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
December 31, 2025
It’s the last day of the year. A time when we look backwards and forwards at the same
time. We mentally assess our “year in review,” remembering the highlights, the lowlights, and all
the ordinary stuff in between. Then we take a breath and pray that the new year brings more ups
than downs, more blessings than sorrows, and more joy than pain. Some of us make a resolution
or set a goal for what we want to accomplish in the coming months and some of us don’t, but
either way, the new year is coming right at us with full force.
Personally, I like the promise of a new year. It’s full of possibilities. It’s a new box of
crayons, a clean sheet of paper, and a blank slate just waiting to show us what it will be. As we
turn the calendar from December 31 to January 1, we get a sense of leaving the old behind and
embracing the new.
I think that’s what it’s like when we become a Christian. Before, we were full of sin -
dark and dirty. Then, we encountered the Risen Savior and pledged our life to him, and he made
us clean and shiny, like a brand-new person. King David understood that, writing in Psalm 51:7,
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
We know how white snow can be. When we get a nice snowfall that covers everything,
the world seems cleaner, softer, and prettier, because it covers the dirt and mud. Sadly, the clean
look doesn’t last. The snow melts and the dirt and mud reappear, reminding us that even snow
cannot truly clean, only temporarily cover.
The cleansing power of forgiveness, though, isn’t temporary. In Isaiah 1:8, we read,
“Come now, let us settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Our sins are
like crimson, staining us and everything we touch and making life messy. Thanks to God,
through Jesus Christ’s atoning death on the cross for us, we can now be forgiven for those sins
and that crimson stain is turned to white – pure, clean, permanently white.
We don’t just look new, we become new. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior,
we become a new person in him, adopted into the family of God and sustained by the Holy
Spirit, not for a day, a week, a month, or even a year, but for forever! It’s amazing, isn’t it? We
never have to worry about going back to being dead in our sins, we never have to worry about
the crimson stain on our lives, we only have to praise God for the gift he has given us. Why
would he do this?
I think we all know the answer to that question. It’s LOVE. God loves us so much that he
was willing to come and prove his love through his death, and because he did – we are now
cleansed white as snow. It’s a new day, it’s a new year, and because of Jesus we are a new
person. Praise God for the new you, not just on New Year’s Day, but for all 364 days that will
come next. Then do it again next year, too!
Have a very blessed 2026,
Pastor Donna
It’s the last day of the year. A time when we look backwards and forwards at the same
time. We mentally assess our “year in review,” remembering the highlights, the lowlights, and all
the ordinary stuff in between. Then we take a breath and pray that the new year brings more ups
than downs, more blessings than sorrows, and more joy than pain. Some of us make a resolution
or set a goal for what we want to accomplish in the coming months and some of us don’t, but
either way, the new year is coming right at us with full force.
Personally, I like the promise of a new year. It’s full of possibilities. It’s a new box of
crayons, a clean sheet of paper, and a blank slate just waiting to show us what it will be. As we
turn the calendar from December 31 to January 1, we get a sense of leaving the old behind and
embracing the new.
I think that’s what it’s like when we become a Christian. Before, we were full of sin -
dark and dirty. Then, we encountered the Risen Savior and pledged our life to him, and he made
us clean and shiny, like a brand-new person. King David understood that, writing in Psalm 51:7,
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
We know how white snow can be. When we get a nice snowfall that covers everything,
the world seems cleaner, softer, and prettier, because it covers the dirt and mud. Sadly, the clean
look doesn’t last. The snow melts and the dirt and mud reappear, reminding us that even snow
cannot truly clean, only temporarily cover.
The cleansing power of forgiveness, though, isn’t temporary. In Isaiah 1:8, we read,
“Come now, let us settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Our sins are
like crimson, staining us and everything we touch and making life messy. Thanks to God,
through Jesus Christ’s atoning death on the cross for us, we can now be forgiven for those sins
and that crimson stain is turned to white – pure, clean, permanently white.
We don’t just look new, we become new. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior,
we become a new person in him, adopted into the family of God and sustained by the Holy
Spirit, not for a day, a week, a month, or even a year, but for forever! It’s amazing, isn’t it? We
never have to worry about going back to being dead in our sins, we never have to worry about
the crimson stain on our lives, we only have to praise God for the gift he has given us. Why
would he do this?
I think we all know the answer to that question. It’s LOVE. God loves us so much that he
was willing to come and prove his love through his death, and because he did – we are now
cleansed white as snow. It’s a new day, it’s a new year, and because of Jesus we are a new
person. Praise God for the new you, not just on New Year’s Day, but for all 364 days that will
come next. Then do it again next year, too!
Have a very blessed 2026,
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!
