Worship has been described as "the primary work of the congregation." It is certainly critical in the life and ministry of the church. Worship is the one activity that involves the entire congregation. It is our primary contact with our community. When people are looking for a church they start by attending worship. And often it is worship that becomes the deciding factor in determining whether or not a person will continue a relationship with a church. Most people consider worship to be the primary motivation and encouragement for the life of faith.
At First Presbyterian worship is a vibrant blend of worship styles, music, the dramatic and visual arts, and participatory engagement of the congregation. Our aim is to capture the energy and spiritual quality of contemporary worship while embracing the richness of traditional worship.
Worship design and content are highly regarded at First Presbyterian. Staff resources are devoted to the careful planning of each service. We began 2025 with the annual worship theme: “Rooted in Faith, Growing in Grace”. A monthly theme is selected to support that theme. Recent themes include:
A Message From Pastor RJ Leek
11/08/26
"Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." I Peter 5:8
Peter’s picture is stranger than we usually notice. A lion on the hunt is quiet. The roar comes at the end, once the outcome is settled. What the lion does first is walk — circling, watching, waiting for the one who has drifted a step or two away from the others.
So Peter is not warning us about noise. He is warning us about a hunter who is patient, and who is looking for someone in particular.
That is exactly the shape of the scam emptying the savings of people of retirement age. It does not arrive as a threat. It arrives as a friend request, a text that looks like it came from your bank, a stranger who seems to understand you. It waits. It learns your name, your habits, the names of your grandchildren. Then, when you are tired or lonely or in a hurry, it moves.
Men over sixty now account for 73 percent of romance-scam losses in this country. Men of retirement age are the ones the lion is looking at as prey.
By the Numbers
Most victims never report what happened. Shame keeps them quiet, and the quiet keeps the official numbers low. Whatever these figures are, the real ones are higher.
Figure What it means
$7.75 billion Lost to internet scams by Americans 60+, up 59% in one year
$38,500 Average loss per victim 60+
#2 Florida’s national rank in senior scam complaints
$584 million Lost by Americans 60+ to romance and confidence scams, up about 50%
73% Share of romance-scam losses that come from men
Love that asks for money
Watch for these signs. The profile is too perfect. They want to move off the app and onto a private chat right away. “I love you” arrives within weeks. They can never meet you or video-chat live. A crisis appears and money is suddenly needed, or a “sure thing” investment does. And always, at some point: “Don’t tell anyone.”
The Playbook
Protect Yourself
Tactic Sounds like God’s answer
Urgency “Act now or lose it.” “He who believes shall not act hastily.” Isaiah 28:16
Secrecy “Don’t tell your family.” “All things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light.” Ephesians 5:13
False
authority “This is the IRS / Medicare / your bank.” “Don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits.” 1 John 4:1
☐ Set a family code word with your children and grandchildren.
☐ Hang up and call back on a number you already have.
☐ Never pay by gift card, crypto, or wire to someone you have not met in person.
☐ Reverse-image search any dating profile photo before you reply.
☐ Ignore investment advice from anyone you met online.
☐ Tell a brother before any money leaves your hands.
Report it: IC3.gov · ReportFraud.ftc.gov · AARP Fraud Watch Helpline, 877-908-3360
A WORD TO CLOSE
Peter’s command is not “be afraid.” It is “be sober and be watchful” — two things a person can actually do. Watchfulness is not suspicion of everyone. It is the habit of slowing down before you act. A phone call returned on a number you already had. A son or daughter asked to look at a message. A brother told before the wire goes out.
The lion is walking around. He is looking for the one who is alone and in a hurry. Stay with the flock, and take your time.
Sources: FBI IC3 2025 Annual Report; FTC Protecting Older Consumers 2025–2026; N