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
10/18/26
Young women today often carry a quiet loneliness that crowded calendars and social media cannot fill. According to the Pew Research Center’s 2024 survey, 24% of U.S. adults under 30 say they feel lonely or isolated all or most of the time—far higher than older age groups. Overall, 16% of American adults report feeling this way frequently, with men and women nearly equal (16% and 15% respectively). The sharpest differences appear by age: 24% of those 18–29, 20% of those 30–49, 11% of those 50–64, and only 6% of those 65 and older.
Springtide Research Institute’s 2025 data on young people (ages 13–25) adds a closer look at companionship. Sixty-seven percent of young women ages 18–21 report lacking companionship “some of the time” or “often,” compared with 61% of young men the same age. Among teens (13–17), 44% of girls and 40% of boys say the same. By ages 22–25 the numbers are 61% for women and 67% for men. In the United Kingdom, a 2025 Belonging Barometer found that 49% of women ages 18–24 feel lonely often or some of the time, compared with 29% of the general population.
These numbers reflect real life transitions—leaving home for college or work, delayed marriage, and an individualistic culture that prizes independence—alongside digital connections that can leave hearts still hungry. God designed us for relationship (Genesis 2:18), and when real community thins, the ache is noticeable. Scripture affirms that “God sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6) and calls believers to encourage one another without neglecting meeting together (Hebrews 10:24–25).
The local church can become that family. Intentional women’s small groups and Bible studies create safe spaces for honesty. Mentorship pairings rooted in Titus 2:3–5 link older and younger women for guidance and friendship across life stages. Simple hospitality—shared meals, service projects, and regular gatherings—turns Sunday acquaintances into sisters who know one another’s names and burdens. When churches prioritize presence over programs, young women discover they are known, needed, and loved.
The statistics are sobering, but they are not the final word. You do not have to stay lonely. Ask God to lead you into a faithful community, then take the first step of showing up. In His family, the lonely heart finds a home.