When We Are Given Power Over Another Person

Every once in a while, a news story comes along that you wish you didn't have to read. You read it anyway, and then you wish you could unread it. The recent story coming out of Cornell University is one of those stories. The allegations of sexual assault are disturbing not only because of what may have happened to one young woman, but because they raise a question that reaches far beyond one university, one fraternity, or one terrible night: What do we do with the power we have over another human being?

We don't know all the facts of this particular case, and we don't need to pretend that we do. There is an ongoing investigation, a civil lawsuit, and a great deal that will have to be sorted out through proper legal and institutional processes. But there is one thing we know. Whenever a person is vulnerable, the rest of us have a responsibility to protect that vulnerability rather than exploit it. That is not a political idea. It is a biblical one.

The Bible begins with the foundational claim that every human being bears the image of God. Not just the people we like and not just the people who make what we perceive to be good decisions. Not just the people who make us comfortable. Every person bears the image of God. Which means that whenever we encounter another human being, we are standing on holy ground. And whatever we do to the vulnerable among us, we do to Jesus.

Stories like this also bring me back to something I have been thinking and praying about for quite some time. In January 2027, between the beginning of the new year and the start of Lent, I'm planning to lead us through a sermon series called “Wounded Bodies, Sacred Stories: Reading the Bible with Survivors of Abuse.” I began thinking about this series long before the news from Cornell appeared, and I mention that because I don't want us to hear it as a reaction to one terrible story. It is something I have felt called to think about as a pastor: what happens when we listen carefully to people who have been wounded, and then return to the Bible and read its stories alongside them?

Some passages of Scripture sound different when you have lived through abuse. Some familiar words can comfort, while others can hurt. Some biblical stories that we have hurried past deserve to be heard more carefully. And sometimes the church has been too quick to explain suffering when what a wounded person needed first was simply for someone to sit beside them and listen.

Jesus was particularly attentive to people who had little power. He noticed the person everyone else overlooked. He stopped for the person everyone else considered inconvenient. He listened to people whose stories had been dismissed. And when his disciples wanted to know what greatness looked like, Jesus didn't point them toward the strongest person in the room. He pointed them toward a child. The Christian life matures when we understand that strength is not given to us so that we can take advantage of weakness. Strength is given to us so that we can become a place of safety for someone who is weak.

This is why stories of sexual abuse are so painful. Sexual violence is not simply about sex. It is about the violation of another person's dignity, trust, and humanity. And when a person is intoxicated or otherwise unable to give meaningful consent, the Christian response should never be to ask how close someone came to the legal line. The Christian question is more demanding: Did I love my neighbor? Did I protect the vulnerable person entrusted to my care? Did I treat another human being as someone made in the image of God?

The church has a particular responsibility here. We are not called to become the police, the prosecutor, or the judge. We should not pretend to know facts that we don't know. But neither should we become spectators who watch terrible things happen and then shake our heads before moving on to the next story.

The church is called to become the kind of community where people can tell their story. That means listening to women when they describe how unsafe they feel in this world, from walking on their street to being in their own home. That means listening to survivors without making them carry the burden of proving their worthiness to be heard. It means teaching our children and students that another person's body is not an object for our gratification. It means teaching girls bodily autonomy and boys that their desires and actions are their responsibility alone. It means teaching young men that masculinity is not demonstrated by conquest, sexual pressure, or the ability to get away with something. It means creating communities where people have the courage to intervene when someone is vulnerable, even when intervening is awkward or unpopular. And it means remembering that evil does not always announce itself as evil. Sometimes it looks like a joke that everyone laughs at, or looking the other way, or protecting the reputation of an institution rather than protecting a person. Other times it looks like telling ourselves that something isn't really our responsibility.

The gospel gives us a better way. Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God and love our neighbor. That sounds simple enough until our neighbor becomes inconvenient, intoxicated, frightened, angry, confused, or wounded. Then love becomes much more costly. Love means staying when it would be easier to leave or ignore. It means listening when we would rather explain. It means protecting someone who cannot protect herself. It means believing that another person's dignity matters more than our own comfort.

And I think there is hope here. I don't believe the church's calling is simply to become better at condemning the darkness. We are called to become a different kind of people in the darkness. People who notice, protect, and refuse to laugh when someone is being degraded. People who understand that holiness is not primarily about keeping ourselves clean; it is about learning how to love one another well.

Let us all dream of the day when stories like the one coming out of Cornell are no longer familiar stories. Not because we have learned how to hide them better, or because institutions have become better at protecting their reputations, but because we have become better at loving one another. That day may seem impossibly far away. But Christians are people who believe that God's future has already begun in Jesus Christ. Every time someone protects the vulnerable, listens to a wounded person, refuses to participate in cruelty, or uses power to serve rather than exploit another person, we catch a glimpse of that future.

The prophet Isaiah imagined a world in which people would no longer learn the ways of war. Jesus imagined a kingdom in which the last would be first and the powerful would become servants. And the Bible ends with a vision of a world in which God wipes away every tear. We aren't there yet. But we can live toward it.

And maybe that is one of the more important things the church can do when the news breaks our hearts: not simply ask, "How could someone do such a thing?" but ask, "What kind of people is Jesus calling us to become?" People who protect the vulnerable and honor the dignity of every human being. People who love their neighbors and look forward to the day when there will be no more stories like this one.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

See you in church.

Pastor Adam

Sunday's Bible Reading--Revelation 22:1-5

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Looking Ahead—Costume Sunday (Oct 25—10:30AM Service)

We’re inviting the kids of our church—and their friends and neighbors—to worship God in their favorite Halloween costumes! It’s the weekend before Halloween, and parents know it’s the perfect chance to get the most out of their kids’ costumes. We’ll have fun and maybe even a few sweet treats for the kids. It’s a family-friendly way to share the joy of our church with others. Come join the fun! Adults—You’re welcome to bring some candy to share with our costumed kids!

Pastor Adam is Heading to a Gathering in Cincinnati

He’ll be there Oct. 5–7 for the PC(USA) Church Growth Network’s (PCGN) conference: “Finding Courage, Leading Growth.” The PCGN is a community of PC(USA) pastors and church leaders interested in helping congregations grow in both faith and numbers. It began in early 2023 as an online Facebook group and has grown into a community of more than 1,200 leaders. The PCGN believes every congregation has God-given potential to thrive and grow in size, vitality, and missions impact. Pastor Adam appreciates the collegial spirit of this network and the opportunity to gather with peers who are learning from one another, sharing ideas, and encouraging one another in the work of growing healthy and faithful churches so that more people can experience the life-changing love of Christ. He is looking forward to the conference, even though it means missing the opening day of the Book Sale! He is especially grateful to be part of a church that supports continuing education and encourages its pastor to participate in opportunities like this one. He looks forward to bringing what he learns back to WPC.

It’s Coming Soon! Countdown to Book Sale Week!

WPC’s 70th Annual Used Book Sale—Oct 7, 8, & 9 (Wed, Thur, & Fri, 9AM to 7PM)

The Book Committee thanks our WPC family and friends for volunteering their time for the set-up and sale days. We still need volunteers Friday, October 9, at 7pm to take down tables & railings and box up the leftover books. Also, we are grateful for your monetary donations. Your generosity has provided all we need to prepare the eight meals for the workers. Thank you for your continued support!

Adult Sunday Morning Small Group, 9:15AM in the Parlor Room

Each week we gather to connect with each other through conversation, grow in our Christian faith through Bible study, and encourage one another through prayer. Currently, we're discussing Scott McKnight's bestselling book The Jesus Creed a summary of what Christianity is at its core: Loving God and Loving Others. It fosters a practical understanding, appreciation of and application of Christian formation in grace and love toward God and Neighbor. Join us!

Youth (Grades 5-12) Sunday Morning Small Group, 9:15AM

Meet in the Middle School Lounge for Games, Relaxed, Relevant Conversation & Prayer.

What if God is closer than you think? This fall, WPC students are invited to join Pastor Adam for Encounters, a 10-week exploration of some of the Bible’s most unforgettable moments with God—from a burning bush and a pillar of fire to Pentecost and the road to Emmaus. We’ll explore what these stories have to say about where God is, how we recognize God, and what it means to experience God in our own lives. There will be plenty of room for questions, conversation, and fun along the way. No Bible expertise required. No question is off limits. Just come ready to explore.

Women’s Circle of Love (Adult Women’s Group)

3rd Tuesday of Month, 10AM, Hearth Room

Call/Text Patti Ward 330-398-1449

***October Gathering on October 13 (🚨Alert! One week earlier than usual!)***

Calling all Ladies of Westminster to join us for Circle of Love on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Hearth Room. Come and enjoy being involved in a delightful Small Group within the church. We enjoy a variety of activities. We are a delightful group of ladies that like being together and getting to know each other. Fall is the perfect time to come and see what might be in store for you. We have many wonderful cooks and bakers in our group so for October we ask each of you to bring a favorite Fall Recipe that you would like to share. It will “mouth watering” just reading about them. We always have inspirational stories and studies to help us along our daily journey walking with the Lord. Come and see what might be in store for you. We are looking forward to “Walking the Path To Jesus." I heard rumors that there might be White House Doughnuts in our future! Hope to see you there. Questions call Patti Ward 330-398-1449

New Small Group Opportunity—“Learning How to Pray”

Sunday Evenings, 5PM, Parlor Room (Use CCW Preschool Entrance)

Most Christians have learned the vocabulary of prayer by reading the Psalms, the prayer book that gives us a language for speaking to the God who speaks to us. We already have within us the longing to experience a connection with God through prayer. The Psalms are the guide to help us satisfy that longing. Join us for a journey into the heart of the Psalms as we read from this sacred prayer book together and allow it to teach us how to pray. Interested? Text/Call Pastor Adam, 724-893-6244.

Loving Our Neighbors in Need

WPC supports our neighbors by collecting food and personal hygiene items for two outstanding local mission partners: Protestant Family Service and the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. Both organizations are experiencing greater needs in these challenging times, and our gifts can make a real difference in the lives of those they serve. Donations may be placed in the wooden “apple basket” collection box located in the atrium. Every can of food, every bar of soap, every small item of care is a reminder of God’s love at work through us. As scripture reminds us, “Serve one another with the various colors of God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:10). Thank you for sharing so generously.

Volunteer with Meals on Wheels

Sometimes serving our neighbors is as simple as showing up, driving a route, and delivering a meal. The Mission Partnership Committee is exploring a new opportunity for WPC members & friends to volunteer with Mahoning County Meals on Wheels, helping deliver meals to people in our community who need them. We’d like to see if there is enough interest to provide one volunteer driver each week. Delivery routes run Monday–Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. You don’t need to commit to every week. We’re simply hoping to find people who might be willing to help from time to time and be part of this ministry of caring. If you’re interested or would like to learn more, please call or text Mike Crisan at 330-716-3581. This is a small way to give a few hours of your time, but for someone receiving a meal and a friendly visit, it can mean a great deal.

Presbytery-Wide Mission Day of Service—Saturday, October 17, 2026

Eastminster Presbytery will once again volunteer at Warren Family Mission, 155 Tod Ave NW, Warren, Ohio 44485, to assist with preparations for their annual winter coat giveaway and serve lunch to residents. We’ll meet at the church at 9AM to carpool, or you can go directly. Come for all or part of the time—10AM–1PM. Lunch provided; youth through adults welcome. Sign up in the church atrium. Last year when we volunteered at Warren Family Mission, we had 75 volunteers show up representing 13 of our congregations, and Warren Family Mission would love to have more!

It's “Sock”toberfest at WPC!

Help support the Rescue Mission’s campaign by donating new undergarments for neighbors in need. Dignity begins with something as simple as clean, new clothing, yet items like bras, underwear, and t-shirts are among the most requested at the Mission’s emergency shelter. Throughout October, you can drop off new undergarments of all sizes (for men, women, and children) in the collection area in the church atrium. (Look for the laundry baskets & signage.) If you prefer, you may make a monetary donation or purchase items directly from the Mission’s Amazon Wish List by visiting www.rescuemissionmv.org/socktober Make a big difference with something small!

Pray for Your Brothers and Sisters...

This list is an invitation for you to hold your WPC siblings & friends in prayer. Names added to this prayer list will remain on the list for one month or whenever you request it be removed, whichever comes first. After a name has been removed, we will gladly add it to the list again if such a request is made.

Alison Dobro

Emma Eggleston

Eleanor Miller

Jaclyn DiSibio

Marian Grate

Richard Cunningham

Bill Palkovic (son of Cheryl Palkovic)

Dolores Janik

The Family of Walt Holokai

Sandy Byers

Marty Taylor

Lucy Stuart

Wish Someone a Happy Birthday!

October Birthdays

Oct 3 Antonio Chito

Oct 5 Emily Gleichert

Oct 5 Meredith Gleichert

Oct 5 Robert Gleichert

Oct 6 Kathy Krusel

Oct 6 Caitlin Potts

Oct 7 Cathy Ogram

Oct 8 John Fox

Oct 8 Thomas Sheridan

Oct 10 Simon Weiss

Oct 10 Solomon Weiss

Oct 13 Anna Miller

Oct 13 Jennifer Timmer

Oct 14 Thomas Evans

Oct 14 Barry McCombs

Oct 17 Todd Knaus

Oct 19 Elly Davis

Oct 20 Benjamin Baklarz

Oct 20 Hannah Greene

Oct 20 Allison Jenkins

Oct 20 Nancy Mumaw

Oct 20 Mariellen Timmer

Oct 21 Constance Golubic

Oct 21 Maile Myers

Oct 21 Barbara Shidemantle

Oct 22 Mathew Baker

Oct 22 Joe Myers

Oct 23 Brandy Angus

Oct 25 Evan Michael Hughes

Oct 25 Susan Weiss

Oct 26 Marshaun B. Mason

Oct 26 Jaime Tabor

Oct 27 Jane Morris

Oct 27 Wendy Samford

Oct 27 Alexander Stuart

Oct 28 Andie Gerald

Oct 28 Jennifer Hunter

Oct 28 Jeffrey McGee

Oct 31 Susanne Mayerchak