We have a “Food Blessing Box” for those in need to be able to grab non-perishable food items for a meal or two. Feel free to take advantage of these items. We also need non-perishable food items to replenish the box when needed. Please bring your items to church or add your items to the box. May ALL who give and receive be blessed!
LETTER FROM PASTOR DONNA
March 3, 2026
In “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy took an unexpected trip to a land of imagination where
monkeys could fly, lions weren’t brave, scarecrows without brains gave sage advice, and
“magic” was just a man behind a curtain. In the end, the lesson Dorothy learned was that “there’s
no place like home.” Most of us would agree with that statement.
I love to travel, and I have been blessed with some great experiences in new places over
the last few years. In fact, last week was one of those times; I traveled to Minneapolis to attend a
women’s clergy conference. It was exciting to go to a new place and see new things and make
new friends, but like Dorothy, I was happy to get back home.
I think that’s the way our hearts are wired – to long for the safety and security, the
comfort and familiarity of home. In the poem, “The Death of the Hired Man,” Warren said,
“Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” Warren’s wife
Mary replied, “I should have called it something you somehow haven’t to deserve.” That made
me think of our heavenly home, the one that is waiting for us, the one we don’t deserve.
In John 14:2-3, Jesus tells his disciples, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were
not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where
I am.” Jesus tells us that we have a home in heaven with him. He is even now preparing our
place for us for the day when we arrive.
I believe this is why our hearts long for home with such depth. We think it is our earthly
home, and to some degree it is, but even more so do we long for our heavenly home. We want to
be out of this world and at home with the Lord. It’s not that this home is so bad, even with its
worldly challenges, but our real home – our forever home – will be so much better!
We don’t get to live in our forever home because we deserve it, or because we have
enough money in the bank to make the mortgage payments. We don’t get a key to our heavenly
mansion because we have done anything especially good or right. We get the honor and privilege
of making heaven our permanent address one day simply because Jesus offered us a gift that he
paid a great price for, and we accepted that gift, the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
There is another saying, “Home is where the heart is,” and for those of us who have
committed our lives to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our hearts are already pointed toward
heaven. We can enjoy the comforts of home now, in this life, but one day we will live in the
ultimate comfort that is living at home in the presence of Jesus. Then we will truly say, “There’s
no place like home.”
I am enjoying my life here, but I can’t wait to get to my heavenly home. Just imagine – a
home with no dust or cobwebs or clutter. A home with no repairs needed, no remodeling, no,
need for fixing up. Just a beautiful home where we will spend eternity with Jesus. That is the
place where my heart longs to be – someday and forever.
Have a beautiful, blessed March,
Pastor Donna
In “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy took an unexpected trip to a land of imagination where
monkeys could fly, lions weren’t brave, scarecrows without brains gave sage advice, and
“magic” was just a man behind a curtain. In the end, the lesson Dorothy learned was that “there’s
no place like home.” Most of us would agree with that statement.
I love to travel, and I have been blessed with some great experiences in new places over
the last few years. In fact, last week was one of those times; I traveled to Minneapolis to attend a
women’s clergy conference. It was exciting to go to a new place and see new things and make
new friends, but like Dorothy, I was happy to get back home.
I think that’s the way our hearts are wired – to long for the safety and security, the
comfort and familiarity of home. In the poem, “The Death of the Hired Man,” Warren said,
“Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” Warren’s wife
Mary replied, “I should have called it something you somehow haven’t to deserve.” That made
me think of our heavenly home, the one that is waiting for us, the one we don’t deserve.
In John 14:2-3, Jesus tells his disciples, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were
not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where
I am.” Jesus tells us that we have a home in heaven with him. He is even now preparing our
place for us for the day when we arrive.
I believe this is why our hearts long for home with such depth. We think it is our earthly
home, and to some degree it is, but even more so do we long for our heavenly home. We want to
be out of this world and at home with the Lord. It’s not that this home is so bad, even with its
worldly challenges, but our real home – our forever home – will be so much better!
We don’t get to live in our forever home because we deserve it, or because we have
enough money in the bank to make the mortgage payments. We don’t get a key to our heavenly
mansion because we have done anything especially good or right. We get the honor and privilege
of making heaven our permanent address one day simply because Jesus offered us a gift that he
paid a great price for, and we accepted that gift, the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
There is another saying, “Home is where the heart is,” and for those of us who have
committed our lives to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our hearts are already pointed toward
heaven. We can enjoy the comforts of home now, in this life, but one day we will live in the
ultimate comfort that is living at home in the presence of Jesus. Then we will truly say, “There’s
no place like home.”
I am enjoying my life here, but I can’t wait to get to my heavenly home. Just imagine – a
home with no dust or cobwebs or clutter. A home with no repairs needed, no remodeling, no,
need for fixing up. Just a beautiful home where we will spend eternity with Jesus. That is the
place where my heart longs to be – someday and forever.
Have a beautiful, blessed March,
Pastor Donna
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Morning education classes
Classes for Pre K- Adults of all ages are meeting from, 9:30 am to 10:30 am.
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Young ones (Birth - Pre-K) - the nursery
*Pre-K - 1st Grade - downstairs with Ms Connie *2nd - 5th Grade - downstairs with Ms Roberta 6th - 8th Grade - downstairs with Ms Sabrina |
9th - 12th Grade - downstairs with Mr Chris
Young Adult/College & Career - in the library Russ Bowman's Class for adults - at Dunkin' Donuts Alpha and Omega for adults -in the Fellowship Hall |
Watch previous week's messAGES FROM pASTOR dONNA (AND OTHERS) ON OUR worship services PAGE OR ON OUR fACEBOOK PAGE (@ROOTSTOWNCHURCHofhope)
For more news, updates and info, check out our News page!
Habitat of portage county Apostles Build
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Apostles Build Story: The project that was started in July 2019 has been completed! The Hummel-Tucker family were presented with their home on April 25th at 2 pm! Blessings to the family as they begin to move in and get comfortable! Thank you to all who helped, prayed for, donated to this project!
