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SPRING RUMMAGE AND BAKE SALE
Friday, March 28th 9-5 and Saturday, March 29th 9-1 |
We have added a “Food Blessing Box” to our landscape and ministry 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
February 26, 2025
“Abide in me.” Three words spoken by Jesus three times in John 15. I love the sound of those three words. “Abide in me,” sounds like quiet, peace, rest. In today’s busy world, don’t we all crave a little quiet, peace, and rest? At least sometimes? I know I do.
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I like crowds, noise, and a party atmosphere. I love being surrounded by friends and family with kids running everywhere, hearing the laughter from people scattered around. I love gatherings and conferences and chances to be with others. But sometimes I want the opposite. Sometimes I need to be away from people, to spend time with my thoughts, to spend time with God. That’s when “Abide in me” becomes so appealing.
I think what we miss, though, is Jesus isn’t telling us to abide in him only when we want peace and quiet. He isn’t a refueling station where we get recharged before heading back into the chaos of life, leaving him behind until we run low and need another fill up. Jesus tells us, “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.”
Did you catch that? If a branch doesn’t stay connected to the vine, it cannot survive. The branch doesn’t say to the vine, “See ya later. I’ll be back when I need more sap.” The branch knows the vine is the source of life. The vine provides food, support, and protects the branch, only as long as it is connected to the vine.
In the same way, we only survive when we stay connected to Jesus. He is the vine, the source of life, the one who feeds our souls and spirits, who supports and protects us. That is why Jesus says, “Abide in me.” In Biblical terms “abide” means to live in, remain in, or continue in, especially in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Not sometimes, not when we feel our energy running low, but always. “Abide in me,” Jesus says, “when you are down and weary, when you are lost and lonely, when you are joyful and thankful, when life is loud and full of stuff, when you are overwhelmed and when you are at rest.”
When we abide in Jesus, we commit to lean into him for everything, always. We allow him to nurture and feed us, instruct and lead us. We become willing to live as an extension of Jesus here on earth. And we commit to produce fruit, like a branch produces the fruit of the vine. Abiding in Jesus is about relationship. It’s a give and take from both sides, which means we have to do our part.
Our part is to produce fruit for the kingdom by sharing the light and the love of Jesus with those who do not know him yet. We do that by how we speak, act, and live as followers of Christ in all situations. Not just on Sunday, not just when we are hanging out with our Christian friends, but always and with everyone.
If we fail to produce fruit, like any good gardener, the vinedresser will come along and prune the wasted branch from the vine. He will cut away everything that does not produce, making make room for the ones that are and throwing those branches into the burn pile.
Friends, I pray we will always choose to abide in Christ, no matter our circumstances, so we can produce sweet tasting fruit which will draw others to Jesus. Happy March!
Pastor Donna
“Abide in me.” Three words spoken by Jesus three times in John 15. I love the sound of those three words. “Abide in me,” sounds like quiet, peace, rest. In today’s busy world, don’t we all crave a little quiet, peace, and rest? At least sometimes? I know I do.
Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I like crowds, noise, and a party atmosphere. I love being surrounded by friends and family with kids running everywhere, hearing the laughter from people scattered around. I love gatherings and conferences and chances to be with others. But sometimes I want the opposite. Sometimes I need to be away from people, to spend time with my thoughts, to spend time with God. That’s when “Abide in me” becomes so appealing.
I think what we miss, though, is Jesus isn’t telling us to abide in him only when we want peace and quiet. He isn’t a refueling station where we get recharged before heading back into the chaos of life, leaving him behind until we run low and need another fill up. Jesus tells us, “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.”
Did you catch that? If a branch doesn’t stay connected to the vine, it cannot survive. The branch doesn’t say to the vine, “See ya later. I’ll be back when I need more sap.” The branch knows the vine is the source of life. The vine provides food, support, and protects the branch, only as long as it is connected to the vine.
In the same way, we only survive when we stay connected to Jesus. He is the vine, the source of life, the one who feeds our souls and spirits, who supports and protects us. That is why Jesus says, “Abide in me.” In Biblical terms “abide” means to live in, remain in, or continue in, especially in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Not sometimes, not when we feel our energy running low, but always. “Abide in me,” Jesus says, “when you are down and weary, when you are lost and lonely, when you are joyful and thankful, when life is loud and full of stuff, when you are overwhelmed and when you are at rest.”
When we abide in Jesus, we commit to lean into him for everything, always. We allow him to nurture and feed us, instruct and lead us. We become willing to live as an extension of Jesus here on earth. And we commit to produce fruit, like a branch produces the fruit of the vine. Abiding in Jesus is about relationship. It’s a give and take from both sides, which means we have to do our part.
Our part is to produce fruit for the kingdom by sharing the light and the love of Jesus with those who do not know him yet. We do that by how we speak, act, and live as followers of Christ in all situations. Not just on Sunday, not just when we are hanging out with our Christian friends, but always and with everyone.
If we fail to produce fruit, like any good gardener, the vinedresser will come along and prune the wasted branch from the vine. He will cut away everything that does not produce, making make room for the ones that are and throwing those branches into the burn pile.
Friends, I pray we will always choose to abide in Christ, no matter our circumstances, so we can produce sweet tasting fruit which will draw others to Jesus. Happy 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!
