Lake Ridge Community Church

It's with sadness that we share news from our sister church in Norquay, Saskatchewan on the tragic passing of their beloved Pastor Marty Johnson. Marty was on his way to speak at Covenant Heights Teen Camp on Sunday when he was involved in a single-vehicle accident and was killed. Together we pray for comfort for Marty's wife and sons, and for the whole church community he loved so well.

With heavy hearts, we invite our church family, friends, and communities to join us as we celebrate the life of our beloved Pastor Marty.
Funeral Service
Tuesday, July 21st 2:00 p.m.
Norquay Evangelical Covenant Church
Lunch to follow at the Norquay Communiplex.

Please continue to keep Tina, Ayden, Isaac, and all who loved Marty in your prayers as we gather to remember and celebrate his life.

Today Preston shared this prayer of confession that invited us to clear room and create space for the ‘weight’ of God’s glory in our own lives: “God, I have other loves besides you, I put my trust in others, I give weight to other voices, to other activities, to other idols over you. This has led me to sin, to become like those idols, unable to see, hear, or feel. I am numb with sin. I am losing myself among my idols and I am fading into these lesser loves. I confess that I am wasting away under my pursuit of them. So I confess, without trying to rationalize, deny, or blame. You are the only one in the universe who will unconditionally love me because you are the only one who is more real than real. I recognize that Jesus came to save me, to find me, to bring the full weight of
God’s Glory, His presence, into the sin of my life to redeem me, find me, and bring me home. To fill my empty heart with your Glory, to save me by taking up your home in me. I desire that all dark corners of my heart would be washed clean, lit up, and filled with the weight of your presence so that no lie can root in me. You are the way, the truth, and the life. For yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.”

This morning was filled with meaningful moments as we celebrated some important milestones in the lives of our kids and families.

We presented Bibles to our Grade 3 students, giving many of them their very first Bible and a tool to help them grow in their faith and discover God's story for themselves.

We also celebrated our Grade 6 students as they get ready to move up into Youth Ministry. We are excited to see them take this next step, build new friendships, and continue growing in their relationship with Jesus.

Together, we shared Communion, remembering Christ's love and sacrifice, and enjoyed chili dogs as we celebrated the dads and father figures in our community for Father's Day.

From first Bibles to new beginnings and shared meals, it was a joy-filled morning at Lake Ridge.

Yesterday we talked about the practice of sabbath rest.

Not the kind of rest that simply fills an empty calendar, but the kind that reconnects us to God, reminds us who we are, and helps us notice the beauty He has placed around us.

After the service, a group of us headed to Reader Rock Garden to slow down, walk among the flowers and greenery, and simply enjoy being together. There was no agenda to accomplish, no rush to get somewhere else, just conversation, laughter, fresh air, and moments of wonder.

Sometimes Sabbath looks like worship. Sometimes it looks like a walk through a garden. Often, it's both.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We hope these moments of rest become more than an occasional event and grow into a regular rhythm of life.