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
03/27/26
Ruth’s inclusion in the lineage of Jesus is a profound testament to God’s radical grace and His heart for the outsider. As a Moabite woman, Ruth was an unlikely candidate for the messianic line. Moabites were historically enemies of Israel, yet Ruth’s story isn’t defined by her origins, but by her
faithfulness and God’s providence.
Her importance lies in the concept of the Kinsman-Redeemer. When Ruth lost her husband and followed Naomi to Bethlehem, she was destitute. Boaz, a wealthy relative, stepped in to redeem her, providing security and a future. This beautifully foreshadows Jesus Christ. Just as Boaz redeemed Ruth—a foreigner with no claim to the inheritance—Jesus redeems us, bringing those who were "far off" into the family of God.
Furthermore, Ruth’s presence in Matthew’s genealogy (Matthew 1:5) shatters cultural barriers. She proves that the Gospel was never meant for one ethnic group alone. By sovereignly weaving a Gentile widow into the ancestry of the King of Kings, God signaled that the coming Savior would be for all nations.
Ruth reminds us that no matter our past or our pedigree, we are not beyond God’s plan. Her loyalty to Naomi and her trust in the "wings" of the Lord resulted in her becoming the great-grandmother of King David. Through her, we see that God uses ordinary acts of kindness and bold steps of faith to accomplish His extraordinary, eternal purposes.