. No pews to sit in and reflect before the service. None of the usual people on the pew adjacent. No printed worship folder to hold in your hand.

As many of us are discovering with the current work-at-home scheme, it’s hard to suddenly make your living space your workspace without major distraction. We are so easily distracted. At church, we more likely find the meaning of the word “sanctuary” as a place set apart, a place of reverence and quiet, a place to talk to and hear from God. A place where we’re not tempted to get up and wash the dirty dishes or change the laundry when the buzzer goes off.

The challenge of these days is finding focus. Oh, my! There is so much to distract us right

now. The constant news cycle, the constant worry, the need to adapt our work and keep an income stream going, the kids with schooling at home, the normal life illnesses that we worry might be the first signs of something much

worse, news of friends and family for whom something worse has indeed happened.

The church where I grew up in Oklahoma didn’t have fancy stained glass windows to tell Bible stories. It was a quickly built church of 1960s suburban growth. But under the balcony, on the little lip of plain wood molding you saw when you sat in the back of the sanctuary, someone had placed small strips of Manila poster paper — the kind you might have seen on classroom bulletin boards — with handwritten Bible verses. One of those that I remember to this day was from Psalm 46:10 — “Be still and know that I am God.”

Why would a wiggly elementary-age Mark remember that verse? Because it was so hard to obey. It was hard to be still. It still is hard to be still.

Maybe we all should take out a piece of paper right now and write out this simple reminder to place on the top of our computer screens, tablets or televisions: Be still and know that I am God.

Wherever you are seated as you prepare for worship today, let us together find stillness, remembering the experience of the prophet Elijah, who did not find God in the whirlwind or in the fire or in the earthquake — but instead found God in the still small voice. Listen.

—Mark Wingfield

Preparing for worship

ON THE COVER: The Raising of Lazarus (after Rembrandt), Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, May 1890. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.

Wilshire Baptist Church4316 Abrams Road | Dallas, Texas 75214

(214) 452-3100 | www.wilshirebc.orgPartnered with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Building a Community of Faith Shaped by the Spirit of Jesus Christ

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March 29, 202011:00 a.m.

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Pre-service Music Ralph Manuel

Chiming of the Hour

Prelude Great Is Thy Faithfulness arr. John Innes

Opening Sentences Jessica Capps

Although scattered far, we gather today. Although diverse in many ways, we find unity today. Although burdened and fearful, we find peace today. And although aware more than ever of our mortality, we find hope today in the sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth, who humbled himself and became obedient unto death — for our sake. In this Lenten season, we are reminded that the darkness is coming, that Jesus’ betrayal looms near. To help us remember this coming darkness, we extinguish the fifth in a series of Lenten candles, knowing the light of Christ is dimming but cannot be hid. Even as the darkness comes, may God be in us.

Hymn In Our Homes, We Meet to Worship hyfrydol

In our homes, we meet to worship, far away from sacred space.By the Spirit, Christ is with us, making this a holy place.

In these days of social distance, we are called to meet apart.Still we pray for one another, hold each other in our heart.

If this time indeed is holy, we must keep it truly so.Even in our isolation, God’s rich blessings overflow.

We avoid the world’s distractions, set our minds on things above:Patience, kindness, goodness, mercy, faith, joy, peace, abiding love.

– Text by R.G. Huff

Greeting to Worshipers George Mason

Reading — Psalm 130 Jessica Capps

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

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A ti, Señor, elevo mi clamor desde las profundidades del abismo. Escucha, Señor, mi voz. Estén atentos tus oídos a mi voz suplicante. Si tú, Señor, tomaras en cuenta los pecados, ¿quién, Señor, sería declarado inocente? Pero en ti se halla perdón, y por eso debes ser temido. Espero al Señor, lo espero con toda el alma; en su palabra he puesto mi esperanza. Espero al Señor con toda el alma, más que los centinelas la mañana. Como esperan los centinelas la mañana, así tú, Israel, espera al Señor. Porque en él hay amor inagotable; en él hay plena redención. Él mismo redimirá a Israel de todos sus pecados.

Chaplaincy Testimony Alan Wright

Hymn How Firm A Foundation foundationStanzas 1, 2, 5 only

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he has said,To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for reposeI will not, I will not desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.

Invitation to Give Mark Wingfield

We’re not able to pass a physical offering plate on Sunday mornings right now, but the need for your financial generosity continues. The church has made a commitment to continue to pay its staff, including hourly workers, during the pandemic closures. Our staff members are working harder than ever, shifting to online formats and coordinating the needs of the church in new ways. We’re also continuing to fund our global and local missions partners who are deeply engaged in essential work. Thank you for helping Wilshire be a beacon of light in this time. If you’ve not yet set up online giving, it’s easy to do. Visit our online giving page at www.wilshirebc.org/give to choose from several options.

Prayers of the People Mark Wingfield

Anthem Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Eric NelsonSanctuary Choir

LeAnn Hampton, flute; Zach Mansell, celloRecorded on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017

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What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms;What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms;Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms?I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Gospel Reading — John 11:1–6, 11–26 Leigh Curl

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” … When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

This is the word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

Había un hombre enfermo llamado Lázaro, que era de Betania, el pueblo de María y Marta, sus hermanas. María era la misma que ungió con perfume al Señor, y le secó los pies con sus cabellos. Las dos hermanas mandaron a decirle a Jesús: “Señor, tu amigo querido está enfermo.” Cuando

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Jesús oyó esto, dijo: “Esta enfermedad no terminará en muerte, sino que es para la gloria de Dios, para que por ella el Hijo de Dios sea glorificado.” Jesús amaba a Marta, a su hermana y a Lázaro. A pesar de eso, cuando oyó que Lázaro estaba enfermo, se quedó dos días más donde se encontraba. ... Dicho esto, añadió: “Nuestro amigo Lázaro duerme, pero voy a despertarlo.” Respondieron sus discípulos, “Señor, si duerme, es que va a recuperarse.” Jesús les hablaba de la muerte de Lázaro, pero sus discípulos pensaron que se refería al sueño natural. Por eso les dijo claramente: “Lázaro ha muerto, y por causa de ustedes me alegro de no haber estado allí, para que crean. Pero vamos a verlo.” Entonces Tomás, apodado el Gemelo, dijo a los otros discípulos: “Vayamos también nosotros, para morir con él.” Jesús consuela a las hermanas de Lázaro. A su llegada, Jesús se encontró con que Lázaro llevaba ya cuatro días en el sepulcro. Betania estaba cerca de Jerusalén, como a tres kilómetros de distancia, y muchos judíos habían ido a casa de Marta y de María, a darles el pésame por la muerte de su hermano. Cuando Marta supo que Jesús llegaba, fue a su encuentro; pero María se quedó en la casa. “Señor,” le dijo Marta a Jesús, “si hubieras estado aquí, mi hermano no habría muerto. Pero yo sé que aun ahora Dios te dará todo lo que le pidas.” Le dijo Jesús, “Tu hermano resucitará.” Respondió Marta, “Yo sé que resucitará en la resurrección, en el día final.” Entonces Jesús le dijo: “Yo soy la resurrección y la vida. El que cree en mí vivirá, aunque muera; y todo el que vive y cree en mí no morirá jamás. ¿Crees esto?”

Esta es la palabra del Señor.Gracias a Dios.

Message “God Be at My End” George Mason

Benediction George Mason

Affirmation of Faith old 100th

Our God is making all things new,A promise that we know is true.

Through eyes of faith we long to seeA love-transformed community.

A place where truth and justice reignAnd healing triumphs over pain,Where all have dignity and worth

And peace is passed throughout the earth.

– LeAnn Hampton

Postlude How Firm a Foundation arr. Carolyn Hamlin

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George A. MasonSenior Pastor

(214) 452-3132Mark Wingfield

Associate Pastor(214) 452-3128Doug Haney

Minister of Music(214) 452-3123Jeff Brummel

Associate Minister of Music/ Organist

(214) 452-3122Heather Mustain

Minister of Missions & Advocacy(214) 452-3110

Jessica CappsMinister to Senior Adults

(214) 452-3129Darren DeMent

Minister to Students and Young Adults

(214) 452-3102Julie Girards

Minister to Children(214) 452-3104

Joan HammonsMinister to Preschoolers

(214) 452-3141Leanna Coyle-Carr

Pastoral Resident(214) 452-3154

Leigh CurlPastoral Resident

(214) 452-3152Ryan Wilson

Pastoral Resident(214) 452-3158David Nabors

Director of Business Admin.(214) 452-3157

Dale PrideFacilities Manager

(214) 452-3101J. Preston Bright

Associate Pastor Emeritus

Staff contacts

To email any staff member, use the first letter of the first name combined with the full last name and add @wilshirebc.org.

Meet today’s worship leadersRalph Manuel and his wife, Donna, joined Wilshire in 2018. He sings in Sanctuary Choir and coordinates handbells at Wilshire. He and Donna are members of Cord of Three Class. In addition to his work as a composer, he has served on the music faculty at Southern Baptist College (now Williams Baptist College) in Walnut Ridge, Ark.; as a missionary to Brazil from 1979 to 2004, where he served as a music professor at the North Brazil Baptist Theological Seminary in Recife, teaching piano, music theory and composition; and as a minister of music at Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, Md.

Alan Wright came to Wilshire in 2002 and is married to Tiffany Wright, who for 20 years served on Wilshire’s pastoral staff. They are the parents of Cayton, a sixth grader. He directs and teaches Avodah Class, works as an oncology chaplain at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center and also is a writer and painter.

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Join the Friday 5

All Wilshire congregants are invited to join in an easy pastoral care project during our time of physical distancing. The idea for “Friday Five” is this: Every Friday during the coronavirus isolation, commit to contact at least five Wilshire friends in your circle of influence to see how they’re doing. Think first of those who are not your family or closest friends but who would love to hear from you. Let’s multiply our care for each other.

Find inspirational resources

Visit a new page on Wilshire’s website for a collection of inspirational videos and writings related to the present crisis. This is an ideal page to share with friends and family who are not part of the Wilshire community. Because of the accessibility of the church’s robust online presence now, it is easier than ever to share Wilshire with a friend. Consider sharing our content on your social media feed or sharing links directly with your friends and family members who need a church in these difficult times. Find the page here: www.wilshirebc.org/care/inspiration-during-isolation.

Wilshire closures

Due to COVID-19 virus precautions, all public gatherings and meetings at Wilshire are suspended until further notice. Many committee meetings will be held via the Internet, as will

some rehearsals. The church offices are now closed as well, in compliance with the Dallas County directive. Staff members are working from home and are available by phone and email. See the ministerial staff directory on page 7 or visit wilshirebc.org for complete staff contact information.

Online worship

Wilshire’s staff will continue to lead worship services each Sunday from the empty Sanctuary. Each week’s 45-minute service will include familiar Wilshire elements, such as hymns, prayers, special music, the sermon and a children’s moment or interview. Please tune in 10 minutes early beginning this week for instrumental pre-service music before the 11:00 service. Find us at www.wilshirebc.org/media or via our YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/wilshirebaptist.

Online Sunday School

Mark Wingfield continues to teach a weekly online Sunday School lesson via Facebook Live. Check the church’s Facebook page to see last week’s lesson or to find this week’s lesson, which will be broadcast beginning this Sunday at 10:15 a.m. This will be a 30-minute lesson, allowing you a short break before worship begins at 11.

Online mid-week Bible study

Our pastoral residents are offering our normal Wednesday Bible study in video format posted online. This study, along with a prayer time and music, will be published on the church website, through our Facebook page and on our YouTube channel every Wednesday before noon.

Lenten Spotify playlist

Wilshire member Kevin Summers has curated a playlist on the streaming music service Spotify for Wilshire’s Lenten theme, “God Be in Us.” Find the playlist “God Be in Us — Lent 2020 at Wilshire.”

The Wilshire Tapestry

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.

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Online book discussion this Wednesday

Join Leigh Curl for two more Wednesdays (April 1 and 8) from 6 to 7 p.m. for a discussion over Zoom (internet video) on Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World. Taylor reveals meaningful ways to discover the sacred in the small things we do and see, from simple practices such as walking, working and prayer. You do not have to read the book to participate in the class, but it is encouraged. If you would like to participate in the discussion, email Leigh at lcurl@wilshirebc.org by noon each Wednesday. By 2 p.m. each Wednesday, she will send out the link to join the video chat. Simply click on the link close to the meeting time, and you will be able to join the video call on your computer, laptop, tablet or phone.

Pastoral care notes

Because of the limitations now in place with hospitals and rehab facilities, most of our health-related pastoral care visits must be done by phone. However, your ministerial staff still wants to keep

up with you. As always, the first line of contact is Michele Stinecipher, assistant to the associate pastor, who may be reached at (214) 452-3130 or mstinecipher@wilshirebc.org. She maintains the daily Care Notes list and funnels information to the rest of the pastoral staff. You also may contact Mark Wingfield at mwingfield@wilshirebc.org or (214) 452-3128.

Tele-counseling available

Our ministry partner The Center is now offering tele-counseling with its trained, professional staff of licensed counselors. If you need professional counseling to get through this time, call The Center’s client services team at (214) 526-4525 to schedule a tele-counseling appointment.

Contemplative retreat canceled

Due to the coronavirus limitations, the annual contemplative retreat has been canceled for this year.

Condolences to: Kirk and Lynn Newsom, Kent and Vicki Newsom, David and Jane Newsom and other friends and family of Dot Newsom, who died March 26.

Rapid-response teams formedHealth Response Team is comprised of medical professionals in the church who are willing to make themselves available for general counsel and encouragement. These volunteers are not dispensing medical care but are available for general questions and guidance especially when it may be harder to get to a doctor. Lead contact is Linda Garner, lgarner@wilshirebc.org or (214) 452-3151. Food and Supplies Response Team is comprised of volunteers from our Missions and Advocacy committees who are at the ready to help those who are isolated and need food or other supplies brought to them. We have identified existing designated and budget funds that will be used to meet urgent needs of members, such as food and medicine and limited rent assistance. Lead contact is Heather Mustain, hmustain@wilshirebc.org or (214) 452-3110. Spiritual Support Response Team is comprised of trained lay leaders and staff who are available to talk with members who are lonely, scared or just need to talk during this time of isolation. This is not a substitute for professional counseling. Volunteers will call care receivers on at least a weekly basis to listen to them and offer emotional support. Other referrals for additional identified needs will be made to the appropriate teams or staff. Lead contact is Gail Brookshire, gsbrookshire@gmail.com.

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