First Presbyterian Church

05/31/2026

May 31, 2026

05/17/2026

May 17, 2026

05/10/2026

May 10, 2026

03/05/2025

Ash Wednesday service scheduled for Wednesday March 5 will now be on Thursday March 6.

Soup supper at 6:15 pm
Worship at 7:00 pm

Be careful and safe if you must get out today.

01/01/2025

A great reminder as we enter a New Year!

12/26/2024

The Day after Christmas:
THE NEXT WORD

Two weeks from now, on January 5th, we will celebrate Epiphany, the giving of light, the reminder that God’s Light has come into the world and the darkness has not, cannot, put it out. On that day, we will have the opportunity to choose a star word, a word that will guide our hearts and minds in reflection over the next few weeks as we head toward the Season of Lent.
But I’m curious. After 25 days and 25 words, what would be your 26th word? Is there a word that seemed to be missing from your Advent journey? Is there a word that seemed to resonate with you over the course of the season that you never saw as you read through the devotions found in the booklet? Do you want to revisit one of the first twenty-five words. For just a couple of moments, here on the day after Christmas, give some thought to what your next word would be. May that word guide you here in the next few days as we continue in the Christmas Season.
If you'd like to, please share your word with the rest of us in the comments below. For me (Pastor Matt), the words I keep thinking of are found in a poem/prayer by Howard Thurman. So my single word is this one: WORK.
Thank you again for taking this Advent journey with your church family. I trust that it has been a blessing. As the devotions were coming in from those who had written them, I found myself touched and heartened by the spiritual depth that was so readily apparent. These devotions were indeed “words for the beginning.”

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas! Check back each day for a song of the season as the joy continues. If you have any suggestions, let Pastor Matt know. Otherwise...

My new lyric video of Phil Wickham's new Christmas hit "Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)" off my new Christmas Project.I really wish you would take the time...

12/25/2024

Christmas Day
AMAZEMENT

"When they had seen him, they spread the word about what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." ~ Luke 2:17-18
For thousands of years the prophets had told of the coming of a child, born of an earthly woman but fathered by the Heavenly Father. A child sent to save the world by leading those who listened and believed to eternal life with His Father.
I can only imagine the AMAZEMENT the shepherds experienced as they listened to the angels that night, and the AMAZEMENT as they looked up and saw the star. It was time! He had been born! I am, however, certain neither matched the AMAZEMENT they felt as they gazed into that manager into the face of the newborn Savior.
As this Advent season reaches its end, culminating with the birth of Jesus, do you feel the AMAZEMENT? Is He alive in your life? It is all too easy for events affecting our lives, be they worldwide, occurring nationally, or on a personal level to cloud the joy of the season. We may worry, we may hurt, maybe we are lonely, or frightened. So many things can get in the way of the joy of Advent.
What is the AMAZEMENT of this season for me, indeed for all of us? Advent, and the celebration of His birth it precedes, is affirmation to all of us that if we want Him, if we seek Him, if we let Him into our lives, the results promise to be AMAZING.
With prayerful hearts, we read (or sing):
O come, let us adore Him!
O come, let us adore Him!
O come, let us adore Him!
Christ the Lord. Amen.

12/24/2024

Christmas Eve Day
LOVE

“But the greatest of these is love.” ~ First Corinthians 13:13b

On this Christmas Eve night, Christians around the world celebrate God’s gift of LOVE. We know there are lots of different kinds of LOVE. There is familial LOVE and LOVE for our neighbors. There is also a LOVE that is directed toward things, just to name a few. The most beautiful and meaningful LOVE is God’s LOVE for us and our LOVE for God. God LOVES us – with all our messiness, inadequacies, brokenness, imperfectness, and sinful ways.
When the disciples asked Jesus ‘what is the greatest commandment?’ He replied, ‘You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is, ‘You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39. LOVE can be a noun or a verb. Using LOVE as a verb requires a direct object. We are God’s direct object and God is ours.

Photo credit: Abby Henne

Dear Heavenly Father, I am in awe and wonder at the depth of love You have for me, even though I am so flawed and imperfect. Thank You for being the most loving and gracious God. Help me to love as You love. Fill my heart, oh Lord, with Your love and compassion. Thank You, God, for loving me. In Jesus’ name. Amen

12/23/2024

Season of Advent
Week Four; Day Two
JOY

"I am bringing you good news of great joy . . to you is born
this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord."
~ Luke 2:10-11

Luke revealed that the angels' announcement was the "good news" and Jesus was the "great JOY." My gleaning of other scriptures tells me that my joy is achieved by totally immersing myself in Jesus.

One recent Sunday I was thoroughly immersed in the joy of worshiping Jesus through a favorite worship song. It was beautiful until I glanced down to see my grandson rolling around on the floor and ready to slip under the pew in front of us. I lost my focus. The point was not the antics of a little boy, but my taking my focus off Jesus. He is the source of real and permanent joy in this and every season.

Dear Jesus, in these next couple of days, when I feel tempted to lose my focus on You, remind me that You are the Reason for this season. In You I find joy. In You is good news. Amen.

photo credit: Abby Henne