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
08/30/26
Shama (שָׁמַע): To Hear, To Listen, To Obey
There's a word in Hebrew that refuses to let hearing stay passive: shama. It's the verb at the heart of the Shema — "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). But shama means more than sound reaching an ear. In Hebrew thought, to truly hear something is to respond to it. The word carries "obey" inside "listen" — there's no clean line between the two.
We don't think this way in English. We can "hear" our spouse and still not listen. We can "hear" a sermon and walk out unchanged. Hebrew doesn't allow that gap. If God's word has truly been shama'd, it will show up in the feet, not just the ears.
This is why the Shema isn't a doctrine to affirm but a summons to obey — love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Hearing and loving and obeying are woven into a single act.
Adam, in the garden, heard God's voice and hid (Genesis 3:8-10) — proof that hearing without trust becomes hearing without obedience. But Samuel, as a boy, answered differently: "Speak, for your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:10) — shama offered back to God as readiness to act.
So, ask, when you read Scripture this week: am I hearing, or am I shama-ing? Is the word reaching my ears, or reaching my feet?
Lord, give me ears that obey. Amen.