What The Heart Craves
As this month comes to a close, God has been “opening our eyes” as we have sought the Lord in fasting and prayer. He has been showing us what He wants us to see in our lives, our world, and His kingdom. We shared many wonderful testimonies this past Wednesday night on Pastor’s Chat. So please watch it if you were not able to join us live. It will bless and encourage your heart to hear what God has done and is doing!
Our Upper Room Prayer is tonight at 8pm! We feel led to continue to meet with you for these special evenings, to offer fervent, effectual prayer together on our prayer conference call. Join us this evening as we seek God about some of the current, critical crisis facing our lives and the world today.
We are happy to announce we now have an Online Store on our website! Our first offer is the One Year Bible NLT - Premium Slimline Large Print edition ($25). For those of you who would like to join us on the journey of reading through the entire Bible each year in easy and understandable daily readings. Just go to ppt.church/shop to purchase your Bible and read the instructions to make arrangements for pick-up. You can join us as we start the month of February!
Everyone loves encouragement so please join us for the Love Challenge! Throughout the month of February, we want you to join us in reaching out with the God’s love to others with words of encouragement. Call or text one different person every day and let them know what you appreciate about them. Solomon said, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” (Prov.12:25) Let’s reach out to one another with God’s love in our hearts and make some people’s hearts glad this month!
People need a tangible expression of love from our benevolent Food Pantry. During the month of February, we are asking you to make benevolent food donations by dropping them off in the church office vestibule weekdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. You can also drop-off your tithes and offerings by placing them in the drop-box there. Thank you for helping us provide this practical expression of love right now.
What The Heart Craves. We all want to be swept away, to be loved in spite of ourselves, to be fully accepted, to be cherished, to matter to someone. Join us this Sunday for a message that speaks to this core desire and God’s provision for it. Also invite someone you know who needs to hear this message! We are gaining new subscribers to our YouTube channel every week. So thank you for being a witness and an ambassador for Christ by helping us get the Word out to people!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
As this month comes to a close, God has been “opening our eyes” as we have sought the Lord in fasting and prayer. He has been showing us what He wants us to see in our lives, our world, and His kingdom. We shared many wonderful testimonies this past Wednesday night on Pastor’s Chat. So please watch it if you were not able to join us live. It will bless and encourage your heart to hear what God has done and is doing!
Our Upper Room Prayer is tonight at 8pm! We feel led to continue to meet with you for these special evenings, to offer fervent, effectual prayer together on our prayer conference call. Join us this evening as we seek God about some of the current, critical crisis facing our lives and the world today.
We are happy to announce we now have an Online Store on our website! Our first offer is the One Year Bible NLT - Premium Slimline Large Print edition ($25). For those of you who would like to join us on the journey of reading through the entire Bible each year in easy and understandable daily readings. Just go to ppt.church/shop to purchase your Bible and read the instructions to make arrangements for pick-up. You can join us as we start the month of February!
Everyone loves encouragement so please join us for the Love Challenge! Throughout the month of February, we want you to join us in reaching out with the God’s love to others with words of encouragement. Call or text one different person every day and let them know what you appreciate about them. Solomon said, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” (Prov.12:25) Let’s reach out to one another with God’s love in our hearts and make some people’s hearts glad this month!
People need a tangible expression of love from our benevolent Food Pantry. During the month of February, we are asking you to make benevolent food donations by dropping them off in the church office vestibule weekdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. You can also drop-off your tithes and offerings by placing them in the drop-box there. Thank you for helping us provide this practical expression of love right now.
What The Heart Craves. We all want to be swept away, to be loved in spite of ourselves, to be fully accepted, to be cherished, to matter to someone. Join us this Sunday for a message that speaks to this core desire and God’s provision for it. Also invite someone you know who needs to hear this message! We are gaining new subscribers to our YouTube channel every week. So thank you for being a witness and an ambassador for Christ by helping us get the Word out to people!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Seeing God’s purpose and your purpose in these days.
Our powerful 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer is coming to a close this weekend. How has God spoken to you or what has He been revealed to you as we have been praying for Him to ‘open our eyes’? We would love to hear your testimony, so please email them to me and indicate if you wish to just privately share this or whether we can share it publicly to encourage others. We will never use your name, but tell the story so others can be blessed, rejoice with you and let it encourage others. We know God has truly been working in people’s lives during this fast and we would love to hear your testimony!
Our Upper Room Prayer Gathering is tonight! We have felt compelled to call people to another special prayer conference call. We are believing for 150+ people to join us for this incredibly relevant topic, The Unseen Road Ahead and God’s plan for your life.
Our Connect Challenge continues so please make an effort each day to connect with at least one different person via a phone call or text and ask how they are doing. Again we are hearing wonderful reports of how people are being blessed themselves by reaching out to bless others! Let’s mutually encourage one another in the Lord and our walk with God.
Our Church Office is closed, however the office vestibule is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm for you to drop off your tithes/offerings and any board nominations ballots (deadline is this Sunday).
My message this Sunday is Seeing Your Purpose. What if everything God has for your life is exactly what you would love to do most? Join us as we explore God’s purpose for your life and this year!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Our powerful 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer is coming to a close this weekend. How has God spoken to you or what has He been revealed to you as we have been praying for Him to ‘open our eyes’? We would love to hear your testimony, so please email them to me and indicate if you wish to just privately share this or whether we can share it publicly to encourage others. We will never use your name, but tell the story so others can be blessed, rejoice with you and let it encourage others. We know God has truly been working in people’s lives during this fast and we would love to hear your testimony!
Our Upper Room Prayer Gathering is tonight! We have felt compelled to call people to another special prayer conference call. We are believing for 150+ people to join us for this incredibly relevant topic, The Unseen Road Ahead and God’s plan for your life.
Our Connect Challenge continues so please make an effort each day to connect with at least one different person via a phone call or text and ask how they are doing. Again we are hearing wonderful reports of how people are being blessed themselves by reaching out to bless others! Let’s mutually encourage one another in the Lord and our walk with God.
Our Church Office is closed, however the office vestibule is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm for you to drop off your tithes/offerings and any board nominations ballots (deadline is this Sunday).
My message this Sunday is Seeing Your Purpose. What if everything God has for your life is exactly what you would love to do most? Join us as we explore God’s purpose for your life and this year!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
COVID Update
As we mark the half way point of our 21 Days of Fasting & Prayer, we are receiving wonderful testimonies of how is working His truth in people’s lives. The daily interaction on the Bible app is providing a wonderful platform to connect and share spiritual insights with one another. We encourage you to press into the Lord through fasting, reading the daily devotionals and prayer points. Keep joining others on our evening prayer conference calls and Pastor’s Chat livestreams. Especially plan to join us for our Upper Room Gathering this Friday night as we are believing for 120+ people to join us for this special prayer conference call. Together we will be praying for the fullness of God’s presence to fill our lives, homes and church. So make a special effort to join us and get in on receiving this blessing of God! Our Connect Challenge continues so please work at connecting with one different person every day via a phone call or text. We need to mutually encourage one another in these times!
With the latest emergency stay-at-home order announced this week, the church office will be officially closed again. Most of our staff will be working from home but available for you to contact. We are pleased to inform you that we can continue to produce our online livestream services under the Production Media Industries guidelines. We are reducing the number of volunteers working as an extra precaution. Our staff and volunteers will continue to follow all the strictest safety protocols that have kept us all safe and virus-free. We are grateful to God for protecting the ministry over these past eleven months.
As we progress in this new year, we are going to continue to see great challenges ahead but also great manifestations of God’s goodness in the midst of it all. In light of that truth, one of the greatest needs for facing the future is wisdom and discernment. Join us online this Sunday, for the message Seeing The Unseen, where we will help you develop these two spiritual skillsets in your life.
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
As we mark the half way point of our 21 Days of Fasting & Prayer, we are receiving wonderful testimonies of how is working His truth in people’s lives. The daily interaction on the Bible app is providing a wonderful platform to connect and share spiritual insights with one another. We encourage you to press into the Lord through fasting, reading the daily devotionals and prayer points. Keep joining others on our evening prayer conference calls and Pastor’s Chat livestreams. Especially plan to join us for our Upper Room Gathering this Friday night as we are believing for 120+ people to join us for this special prayer conference call. Together we will be praying for the fullness of God’s presence to fill our lives, homes and church. So make a special effort to join us and get in on receiving this blessing of God! Our Connect Challenge continues so please work at connecting with one different person every day via a phone call or text. We need to mutually encourage one another in these times!
With the latest emergency stay-at-home order announced this week, the church office will be officially closed again. Most of our staff will be working from home but available for you to contact. We are pleased to inform you that we can continue to produce our online livestream services under the Production Media Industries guidelines. We are reducing the number of volunteers working as an extra precaution. Our staff and volunteers will continue to follow all the strictest safety protocols that have kept us all safe and virus-free. We are grateful to God for protecting the ministry over these past eleven months.
As we progress in this new year, we are going to continue to see great challenges ahead but also great manifestations of God’s goodness in the midst of it all. In light of that truth, one of the greatest needs for facing the future is wisdom and discernment. Join us online this Sunday, for the message Seeing The Unseen, where we will help you develop these two spiritual skillsets in your life.
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
2021 is off to a roaring start!
In this first week of the new year, we have some amazing testimonies!
It has been exciting to see over 40 new subscribers to our YouTube Channel over the past several weeks. We thank God for enlarging the scope of our ministry influence as we enter this new year!
The first week of our 21-Days of Fasting and Prayer is off to a roaring start!
We are grateful to over 90 people who have joined us on the Bible App to read the Devotional, Scriptures, and share their insights and prayers with one another in the ‘Talk It Over’ feature. I know many others of you are receiving the daily emails with the prayer points and I thank you for joining us in that manner too. Whichever way you choose to fast and pray is between you and God, we only ask that you participate in some fashion and join us in asking God to open our eyes to Him, His ways, and His power. Be sure to sign-up for these emails or join us on the Bible App.
An all-time record number of people joined us on our Prayer Conference Calls.
Monday night we had 80 people, Tuesday over 70, and Wednesday night’s Pastor’s Chat saw over 100 folks join us on our Livestream and Conference Call! We want to thank you all for your support and participation in hearing the Spirit’s call to begin this year in prayer. If you have not yet joined, we encourage you to jump in now and join this movement of seeking first the kingdom of God and setting the course for the new year.
Pick up the Connect Challenge by calling/texting one different person every day.
I have personally been blessed by my phone conversations, whether it was to wish someone a happy birthday, to rejoice with someone who has experienced the Lord’s healing touch as they have fully recovered from a severe bout of Covid-19, or another person who is still recovering from surgery. You reap what you sow, because in turn you will be blessed to hear their story and you can pray with them. This is so easy that everyone can do it. Just wake up in the morning and pray, asking the Lord who you should reach out to that day. He will impress someone upon your heart who needs the blessing of hearing from you. Even keep a journal of the people you have connected with as a record of God’s blessing. Someone shared their testimony with me about how they called over 40 people during the month of December to connect with people and wish them a Merry Christmas! That is absolutely amazing! Let’s make this a team effort! If we all do this, it will be an exponential blessing that will cause an explosion of encouragement in all our lives!
A by-product of fasting is that it produces a physical cleansing of toxins and impurities in our bodies. More importantly, we need a spiritual cleansing. So we look forward to your presence with us online this Sunday as we participate in Communion together. Prepare your elements and your heart as we come to the cross of Christ again for a fresh cleansing in this new year!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
In this first week of the new year, we have some amazing testimonies!
It has been exciting to see over 40 new subscribers to our YouTube Channel over the past several weeks. We thank God for enlarging the scope of our ministry influence as we enter this new year!
The first week of our 21-Days of Fasting and Prayer is off to a roaring start!
We are grateful to over 90 people who have joined us on the Bible App to read the Devotional, Scriptures, and share their insights and prayers with one another in the ‘Talk It Over’ feature. I know many others of you are receiving the daily emails with the prayer points and I thank you for joining us in that manner too. Whichever way you choose to fast and pray is between you and God, we only ask that you participate in some fashion and join us in asking God to open our eyes to Him, His ways, and His power. Be sure to sign-up for these emails or join us on the Bible App.
An all-time record number of people joined us on our Prayer Conference Calls.
Monday night we had 80 people, Tuesday over 70, and Wednesday night’s Pastor’s Chat saw over 100 folks join us on our Livestream and Conference Call! We want to thank you all for your support and participation in hearing the Spirit’s call to begin this year in prayer. If you have not yet joined, we encourage you to jump in now and join this movement of seeking first the kingdom of God and setting the course for the new year.
Pick up the Connect Challenge by calling/texting one different person every day.
I have personally been blessed by my phone conversations, whether it was to wish someone a happy birthday, to rejoice with someone who has experienced the Lord’s healing touch as they have fully recovered from a severe bout of Covid-19, or another person who is still recovering from surgery. You reap what you sow, because in turn you will be blessed to hear their story and you can pray with them. This is so easy that everyone can do it. Just wake up in the morning and pray, asking the Lord who you should reach out to that day. He will impress someone upon your heart who needs the blessing of hearing from you. Even keep a journal of the people you have connected with as a record of God’s blessing. Someone shared their testimony with me about how they called over 40 people during the month of December to connect with people and wish them a Merry Christmas! That is absolutely amazing! Let’s make this a team effort! If we all do this, it will be an exponential blessing that will cause an explosion of encouragement in all our lives!
A by-product of fasting is that it produces a physical cleansing of toxins and impurities in our bodies. More importantly, we need a spiritual cleansing. So we look forward to your presence with us online this Sunday as we participate in Communion together. Prepare your elements and your heart as we come to the cross of Christ again for a fresh cleansing in this new year!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Open My Eyes
Happy New Year to you and your family!
If you see your life only through your own eyes it can present a very narrow, critical, and limiting view of yourself, the world around you, and ultimately your view of God and what He is doing in this moment of time. We must learn to see ourselves and our situations through God’s eyes. If you hope to see what’s true, what’s possible and what God has planned, we must see it through God’s eyes.
Open My Eyes will be our prayer for the next 21 days, starting this Monday as we embark on 21 days of fasting and prayer. We are asking the Lord to open our eyes, to look into every part of our lives, to help us see all He has for us, all He is doing in us and through us, and what He is doing to advance His kingdom on earth.
God wants us to see life through His eyes. He has a vision for your life, for your family, for your business. So, we’re beginning this year saying, “God, open our eyes.” Open our eyes to the wonderful things You have given us, open our eyes to Your plans, Your direction, and Your purpose for our lives. Show us who You are. Show us Your glory. Bring us revelation by, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” (Ephesians 1:18a)
God wants us to see His ways. But, God’s ways are not our ways. His Ways are higher than our ways. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NLT) God needs to enlighten us and open our eyes to His wisdom, knowledge, and direction for our lives and His kingdom purposes.
God want us to see His power. You need to know that the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you right now! The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. (Romans 8:11a, NLT) We have the power of Holy Spirit living in us. God is still in the miracle-working business! Power to change lives and circumstances in a moment.
So join us this Sunday online for the message Open My Eyes that will launch us into this new year and season of fasting and prayer. God is going to help us to see life through His eyes, His ways and His power!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Happy New Year to you and your family!
If you see your life only through your own eyes it can present a very narrow, critical, and limiting view of yourself, the world around you, and ultimately your view of God and what He is doing in this moment of time. We must learn to see ourselves and our situations through God’s eyes. If you hope to see what’s true, what’s possible and what God has planned, we must see it through God’s eyes.
Open My Eyes will be our prayer for the next 21 days, starting this Monday as we embark on 21 days of fasting and prayer. We are asking the Lord to open our eyes, to look into every part of our lives, to help us see all He has for us, all He is doing in us and through us, and what He is doing to advance His kingdom on earth.
God wants us to see life through His eyes. He has a vision for your life, for your family, for your business. So, we’re beginning this year saying, “God, open our eyes.” Open our eyes to the wonderful things You have given us, open our eyes to Your plans, Your direction, and Your purpose for our lives. Show us who You are. Show us Your glory. Bring us revelation by, “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” (Ephesians 1:18a)
God wants us to see His ways. But, God’s ways are not our ways. His Ways are higher than our ways. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NLT) God needs to enlighten us and open our eyes to His wisdom, knowledge, and direction for our lives and His kingdom purposes.
God want us to see His power. You need to know that the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you right now! The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. (Romans 8:11a, NLT) We have the power of Holy Spirit living in us. God is still in the miracle-working business! Power to change lives and circumstances in a moment.
So join us this Sunday online for the message Open My Eyes that will launch us into this new year and season of fasting and prayer. God is going to help us to see life through His eyes, His ways and His power!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
What do you See, Hear, and Know?
Like most people, I love the Christmas season! We have been listening to Christmas music since Nov 1st. One of the songs I enjoy listening to is Do You Hear What I Hear? This song loosely tells the story of the birth of Jesus. It includes parts when the angels announced the arrival of Christ and the wise men.
The song was written by a husband and wife, Noel & Gloria Regney, in New York City during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. It’s incredibly descriptive lyrics are an outflow of the heightened and tense emotion of that time. The first lines came to Noel walking home through streets of Manhattan, New York as people were gripped with fear. He saw two mothers walking together, their babies in strollers in front of them. As these babies were connecting with one another, without a care in the world, and smiling at each other, these song lines began coming to him, “Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, ‘Do you hear what I hear?’” He finished writing them when he got home, and Gloria wrote the tune.
Besides being a familiar song, it also poses three great questions at Christmas time: Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know?
This Sunday we will explore some of the characters in the Christmas story like the shepherds, Simeon and Anna. They all saw, heard and knew things about the birth of Jesus Christ.
What did you see this Christmas? What did you hear this Christmas? Do you know the Christ of Christmas?
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Like most people, I love the Christmas season! We have been listening to Christmas music since Nov 1st. One of the songs I enjoy listening to is Do You Hear What I Hear? This song loosely tells the story of the birth of Jesus. It includes parts when the angels announced the arrival of Christ and the wise men.
The song was written by a husband and wife, Noel & Gloria Regney, in New York City during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. It’s incredibly descriptive lyrics are an outflow of the heightened and tense emotion of that time. The first lines came to Noel walking home through streets of Manhattan, New York as people were gripped with fear. He saw two mothers walking together, their babies in strollers in front of them. As these babies were connecting with one another, without a care in the world, and smiling at each other, these song lines began coming to him, “Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, ‘Do you hear what I hear?’” He finished writing them when he got home, and Gloria wrote the tune.
Besides being a familiar song, it also poses three great questions at Christmas time: Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know?
This Sunday we will explore some of the characters in the Christmas story like the shepherds, Simeon and Anna. They all saw, heard and knew things about the birth of Jesus Christ.
What did you see this Christmas? What did you hear this Christmas? Do you know the Christ of Christmas?
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Is there Joy in Your World?
As we enter into this final week before Christmas, are you experiencing any joy in your heart and soul? Life can certainly feel overwhelming at times as we are forced to adjust to changing circumstances on a continual basis in every dimension of our lives.
If you were to ask anyone on the street “what is the most joyful time of the year?” Without any question, it would be practically unanimous that Christmas is the most joyful time of the year. One of the other carols you will hear everywhere you go is one titled, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
It’s Christmas Sunday this weekend, and we will be speaking on the carol, Joy To The World. The words of this song are so well known to us:
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature singJoy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joyHe rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
Is there any joy in your world? What should our experience of joy be based upon? Many of us work so hard on getting the externals all ready for Christmas. We are busy decorating our home inside and out, baking our favourite goodies, and wrapping gifts. All in hopes of experiencing some Christmas joy. Scriptures say the angel announced to the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10,11).
The key to experiencing true joy in your heart and life is found in the first line of the first stanza, Joy to the Word! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let’s pray that in this final week leading up to Christmas that more and more people will experience the true joy of this season, Jesus!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
As we enter into this final week before Christmas, are you experiencing any joy in your heart and soul? Life can certainly feel overwhelming at times as we are forced to adjust to changing circumstances on a continual basis in every dimension of our lives.
If you were to ask anyone on the street “what is the most joyful time of the year?” Without any question, it would be practically unanimous that Christmas is the most joyful time of the year. One of the other carols you will hear everywhere you go is one titled, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
It’s Christmas Sunday this weekend, and we will be speaking on the carol, Joy To The World. The words of this song are so well known to us:
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature singJoy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joyHe rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
Is there any joy in your world? What should our experience of joy be based upon? Many of us work so hard on getting the externals all ready for Christmas. We are busy decorating our home inside and out, baking our favourite goodies, and wrapping gifts. All in hopes of experiencing some Christmas joy. Scriptures say the angel announced to the shepherds, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10,11).
The key to experiencing true joy in your heart and life is found in the first line of the first stanza, Joy to the Word! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let’s pray that in this final week leading up to Christmas that more and more people will experience the true joy of this season, Jesus!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
What did the angels sing?
I love to sing. I know that sometimes I lose my pitch and my voice goes flat. I didn’t say I was a skilled or accomplished singer. Just that I love to sing nonetheless! I especially like to sing songs that declare the greatness of God and what He has done for me. How about you?
I think a lot of people at our church enjoy it too! PPT is known as a singing and worshipping church that ushers in the presence of God in such a powerful way! That’s why our tagline is Come and experience the presence of God! Christianity is a singing faith!
Hark The Herald Angels Sing is the one of the most loved and sung carols at Christmas time. The words to this song are loaded with powerful truth and theology about Jesus. In tomorrow’s Carols Devotional you will read all about it. Plan to sing this carol to yourself throughout your day to prepare your spirit for worship and the Word this Sunday as we explore the question: What did the angels sing?
The angels announced the birth of Jesus in song. They sang about who Christ was. They declared in worship what He had come to do. This magnificent Christmas carol builds into a crescendo of glorious theology about Jesus! It speaks about what He has done, that only He could do, for us. It’s incredibly good news!
By the time service ends and we gather around the Communion table, we hope you will have learned to ‘Hark’ and ‘Hail’ Jesus as the Saviour and Lord of your life and your Christmas. Harken to His voice as He would speak to you. “Hail the heaven born prince of peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!” Give Jesus the Worship He is due. The One who brings us Light, Life, Healing, and Eternal Salvation.
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
I love to sing. I know that sometimes I lose my pitch and my voice goes flat. I didn’t say I was a skilled or accomplished singer. Just that I love to sing nonetheless! I especially like to sing songs that declare the greatness of God and what He has done for me. How about you?
I think a lot of people at our church enjoy it too! PPT is known as a singing and worshipping church that ushers in the presence of God in such a powerful way! That’s why our tagline is Come and experience the presence of God! Christianity is a singing faith!
Hark The Herald Angels Sing is the one of the most loved and sung carols at Christmas time. The words to this song are loaded with powerful truth and theology about Jesus. In tomorrow’s Carols Devotional you will read all about it. Plan to sing this carol to yourself throughout your day to prepare your spirit for worship and the Word this Sunday as we explore the question: What did the angels sing?
The angels announced the birth of Jesus in song. They sang about who Christ was. They declared in worship what He had come to do. This magnificent Christmas carol builds into a crescendo of glorious theology about Jesus! It speaks about what He has done, that only He could do, for us. It’s incredibly good news!
By the time service ends and we gather around the Communion table, we hope you will have learned to ‘Hark’ and ‘Hail’ Jesus as the Saviour and Lord of your life and your Christmas. Harken to His voice as He would speak to you. “Hail the heaven born prince of peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!” Give Jesus the Worship He is due. The One who brings us Light, Life, Healing, and Eternal Salvation.
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Do you ever wonder what Mary actually knew?
One of the most powerful Christmas songs to be recorded is Mary Did You Know? The song poses a number of questions to Mary, the mother of Jesus:
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver youMary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of GodMary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am
Lots of questions. Do you ever wonder what Mary really knew and understood about what she had been chosen to do, in becoming the mother of Jesus?
Did she understand who Jesus really was and what He would do?
Did she have any clue where this journey with God would take her?
Join us online this Sunday as we explore these questions. The answers will speak to us about being chosen by God for a very unique task that will lead us to be amazed on where our journey with God will take us!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
One of the most powerful Christmas songs to be recorded is Mary Did You Know? The song poses a number of questions to Mary, the mother of Jesus:
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver youMary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of GodMary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am
Lots of questions. Do you ever wonder what Mary really knew and understood about what she had been chosen to do, in becoming the mother of Jesus?
Did she understand who Jesus really was and what He would do?
Did she have any clue where this journey with God would take her?
Join us online this Sunday as we explore these questions. The answers will speak to us about being chosen by God for a very unique task that will lead us to be amazed on where our journey with God will take us!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
From Troubled to Trust
Are you troubled by what you see around you today? Are you grieved in your spirit feeling so helpless in the middle of all that is going on around you? Well I want you to know that there is an answer to the troubled and grieving feelings we have.
This Sunday I will be bringing the message From Troubled to Trust. I know this message will be an encouragement to you. One of the reasons why people are feeling so troubled is that today we live in a world where people are finding it so hard to trust. The Media doesn’t always tell the truth, some of our family and friends are maybe just as confused themselves as to who or what to trust, and so many of our trusted institutions have been letting us down.
So the question arises, who can we trust? I believe the answer to who we can trust is found in the word of God. So join us online this Sunday as we move From Troubled to Trust.
God bless you,
Pastor Wayne Russell
Associate Pastor
Are you troubled by what you see around you today? Are you grieved in your spirit feeling so helpless in the middle of all that is going on around you? Well I want you to know that there is an answer to the troubled and grieving feelings we have.
This Sunday I will be bringing the message From Troubled to Trust. I know this message will be an encouragement to you. One of the reasons why people are feeling so troubled is that today we live in a world where people are finding it so hard to trust. The Media doesn’t always tell the truth, some of our family and friends are maybe just as confused themselves as to who or what to trust, and so many of our trusted institutions have been letting us down.
So the question arises, who can we trust? I believe the answer to who we can trust is found in the word of God. So join us online this Sunday as we move From Troubled to Trust.
God bless you,
Pastor Wayne Russell
Associate Pastor
Are you overwhelmed or overflowing?
Are you feeling overwhelmed these days? What do you want, hope and believe God will do through this current crisis? How can we move from feeling overwhelmed by life’s circumstances to experience the overflow of God’s presence and provision?
Our answer to these questions reveals our level of anticipation and faith. This theme of faith and anticipation weaves its way through all of Scripture. Faith led Noah to build an ark for 120 years. Faith caused Abraham to be willing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. The faith of a Roman Centurion anticipated that if Jesus just uttered the word, his son would be healed.
The Bible declares that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). So what is it about “faith” that makes God smile? Our faith, no matter the size, puts the wheels of heaven into motion. Jesus reminds us, “what is impossible with men is possible with God.” Faith requires us to look beyond ourselves to God for the answers.
And it’s anticipation that drives us to look to God and place our hope and trust in Him. Anticipation is a great word. It is a cousin to expectation, excitement, faith, and suspense. The dictionary defines anticipation as “a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen; the act of preparing for something.” Faith pleases God because it creates an opportunity to reveal His power.
What are you trusting God for? We need to practice the spiritual discipline of anticipation. Would you dare to still believe the Word of God, Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20, NLT). God honours faith and He smiles when we have a spirit of anticipation.
So this Sunday, we want you to do something special to prepare for our service. Find yourself some sort of jar in your home and bring it with you as you join us for our online service. Get your whole family involved. Everyone needs to have a jar! And be sure to come with anticipation and faith in your heart too!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Are you feeling overwhelmed these days? What do you want, hope and believe God will do through this current crisis? How can we move from feeling overwhelmed by life’s circumstances to experience the overflow of God’s presence and provision?
Our answer to these questions reveals our level of anticipation and faith. This theme of faith and anticipation weaves its way through all of Scripture. Faith led Noah to build an ark for 120 years. Faith caused Abraham to be willing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. The faith of a Roman Centurion anticipated that if Jesus just uttered the word, his son would be healed.
The Bible declares that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). So what is it about “faith” that makes God smile? Our faith, no matter the size, puts the wheels of heaven into motion. Jesus reminds us, “what is impossible with men is possible with God.” Faith requires us to look beyond ourselves to God for the answers.
And it’s anticipation that drives us to look to God and place our hope and trust in Him. Anticipation is a great word. It is a cousin to expectation, excitement, faith, and suspense. The dictionary defines anticipation as “a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen; the act of preparing for something.” Faith pleases God because it creates an opportunity to reveal His power.
What are you trusting God for? We need to practice the spiritual discipline of anticipation. Would you dare to still believe the Word of God, Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20, NLT). God honours faith and He smiles when we have a spirit of anticipation.
So this Sunday, we want you to do something special to prepare for our service. Find yourself some sort of jar in your home and bring it with you as you join us for our online service. Get your whole family involved. Everyone needs to have a jar! And be sure to come with anticipation and faith in your heart too!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Are you preparing for the Day of the Lord?
Hello PPT family and friends,
As you all probably know, Peel Region is under the highest COVID-19 alert level short of a lockdown as Ontario shifts to a tiered and colour-coded system for managing pandemic measures.
A week ago the Medical Officer of Health for Peel added some additional restrictions to our region and has asked churches to voluntarily cooperate by holding our services virtually online or by restricting ourselves to 30% capacity to a maximum of 50 people.
Current reports indicate that our region’s hospitals are being overwhelmed and frontline health care workers face a daunting task.
Scripture tell us two major commands that are to guide our lives:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, your mind and strength and love your neighbour as your yourself.
So, in consultation with our church board, staff and other spiritual leaders in our fellowship, we feel the best way to love our neighbours and to provide a positive Christian witness to our community is to voluntarily restrict ourselves and move our Sunday Services online only for the time being. We have done this before very successfully and by God’s grace, we can do it again!
We will watch closely what unfolds in our region, monitoring the progress and directives from Peel’s Medical Officer of Health and respond accordingly in the days ahead. So watch for further notices.
As I mentioned last Sunday after service, I am asking our church family to engage even more fervently in prayer and together let’s believe for a breakthrough in this pandemic. We look forward to your presence with us this Sunday for our online service at 10:30 am.
My message about the Day of the Lord refers to when the Lord Jesus comes to rapture His people and God pours out His wrath on the ungodly. It will be a time when the Lord will begin to pour out His judgments during seven years called the Great Tribulation. Unfortunately, many people will not be prepared. Will you be prepared? Find out how to be this Sunday in my message, Preparing for the Day of the Lord. We look forward to seeing you online!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Hello PPT family and friends,
As you all probably know, Peel Region is under the highest COVID-19 alert level short of a lockdown as Ontario shifts to a tiered and colour-coded system for managing pandemic measures.
A week ago the Medical Officer of Health for Peel added some additional restrictions to our region and has asked churches to voluntarily cooperate by holding our services virtually online or by restricting ourselves to 30% capacity to a maximum of 50 people.
Current reports indicate that our region’s hospitals are being overwhelmed and frontline health care workers face a daunting task.
Scripture tell us two major commands that are to guide our lives:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, your mind and strength and love your neighbour as your yourself.
So, in consultation with our church board, staff and other spiritual leaders in our fellowship, we feel the best way to love our neighbours and to provide a positive Christian witness to our community is to voluntarily restrict ourselves and move our Sunday Services online only for the time being. We have done this before very successfully and by God’s grace, we can do it again!
We will watch closely what unfolds in our region, monitoring the progress and directives from Peel’s Medical Officer of Health and respond accordingly in the days ahead. So watch for further notices.
As I mentioned last Sunday after service, I am asking our church family to engage even more fervently in prayer and together let’s believe for a breakthrough in this pandemic. We look forward to your presence with us this Sunday for our online service at 10:30 am.
My message about the Day of the Lord refers to when the Lord Jesus comes to rapture His people and God pours out His wrath on the ungodly. It will be a time when the Lord will begin to pour out His judgments during seven years called the Great Tribulation. Unfortunately, many people will not be prepared. Will you be prepared? Find out how to be this Sunday in my message, Preparing for the Day of the Lord. We look forward to seeing you online!
Every blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Encourage each other with these words
Do you want to know what’s going to happen? Are things unfolding in a way that you did not expect? Are you overwhelmed with questions?
Dark days come to us all. Discouragement is an ever-present danger, and sorrow is the stalker of us all. Like the new Christians at Thessalonica, sometimes our hopes fade and doubts rise. But there is a prescription for those dark days. There are three strong words of encouragement that we all need to hear. See if you can find them in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
Did you find them? These three strong words will focus your heart and mind, and comfort you along life’s journey.
Join us this Sunday to discover what they are and hear more about them, as we celebrate Communion together!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Do you want to know what’s going to happen? Are things unfolding in a way that you did not expect? Are you overwhelmed with questions?
Dark days come to us all. Discouragement is an ever-present danger, and sorrow is the stalker of us all. Like the new Christians at Thessalonica, sometimes our hopes fade and doubts rise. But there is a prescription for those dark days. There are three strong words of encouragement that we all need to hear. See if you can find them in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
Did you find them? These three strong words will focus your heart and mind, and comfort you along life’s journey.
Join us this Sunday to discover what they are and hear more about them, as we celebrate Communion together!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Standing Firm In Your Faith
In her book, God Uses Cracked Pots, author Patsy Clairmont describes the day she sent her seven-year old son to school. A little while later a knock came to the door and when she opened the door, there stood her little boy. She said, “Jason, what are you doing here?” He replied, “I’ve quit school!” She asked, “Why have you quit school?” He said, “It was too long, it was too hard, and it was too boring.” His mother responded, “Jason, you have just described life, get back on the bus!”
Well life can sure feel that way sometimes! It can feel long, hard, and boring, but that is no reason to quit. Bible tells us, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12, NLT). Testing and trials are a normal part of life, so how do you stand strong in midst of those trials? How do you remain steadfast in times of affliction? How do you persevere in face of persecution?
That was Paul’s concern for Thessalonian believers. Just a couple of weeks after they became believers, an angry mob went on a rampage and chased Paul out of town. As he gets down the road to Athens, he begins to wonder about new believers he left behind in Thessalonica. Is their faith still strong despite persecution? Are they holding up under pressure? Or have they succumbed to affliction and given up their faith? Paul expresses his concern in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8:
But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.
This has certainly been a trying year. But we can stand strong in the face of adversity by practicing three things Paul mentions in this chapter. So read the chapter and see if you can discover what they are. Then join us this Sunday and discover how you can find yourself standing firm in your faith!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
In her book, God Uses Cracked Pots, author Patsy Clairmont describes the day she sent her seven-year old son to school. A little while later a knock came to the door and when she opened the door, there stood her little boy. She said, “Jason, what are you doing here?” He replied, “I’ve quit school!” She asked, “Why have you quit school?” He said, “It was too long, it was too hard, and it was too boring.” His mother responded, “Jason, you have just described life, get back on the bus!”
Well life can sure feel that way sometimes! It can feel long, hard, and boring, but that is no reason to quit. Bible tells us, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12, NLT). Testing and trials are a normal part of life, so how do you stand strong in midst of those trials? How do you remain steadfast in times of affliction? How do you persevere in face of persecution?
That was Paul’s concern for Thessalonian believers. Just a couple of weeks after they became believers, an angry mob went on a rampage and chased Paul out of town. As he gets down the road to Athens, he begins to wonder about new believers he left behind in Thessalonica. Is their faith still strong despite persecution? Are they holding up under pressure? Or have they succumbed to affliction and given up their faith? Paul expresses his concern in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8:
But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.
This has certainly been a trying year. But we can stand strong in the face of adversity by practicing three things Paul mentions in this chapter. So read the chapter and see if you can discover what they are. Then join us this Sunday and discover how you can find yourself standing firm in your faith!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Seek to be Genuine Imitators
An imitator is a person who copies the behaviour or actions of another. It is amazing how quickly young children learn by imitation of what they hear and see. Kids can see an action or hear a word or a sound only a few times before they are able to imitate it.
As believers, the Bible calls us to be imitators of Jesus in much the same way. Paul called the Thessalonian believers to be followers of Jesus Christ by following his example, the Word of God and other genuine followers of Christ:
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-13 (NKJV)
We often hear the word hypocrite used to describe a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs and principles that he or she does not actually possess. Their actions belie their stated beliefs. To the contrary, God has called us to be genuine imitators of Jesus Christ.
We are living in days that call for real, genuine and sincere believers to stand up and live out their lives based on the truth of God’s Word. This happens as we are transformed by the truth of God’s Word and follow the example of Christ while He walked this earth. There are also many other faithful believers who can be helpful witnesses of the life we are called to live. Being genuine imitators of Christ brings glory to God, attracts people to the kingdom of God and sets an example for others.
Plan to join us this Sunday to experience the manifest presence of God in worship. Together we will be challenged and encouraged by God’s Word to be genuine imitators of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
An imitator is a person who copies the behaviour or actions of another. It is amazing how quickly young children learn by imitation of what they hear and see. Kids can see an action or hear a word or a sound only a few times before they are able to imitate it.
As believers, the Bible calls us to be imitators of Jesus in much the same way. Paul called the Thessalonian believers to be followers of Jesus Christ by following his example, the Word of God and other genuine followers of Christ:
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-13 (NKJV)
We often hear the word hypocrite used to describe a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs and principles that he or she does not actually possess. Their actions belie their stated beliefs. To the contrary, God has called us to be genuine imitators of Jesus Christ.
We are living in days that call for real, genuine and sincere believers to stand up and live out their lives based on the truth of God’s Word. This happens as we are transformed by the truth of God’s Word and follow the example of Christ while He walked this earth. There are also many other faithful believers who can be helpful witnesses of the life we are called to live. Being genuine imitators of Christ brings glory to God, attracts people to the kingdom of God and sets an example for others.
Plan to join us this Sunday to experience the manifest presence of God in worship. Together we will be challenged and encouraged by God’s Word to be genuine imitators of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Keep Busy Waiting
As a child of God, what should we be doing during this Covid pandemic that has changed the routine of our lives in so many ways? Is there any end in sight as we wait?
We need to keep busy waiting. Now, a phrase like that might seem a bit contradictory. Are we to keep busy or should we hold steady and wait? If we are to keep busy, what should we be doing? If we should be just waiting, what are we waiting for? We actually are to do both.
It is like a woman in the final days of her pregnancy. She finds ways to keep busy in her life while she waits in anticipation and expectation for the arrival of her baby.
We are called as believers to practice a similar posture. Once we turn to God in faith believing, we are called to keep busy loving God and faithfully seeking to serve Him and others, while we wait with great anticipation for the return of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul states it this way, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, (1 Thessalonians 1:2,3)
Faith, love and hope are the distinguishing virtues of a child of God and the church. They are the attributes for living in the kingdom of God. Interestingly, Paul later on in this same chapter describes these three virtues as turning, serving and waiting.
For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9,10)
Join us this Sunday as we gather to worship the Lord and hear the word to Keep Busy Waiting!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
As a child of God, what should we be doing during this Covid pandemic that has changed the routine of our lives in so many ways? Is there any end in sight as we wait?
We need to keep busy waiting. Now, a phrase like that might seem a bit contradictory. Are we to keep busy or should we hold steady and wait? If we are to keep busy, what should we be doing? If we should be just waiting, what are we waiting for? We actually are to do both.
It is like a woman in the final days of her pregnancy. She finds ways to keep busy in her life while she waits in anticipation and expectation for the arrival of her baby.
We are called as believers to practice a similar posture. Once we turn to God in faith believing, we are called to keep busy loving God and faithfully seeking to serve Him and others, while we wait with great anticipation for the return of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul states it this way, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, (1 Thessalonians 1:2,3)
Faith, love and hope are the distinguishing virtues of a child of God and the church. They are the attributes for living in the kingdom of God. Interestingly, Paul later on in this same chapter describes these three virtues as turning, serving and waiting.
For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9,10)
Join us this Sunday as we gather to worship the Lord and hear the word to Keep Busy Waiting!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Let's give thanks together!
Thanksgiving weekend has arrived. It is important for us to come together and thank God for who He is, for what He has done, and for his goodness in our lives. Parliament officially declares Thanksgiving as “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”
It is just as important, if not more important, to thank Him in the midst of trials. As scriptures command, we need to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
This has certainly been a year of trials. A defining characteristic of a Christian is how he or she responds to trials. It is God’s will that we offer thanksgiving to Him, because in spite of trials “we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
By finding the good in the bad and giving thanks despite the negative circumstances, Christians set themselves apart from the rest of the world while simultaneously lifting their own spirits by fixing their eyes on God instead of the world.
This Thanksgiving Sunday, we will lift our eyes to Jesus as we share Communion together. We will celebrate with grateful hearts what Jesus has provided for us through His death on the cross. Together we will examine what empowered Him to endure such agony on our behalf, and the secret to enduring the trials in our own lives.
We encourage you to make a special effort to join us this holiday weekend if you have not yet come to an in-person gathering. We have implemented good safety protocols and are providing a proven, safe environment for worshipping together. You will experience something powerful when worshipping in person versus watching online. So plan to join us this holiday weekend with your family and let’s worship and celebrate communion together! Happy Thanksgiving!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Thanksgiving weekend has arrived. It is important for us to come together and thank God for who He is, for what He has done, and for his goodness in our lives. Parliament officially declares Thanksgiving as “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”
It is just as important, if not more important, to thank Him in the midst of trials. As scriptures command, we need to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
This has certainly been a year of trials. A defining characteristic of a Christian is how he or she responds to trials. It is God’s will that we offer thanksgiving to Him, because in spite of trials “we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)
By finding the good in the bad and giving thanks despite the negative circumstances, Christians set themselves apart from the rest of the world while simultaneously lifting their own spirits by fixing their eyes on God instead of the world.
This Thanksgiving Sunday, we will lift our eyes to Jesus as we share Communion together. We will celebrate with grateful hearts what Jesus has provided for us through His death on the cross. Together we will examine what empowered Him to endure such agony on our behalf, and the secret to enduring the trials in our own lives.
We encourage you to make a special effort to join us this holiday weekend if you have not yet come to an in-person gathering. We have implemented good safety protocols and are providing a proven, safe environment for worshipping together. You will experience something powerful when worshipping in person versus watching online. So plan to join us this holiday weekend with your family and let’s worship and celebrate communion together! Happy Thanksgiving!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Who is with you?
There is no mistaking the fact that so far 2020 has been one of the most tumultuous years in our lives. The multitude of shifts and changes that we have experienced in our daily lives has been enormous. What the future holds seems to be so uncertain too. It begs the question, who is with you to help provide a solid foundation for your life? Who is helping to lead, guide and protect you as we move forward into an unknown future?
There are seven feasts that the Lord gave to the nation of Israel as a way for them to commemorate His love story with them, as well as provide a blueprint of His plan of salvation and redemption for all mankind.
Today marks the beginning of another feast and week of Jewish celebrations, known as the Feast of Tabernacles (Oct 2-9). The Feast of Tabernacles is called Sukkot. Sukkot means “shelters”, “booths”, or “tabernacles”. So this feast picks up on the redemptive story, as God tabernacled with the children of Israel as they made their way through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land. It commemorates God’s guiding and protecting presence with His people as He led them with a cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
In this final message of our series, Time To Return: Who is with you?, we will discover the important significance of this one feast in our lives today and in the future. Interestingly this is the one and only feast mentioned in Scripture that will be celebrated by all nations in the days to come.
If we will commit our lives to following Christ, we have the promise of His presence with us, to guide and protect us throughout our lives and through all the challenges life brings. And the ultimate reality is God will literally dwell with us and we will dwell with Him, in the not so distant future! What a cause for rejoicing!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
There is no mistaking the fact that so far 2020 has been one of the most tumultuous years in our lives. The multitude of shifts and changes that we have experienced in our daily lives has been enormous. What the future holds seems to be so uncertain too. It begs the question, who is with you to help provide a solid foundation for your life? Who is helping to lead, guide and protect you as we move forward into an unknown future?
There are seven feasts that the Lord gave to the nation of Israel as a way for them to commemorate His love story with them, as well as provide a blueprint of His plan of salvation and redemption for all mankind.
Today marks the beginning of another feast and week of Jewish celebrations, known as the Feast of Tabernacles (Oct 2-9). The Feast of Tabernacles is called Sukkot. Sukkot means “shelters”, “booths”, or “tabernacles”. So this feast picks up on the redemptive story, as God tabernacled with the children of Israel as they made their way through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land. It commemorates God’s guiding and protecting presence with His people as He led them with a cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
In this final message of our series, Time To Return: Who is with you?, we will discover the important significance of this one feast in our lives today and in the future. Interestingly this is the one and only feast mentioned in Scripture that will be celebrated by all nations in the days to come.
If we will commit our lives to following Christ, we have the promise of His presence with us, to guide and protect us throughout our lives and through all the challenges life brings. And the ultimate reality is God will literally dwell with us and we will dwell with Him, in the not so distant future! What a cause for rejoicing!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
We are living in Days of Awe.
Are you not awestruck at times at the things you see unfolding before your very eyes in our world? A global pandemic, economic upheaval, and lawlessness, are on a scale and speed that is unparalleled in history. We are surely living in days of awe.
On the traditional Jewish calendar, this week is known as the “Days of Awe.” It’s the 10-day period between Rosh HaShanah (Yom Teruah – Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. This ten period of reflection, introspection and repentance begins with the blowing of the shofar as religious Jews, prepare their hearts before God the Judge.
Figuratively, as we live in the days of awe, it is very apparent that we are moving rapidly towards the next major event in God’s prophetic timeline. We need to be ready and prepared for the coming of Jesus as our world races towards days of judgment that are about to come upon the earth.
This Sunday, in our third message of our series, Time To Return, we will examine the days of awe that we are living in now and how we need to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Let’s join the Jewish people in the spirit of this season, by reflecting on our own lives. And particularly about the paths that we have chosen and where they have led and continue to lead us.
May we hear the words of the prophet Joel that are so applicable to this moment:
That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse …”
— Joel 2:12-14 (NLT)
If there was ever a time that people need to turn to the Lord, it is now. For those who once followed God, it is also time to repent and return to following Him. May the Lord get our personal and the collective attention. May we turn to Him with all our hearts and lives. It’s time to pray that God will send an unparalleled move of His Spirit upon our lives and our land. God's mercy is our only hope.
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Are you not awestruck at times at the things you see unfolding before your very eyes in our world? A global pandemic, economic upheaval, and lawlessness, are on a scale and speed that is unparalleled in history. We are surely living in days of awe.
On the traditional Jewish calendar, this week is known as the “Days of Awe.” It’s the 10-day period between Rosh HaShanah (Yom Teruah – Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. This ten period of reflection, introspection and repentance begins with the blowing of the shofar as religious Jews, prepare their hearts before God the Judge.
Figuratively, as we live in the days of awe, it is very apparent that we are moving rapidly towards the next major event in God’s prophetic timeline. We need to be ready and prepared for the coming of Jesus as our world races towards days of judgment that are about to come upon the earth.
This Sunday, in our third message of our series, Time To Return, we will examine the days of awe that we are living in now and how we need to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Let’s join the Jewish people in the spirit of this season, by reflecting on our own lives. And particularly about the paths that we have chosen and where they have led and continue to lead us.
May we hear the words of the prophet Joel that are so applicable to this moment:
That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse …”
— Joel 2:12-14 (NLT)
If there was ever a time that people need to turn to the Lord, it is now. For those who once followed God, it is also time to repent and return to following Him. May the Lord get our personal and the collective attention. May we turn to Him with all our hearts and lives. It’s time to pray that God will send an unparalleled move of His Spirit upon our lives and our land. God's mercy is our only hope.
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Which path will you choose?
Today marks the beginning of Rosh Hashana, a significant time for Israel and the Jewish people. It literally means Head of the Year and is the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Traditionally, it is marked by the blowing of the shofar, proclaiming God as King of the Universe. The sound of the shofar is also a call to repentance—to wake up and examine their lives, their commitment to God and to correct their ways.
Thus begins ten days of great introspection, soul-searching and self-examination that ends on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur’s central theme is repentance and is commonly observed by fasting, praying in the synagogue, and making amends with those whom one has wronged in the past year.
This Sunday, in our second message of the series, Time To Return we will be challenged by the prophet Jeremiah’s message to the nation of Israel and to all believers:
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’”
— Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)
Let’s join the Jewish people in the spirit of this season, by reflecting on our lives. And particularly about the paths that we have chosen this past year and where they have led and are leading us.
We stand at a crossroads today. There are many paths that lie before us which are being promoted as the way to go. The daily decision to follow Christ has never been more urgent and important.
Which path will you choose? Your choice will determine your destiny. One path will lead to rest and peace, but all others to turmoil and destruction. It’s time to return to the only sure path. The pathway of God’s truth and God’s ways. Join us this Sunday!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Today marks the beginning of Rosh Hashana, a significant time for Israel and the Jewish people. It literally means Head of the Year and is the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Traditionally, it is marked by the blowing of the shofar, proclaiming God as King of the Universe. The sound of the shofar is also a call to repentance—to wake up and examine their lives, their commitment to God and to correct their ways.
Thus begins ten days of great introspection, soul-searching and self-examination that ends on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur’s central theme is repentance and is commonly observed by fasting, praying in the synagogue, and making amends with those whom one has wronged in the past year.
This Sunday, in our second message of the series, Time To Return we will be challenged by the prophet Jeremiah’s message to the nation of Israel and to all believers:
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’”
— Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)
Let’s join the Jewish people in the spirit of this season, by reflecting on our lives. And particularly about the paths that we have chosen this past year and where they have led and are leading us.
We stand at a crossroads today. There are many paths that lie before us which are being promoted as the way to go. The daily decision to follow Christ has never been more urgent and important.
Which path will you choose? Your choice will determine your destiny. One path will lead to rest and peace, but all others to turmoil and destruction. It’s time to return to the only sure path. The pathway of God’s truth and God’s ways. Join us this Sunday!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor