Table Talk

Building on the Presbytery theme of Love Your Neighbor, the saints of Eastminster Presbytery came together to support the Warren community. Thirty-five volunteers (Five folks from WPC) from seven congregations and the presbytery gathered to prepare for the annual coat giveaway at Warren Family Mission that will take place this Friday. Those in need will receive not only a coat but also a hat, scarf, gloves or mittens, and a blanket. Last year, the Mission gave away over 800 coats, and hopes are high to exceed that number this year. In just two hours, volunteers set up racks and hung about 500 coats, sorted hundreds of hats, gloves, and scarves, and folded and stacked around 400 blankets. Amid the busy work, fun, and new friendships, Paige, the volunteer coordinator at the Mission, kept everyone on task and treated them with pizza for lunch. Thanks to all who gave up a few hours on a Saturday to make a difference, and to the Resource Committee for offering our churches the chance to serve the community regardless of size or age.

Most of us appreciate a little honesty, provided it is delivered at the right time, in the right tone, and preferably about somebody else. If you've ever had spinach in your teeth, you know there is a kindness in having someone tell you. You also know there is an art to the telling. A quiet word before you walk into a meeting is a gift. An announcement across the dinner table is something else entirely. The information is the same. The love, or lack of it, makes all the difference.

I've spent my entire adult life as a pastor, trying to help people take their next steps toward Jesus. I've wanted the church to be a place where people can come with their questions, their doubts, their half-formed beliefs, and the parts of their lives they don't know what to do with. Some have been Christians all their lives. Others have given up on church, and some have never been quite sure what to make of Christianity in the first place. I've wanted there to be room for all of them. Over the years, I've tried to err on the side of grace and hospitality, even when doing so has cost me something. Sometimes people have thanked me for it. Other times, I've been criticized for being too accommodating, too open, or not sufficiently committed to telling the truth. I take those criticisms seriously.

I know I don't get everything right. But I have to admit that when someone tells me I need to preach the truth, I sometimes wonder what exactly they mean. Do they mean the truth of Scripture? The historic teachings of the Christian faith? The truth about the life and teachings of Jesus, including the parts that challenge our assumptions and unsettle our comfortable arrangements? Or do they mean that they would like me to say more of the things they already believe, in a way that reassures them they have been right all along? I don't always know. And I suspect that sometimes the person making the request doesn't know, either.

We all have a remarkable ability to recognize the truth when it agrees with us. We can spot the mistakes in someone else's theology, the flaws in their reasoning, and the places where their understanding of the Bible falls short. When the pastor says something that confirms our convictions, we call it faithful preaching. When he says something that makes us reconsider them, we might wonder whether he has lost his way. Pastors are not immune to this temptation. I have my own convictions, my own blind spots, and my own preferred ways of reading Scripture. I can be just as certain of myself as anybody else. The fact that I stand behind a pulpit on Sunday morning doesn't mean I have somehow graduated from the school of humility.

Still, I have come to believe that the church ought to be a place where we can encounter the truth without having to pretend we already possess all of it. That means making room for people who are still figuring things out. It also means trusting that Jesus loves us enough to challenge us, not just comfort us. Grace is not the promise that nobody will ever say anything we find difficult to hear. It is the promise that we do not have to face the truth alone.

The Bible tells us to speak the truth in love. It's good advice, though I've sometimes wondered whether we pay as much attention to the love part as we do to the truth part. We are often quite sure someone needs to hear what we have to say. We're less certain about whether we're the right person to say it, whether this is the right time, or whether our words will help the other person hear what we mean.

This time of year, we don't have to look far for examples. Political ads arrive in our mailboxes and on our screens, each side assuring us that its candidate will save the day and the other fellow will ruin everything. Facts are selected, stories are trimmed, and accusations are delivered with such confidence that you'd think honesty was a matter of production values. These days, even bearing false witness seems to get a pass if the other candidate's name is on the ad.

But the problem isn't limited to politics. We can all find ways to make someone else look bad while making ourselves look good. We can quote Scripture, defend our convictions, and speak earnestly about what is right, all the while forgetting that the person on the receiving end is someone God loves. We can even convince ourselves that we're acting out of love when what we really want is to win.

This is one reason I return to Jesus' words in John's Gospel: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus doesn't simply hand us a collection of correct answers. He shows us what God's truth looks like in a human life. He confronts hypocrisy, welcomes outsiders, forgives sinners, and gives himself for people who cannot save themselves. He doesn't pretend that sin is harmless. But neither does he treat sinners as though their failures are the most important thing about them. That matters because the truth about us is not always easy to hear. We aren't as good as we'd like to think. Our motives are not always pure. Sometimes our convictions are mixed up with our pride, and sometimes the people we find most difficult to love are the ones who have seen something in us we'd rather not see. But there is another truth, and it is the one that keeps us from despair. We are more broken than we want to admit, yet more loved than we dare to imagine.

At the cross, we see both truths together. Our sin matters enough that Jesus gives his life for us. God's love runs deep enough that he gives his life for us. We don't have to pretend we're better than we are, and we don't have to spend our lives proving that we're right. In Christ, we can begin telling the truth about ourselves because our failures don't have the final word. God's grace does.

I wonder whether this is one of the gifts the church can offer our neighbors. Not a place where everyone agrees about everything, or where nobody ever says anything uncomfortable, but a community where people can ask honest questions, admit mistakes, and disagree without being treated as enemies. A place where we can take the Bible seriously without assuming we've understood every passage perfectly. A place where we can speak difficult truths without forgetting the dignity of the person listening. A place that can only be held together by Jesus Christ.

I know this is easier to describe than to practice. A church is made up of people who bring their histories, their fears, their convictions, and their hopes through the doors every Sunday. Some are looking for reassurance. Some are looking for answers. Some have been hurt by the church and are waiting to see whether this place will hurt them, too. And some of us who lead the church are trying to figure out how to welcome them all while remaining faithful to the gospel we have been called to proclaim.

I don't always get that balance right. But I keep coming back to the example of Jesus, who never confused loving people with telling them only what they wanted to hear. He also never seemed to confuse telling the truth with making people feel small. He could be remarkably direct with those who were certain of their own righteousness and remarkably gentle with those who knew they needed help.

As a pastor, I want to preach the truth of the gospel. I want to take the Bible seriously, point people toward Jesus, and help them grow in faith. I also want to keep asking whether my words reflect the character of the One I am trying to proclaim. Am I helping people see the grace of God, or am I simply defending my own understanding? Am I willing to be corrected by the same Scriptures I use to teach others? And am I making room for people to take their next steps toward Jesus, even when their starting point is different from mine? Those questions don't always lead to easy answers. Maybe they aren't supposed to.

The good news is that Jesus doesn't wait for us to get all this right before he loves us. He meets us as we are, tells us the truth about ourselves, and offers us the grace to become something new. Maybe that's what I hope the church can be: a place where we don't have to pretend we've figured everything out, where we can be honest about what we believe and humble about what we might have missed, and where the love of Christ gives us courage to keep growing.

After all these years, I still believe that is worth giving my life to. Not because the work is easy, or because everyone will agree with how it's done, but because the truth at the heart of the gospel is not that we have finally figured everything out. It is that God has come to us in Jesus Christ, knows us completely, and loves us enough to forgive us and make us new. That is a truth worth telling. And I hope I can keep learning how to tell it with the honesty, humility, and grace it deserves.

See you in church.

Pastor Adam

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Worship Leader: Faye Kisak

Organist/Pianist: Kathy Miller

Gathering Music: Procesión Alegre (Garry A. Cornell)

Choral Anthem: Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Arr. Mary McDonald)

Offering Music: Alleuia, Sing to Jesus (Wilbur Held)

Choral Blessing: A Scottish Blessing (David Blackwell)

Bob Kohuth

Ken Goldsboro

Matthew Baker

Karen Folkwein

Caroline Goldsboro

Kenneth Goldsboro

Michael Pauline

Tracy Pauline

Giada Pauline

Duane Ward

Join us in November to Find Out! Pastor Adam will be preaching a month-long sermon series called “Sunday Dinner.” In addition, every worship service in November will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The Lord’s Supper is the normal Sunday dinner of the family of God, which we call the church. When we eat this meal together, we are reminded of two things: (1) how close we are to each other as siblings in Christ, and (2) how close God is to us in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s our prayer that through these sermons and weekly observances of the sacrament, we would come to understand both of these two truths more fully. While the sacrament itself remains the same, we’ll observe it in slightly different ways from week to week. Each Sunday will feature a different kind of communion bread, while we will continue to use the same juice. We’ll also vary the way the bread and juice are distributed, drawing on some of the different ways we already celebrate Communion throughout the year.

We pause to remember that those who have died in Christ have been raised in Christ. We will call out the names of those who have walked onto the shores of heaven in the past year. You will be invited to light a candle in memory of your deceased loved ones.

Highlights include a setting of “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America,” a flag procession and recession, historical readings, and additional instruments accompanying the music. Brown bag lunch included. The chancel choir will be joined by choristers from Bethel Lutheran and Boardman United Methodist. Please turn in veteran’s photos to be included in the power point presentation and invite your family and friends to attend.

Join us for an evening of worship as we gather to give thanks to God on the eve of Thanksgiving. This is always a well-attended service, and the singing in the chapel is beautiful. Because the service is being held in the chapel, it will NOT be livestreamed.

The Canfield Community Concert Band is back at WPC for another joyful afternoon of Christmas music—and you’re invited! Join us on Sunday, Nov at 3PM as this talented 50-plus member band fills our sanctuary with festive sounds to kick-off the holiday season. Bring family, friends, and neighbors for a wonderful community event full of beautiful music, holiday cheer, and the joy of Christmas! Free-will offering to support the band.

One of holiday traditions is the lighting of the Advent candles during worship. Each year, individuals, friends, and families lead us in this simple but meaningful tradition, reminding us of the hope, peace, joy, and love we celebrate with Jesus’ birth. This year, we invite those who have never done it before. We’ll provide everything you need. If you’ve ever thought about participating, consider this your invitation! We’re waiting to say yes to you. We have opportunities for all four Sundays in Advent and Christmas Eve. If you, your family, or a group of friends would like to participate, call/text Pastor Adam at 724-893-6244. We’d love to help you be part of this meaningful tradition at WPC!

Want to join a small group?

Simply contact the group leader, and let them know you’re interested.

Church membership is NOT required for joining any group.

The early Church had a saying,

“unus Christianus, nullus Christianus.”

One Christian, no Christian.

The very fabric of our faith is experienced in community.

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!

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.

Panera Bread (7121 South Avenue, Boardman)

Book Study/Bible Study led by Lindsay Rodgers, 724-893-6243 (call or text)

Starbucks (7680 Market Street, Boardman)

Book Study/Bible Study/Conversation led by Pastor Adam, 724-893-6244 (call or text)

3rd Tuesday of Month, 10AM, Hearth Room

Call/Text Patti Ward 330-398-1449

November Gathering Details--TBA

Gracious Conversations at the Intersection of Contemporary Life and the Christian Faith

New members and diverse opinions are always welcome and respected. Conversation is informal, friendly, and focused on issues of interest to people of Christian faith.

Susan Sheridan, facilitator (330-507-9232 | ssher77@sbcglobal.net)

The schedule for topic discussions can be found on the counter in the church office.

Over the past two months, fifteen people have gathered to explore the Book of Psalms and discover how these ancient prayers can give voice to our own experiences of faith, doubt, joy, fear, and hope. Along the way, we’ve grown in our understanding of prayer and closer to one another as siblings in Christ. As our group concludes this Sunday, October 25, we give thanks for the time we’ve shared. But you don’t need to join a small group to discover the gift of the Psalms. If you want to learn the language of prayer and deepen your relationship with the God who speaks and listens, open your Bible to the Book of Psalms. Read a psalm slowly. Notice what it says about God, what it expresses about the human heart, and what words it might give you for your own prayers. You may discover that the Psalms meet you right where you are and help you find words for a conversation with God that can continue throughout your life.

New singers always welcome! There’s always space for you in the choir loft.

New ringers are always welcome to come and learn a new, fun musical skill.

1st and 3rd Sundays of the month (during 10:30AM worship services)

The children’s choir will sing in worship next Sunday, Nov 1. They have been learning a fun song entitled “Tunaomba Mungu Atawale” (God will reign) from South Africa. The chancel choir will join in singing the “easier” English words.

This community choir, including two WPC members Margaret Lorimer and Karen Kalcic, will be performing Just Praise, a mixture of classic, gospel, and contemporary hymn favorites. Admission is free. Location: First Presb. Church (22 Westview Ave., Hubbard)

This year’s campaign kicked off Sunday, October 4, and campaign packets have been mailed to the homes of WPC members and friends. Also, the campaign webpage & online pledging can be accessed by CLICKING HERE

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.

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!

OCC is a chance to share God’s love with children around the world. Each shoebox you pack is more than a gift—it’s the beginning of a faith journey, with every box including a booklet that tells the good news of Jesus in the child’s own language. Pick up an official box in the main entryway. Read the informational brochures carefully—some items can’t be included. Return your filled shoeboxes to the church by Sunday, Nov 15.

As the temperatures drop, children in our community are in need of warm coats to face the winter ahead. We’re collecting new or gently used winter coats for students in elementary through 8th grade. Your simple act of giving can make a big difference—helping a child walk to school, play outside, or wait for the bus feeling cared for and protected from the cold. Donations can be dropped off in the main entryway through early December. Let’s share the warmth of Christ’s love—one coat at a time.

We’re participating again! Please join us in a community outreach project to take our faith ‘on the road’ to benefit the Salvation Army. Friday Nov 27, and Sat Nov 28 at the Giant Eagle Store (1201 Doral Dr., Boardman). Up to two volunteers per hourly shift this year. Please see further details and available times on the sign-up sheet in the Church Office. Questions? Ask Mark Luke: 330-518-6088. Thank you!

WPC partners with Community Groups by providing rooms and space for folks to gather. All Community Groups have their own unique guidelines/rules/fees for participation. Please contact the groups directly for clarifying questions about involvement.

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 8:30AM & Tuesdays, Thursdays, 5:30PM

Fellowship Hall, Contact Brenda Hughes, 330-402-1654 (call or text)

Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:30 a.m. in Hearth Room

Contact Patti Ward, 330-398-1449 (call or text)

Al-Anon, Sundays, 7PM, Hearth Room or Pavilion (weather permitting)

Overeaters Anonymous (OA), Mondays, 7PM, Preschool Entrance

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Wednesdays, 7:30PM (Closed Meetings)

Fellowship Hall or Pavilion (weather permitting)

Gamblers Anonymous (GA), Fridays, 7:30PM (Closed Meetings)

Lower Level of Church or Pavilion (weather permitting)

Scout Troop 60, Tuesdays, 7PM, Fellowship Hall

Contact Janet Petro, Administrator, 330-755-7041, CCWAcademy@yahoo.com

CCW Academy offers structured classes for children aged 2.5-5 years (9am—12pm) and childcare (7am—5:30pm).

Have a joy? We’d love to celebrate with you. Have a concern? We’d love to encourage and support you. Don’t hesitate to share your joys and concerns with Pastor Adam OR send a note to our beloved email prayer chain: rgibbs22@zoominternet.net

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

Bill Palkovic (son of Cheryl Palkovic)

Dolores Janik

Sandy Byers

Marty Taylor

Lucy Stuart

Jan Pickens

Dianna Meehan

Cheryl Fox

October Birthdays

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

Deacon

Joe Parsons, 330-503-8354

Deacon

Cheryl Palkovic, 330-651-7686

Email: westch2@zoominternet.net
Website: www.wpcboardman.com
Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Stadium Drive, Youngstown, OH, USA
Phone: 330-758-4513

Email: adamjosephrodgers@gmail.com
Phone: 724-893-6244

Location: 119 Stadium Drive, Youngstown, OH, USA
Phone: 330-755-7041
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCWacademyPreschool