Table Talk

During this year's giving campaign, we have already seen an INCREASE in the total number of pledges from last year, and we've already SURPASSED last year's total amount pledged. We're so thankful for your support of the mission and ministry of WPC. We can only imagine what God has in store for us in 2027!

Giving Campaign for 2026

66 pledges totaling $286,000

Giving Campaign for 2027 (To Date)

68 pledges totaling $290,000

We are still expecting some more pledges before the end of the year. If you haven't pledged there is still plenty of time. Go to wpcboardman.com/give to make your 2027 pledge or CLICK HERE.

If we want to know whether our church has a future, we could look at the attendance figures. We could count the children, inspect the budget, check how many people signed up for the next Bible study, and calculate how many years it will be before the church needs a new roof. These are all useful things to know. Churches have been known to get themselves into trouble by ignoring arithmetic.

But there are other things worth counting, and they’re harder to put on a spreadsheet. There’s the person who remembers to call somebody who has been having a difficult time. The volunteer who arrives early and leaves after the work is done, without waiting around for a thank-you. The older member who takes an interest in a teenager, even though the teenager’s vocabulary and musical preferences are something of a mystery. There are people who disagree in a meeting, go home, sleep on it, and come back the next week willing to try again. These are small miracles, especially when you consider that churches are made up entirely of people, and people can be difficult even when they mean well.

I see these things happening at WPC, and I’m grateful. Still, we have work to do, and we need to be honest about the fact that our church is smaller than it was a generation or two ago. We can’t live on memories of the church we used to be. The neighborhood has changed, the world has changed, and there are people all around us who have never considered walking through our doors.

I would like to see that change. I’d like to see children filling our classrooms, young adults finding that Christianity has something substantial to say about their lives, and families discovering a church where they can belong before they have everything figured out. I’d like to see people who have been disappointed by religion find room to ask their questions, and people who have been away from church for twenty years discover that the door is still open. I’d like our neighbors to think of WPC not as a building they pass on the way to somewhere else, but as a community that cares whether they’re doing all right.

That kind of growth will take more than a clever program or a good advertising campaign, if only it were that easy. It will take the ordinary work of being a church: praying, listening, forgiving, teaching, giving, welcoming, and showing up. It will take all of us, not just the people whose names appear in the bulletin or whose meetings are written on the church calendar.

So, here’s my invitation. The next time you come to WPC, look for one small thing you can do to make somebody else’s day a little better. Learn somebody’s name. Ask a question and listen to the answer. Invite someone to sit with you. Thank a volunteer. Bring a friend who has been wondering about church. If you see a need, don’t assume somebody else has already noticed it.

We can’t know exactly what God will make of these small acts. That’s part of the adventure. But I believe Jesus is still calling people into a life of faith, and I believe a church that practices his love has something worth sharing with the world.

One day, we may look around and discover that more people have joined us than we expected. There may be more children in the hallways, more conversations over coffee, more people learning to pray, and more chairs needed on a Sunday morning. That would be wonderful. But the story will begin long before then, in the small things we do for one another and for people who haven’t found us yet. It turns out that a church’s future is not only something we wait for. It’s something we practice, together, one ordinary Sunday at a time.

See you in church.

Pastor Adam

For many years, Christmas poinsettias have been a beloved part of our Christmas Eve worship, offering a beautiful way to remember loved ones and honor people who hold a special place in our lives. We are grateful for everyone who has helped make this tradition part of our celebration of Christ’s birth.

Over the years, many of you have expressed a wish that the poinsettias could remain on display longer than Christmas Eve. We share that wish! The challenge, however, is keeping dozens of live plants looking their best. In recent years, Pastor Adam has sometimes spent part of Christmas Eve watering 50 or 60 poinsettias, trying to make sure they look healthy and beautiful for worship that evening. While there is something fitting about caring for these flowers as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, this is also a reminder that maintaining this tradition requires more time and attention than our small staff can reasonably give, especially during an already busy season.

With that in mind, and thanks to a generous donor, we have purchased 32 beautiful silk poinsettias that will brighten our sanctuary throughout December and the Christmas season. Unlike live plants, these flowers can be enjoyed throughout the season and carefully stored for use in future years. We hope to add to this collection over time, creating a lasting display that will bring beauty to our worship for years to come. (Note--If you're curious how the new silk poinsettias look, we've already had people see them displayed in the church office and mistake them for live poinsettias.)

This Christmas will be our final year accepting orders for live poinsettias for Christmas Eve. We recognize that this tradition holds special meaning for many, and we make this change with gratitude for the memories it has helped us create. In the years ahead, we hope to invite church members and friends to contribute silk poinsettias in memory or honor of loved ones, allowing those gifts to become part of our sanctuary’s seasonal beauty for years to come.

Of course, fresh flowers may still be given in memory or honor of someone special throughout the year. You are always welcome to call the church office to arrange for a fresh flower arrangement to be displayed on the Communion table on a Sunday of your choosing.

Thank you for helping us care for our church, cherish the traditions that have shaped us, and find new ways to celebrate the beauty and hope of Christmas together.

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to me and to you? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the person in charge of the banquet.” So they took it. When the person in charge tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), that person called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

Worship Leader: Tug Sanner

Organist/Pianist: Kathy Miller

Gathering Music: Variation on America (David N. Johnson)

Choral Anthem: God Bless America (Irving Berlin)

Offering Music: Aria (Flor Peeters)

Sending Music: Hornpipe in D (John S. Dixon)

Donna Parsons

Pete Mirch

Faye Kisak

Pete Kisak

Brenda Hughes

Vivian Naome

Amy Sorvillo

Aiden McVeigh

Musical highlights include an exciting setting of “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America”. There will be a flag procession and recession, famous historical readings, a power point presentation, and additional instruments accompanying the music. The audience will enjoy a brown bag lunch during the concert. The chancel choir will be joined by choristers from Bethel Lutheran and Boardman United Methodist.

Come for our 10:30AM worship service. Stay for lunch & fellowship. Freewill donations.

(Other upcoming luncheon date—December 6, Advent Dinner)

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 29 at 2PM 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.

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

Our next gathering is Tuesday, Nov 17th. We will be welcoming Amy Shope, the Co-Founder of Dylan’s House, a nonprofit organization providing safe and supportive housing for the autism community. Dylan’s House was started by Amy and Kevin Shope out of their love and devotion to their son, Dylan. Amy will share their journey and how we can help be a part of their success. We are always looking for organizations that are helping make life better, because we’re fortunate to have the resources to contribute to them. We will also enjoy a time for refreshments, along with conversations, inspirational readings and laughs. Invocation will be given by Lynn Smith and Hostess is Jan Machel. Lavonne Sanner as always organizes and keeps us in line!

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.

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)

Just a reminder that 2026 per capita is due by 12/31/2026. The 2026 amount per member is $35.00/each.

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.

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!

Help support our local food drive in partnership with the WPC Mission Partnership Committee. Provide Thanksgiving dinner for local families. Vouchers are given for turkeys, butter, and milk. Rolls are purchased by the church. Monetary donations are also appreciated. Collection deadline is November 22, with donated items to be placed on the collection area in the lobby. Items needing donated:

• boxed potatoes/stuffing
• cans/jars of gravy
• cranberry sauce
• canned sweet potatoes
• canned corn & beans
• cookies

Want to help pack Thanksgiving boxes? Join us in the atrium, Mon. Nov 23, 8:30AM.

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

Alma Moore

Tom Davis

November Birthdays

Nov 6 Emily Williams

Nov 7 Pam Batt

Nov 8 Zachary Taylor

Nov 9 Emily-Anne Powell

Nov 13 Michael Janik

Nov 13 Lori McVeigh

Nov 14 Robert Fulton

Nov 17 Thomas DiSibio

Nov 17 Lexi Lendak

Nov 17 Philip Rhodes

Nov 17 Susan Sanner

Nov 18 Carol Day

Nov 19 Donald Powell

Nov 20 Anthony Galbreath

Nov 21 Jeffrey Burrows

Nov 24 Mathew Hunter

Nov 25 Michael Pauline

Nov 26 Anna Baker

Nov 27 Susan Sheridan

Nov 28 Robert McCollum

Nov 28 Kaylee Sorvillo

Nov 30 Julia Castellano

Nov 30 Allison Madgar

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