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
05/15/26
Have Archaeologists Found New Evidence About Moses?
In the past year, several news outlets have reported on new archaeological research that some say may shed fresh light on the biblical figure of Moses. While none of these discoveries proves the book of Exodus, they have stirred discussion among scholars and believers about the historical setting of the Exodus story.
Mysterious Inscriptions in an Egyptian Mine
More than 3,800 years ago, Egyptian workers and Semitic laborers mined turquoise at a site called Serabit el-Khadim in the Sinai region. On the rock walls around the mine, archaeologists found short inscriptions written in one of the earliest alphabetic scripts, commonly called Proto-Sinaitic.
Recently, researcher Michael S. Bar-Ron used high-resolution photography and 3-D imaging to re-examine two of these inscriptions. He argues that certain letters can be read as phrases meaning “this is from Moses” and “utterance of Moses,” which he believes could be the oldest written references to Moses outside the Bible.
This reading remains debated. Many scholars are interested but cautious because Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions are fragmentary and difficult to decipher with confidence. For now, the claim is best understood as an intriguing proposal rather than an established conclusion.
A wider view of Serabit el-Khadim also helps readers picture the desert mining context where these inscriptions were found.
A New Statue of Pharaoh in the Nile Delta
Recent headlines have also highlighted a massive royal statue fragment discovered in Egypt's eastern Nile Delta. In April 2026, archaeologists at Tel Faraoun unearthed the legs and base of what appears to be a statue of Ramesses II.
Ramesses II is often associated in popular discussion with the unnamed pharaoh of the Exodus. This new discovery adds to the historical picture of his presence and building activity in the Delta region. The statue itself does not mention Moses or the Exodus, but it helps illustrate the political world in which the Exodus traditions have often been placed.
What This Means for the Church
Christian faith does not stand or fall on any single artifact, inscription, or statue. The power of Exodus is found in its witness to God's saving action, covenant faithfulness, and call to trust and obedience. Archaeology cannot prove Scripture in a simple way, but it can illuminate the world in which the biblical story took shape.
These discoveries invite several responses within the church:
• Gratitude that Scripture continues to provoke study and conversation across the centuries.
• Humility about claims that move faster than scholarly consensus.
• Confidence that God still speaks through his Word, whatever future archaeological debates may conclude.
Whether or not these specific claims about Moses are confirmed, they remind readers that the Bible emerged in a real ancient world that continues to be explored.
In Christ,
Pastor RJ Leek