First Presbyterian Church of Eureka

First Presbyterian Church of Eureka Sunday Worship Time: 10 am
We go LIVE to Facebook every Sunday. Welcome! We are a family of generous and kind believers. We look forward to connecting with you!

We welcome anyone and everyone to Worship freely with us. We are united together through the love of Christ seeking opportunities to bless and serve each other, our families, community, nation and world through this miraculous love. If you are looking for a safe place to grow in relationship with God and others, please come and join us.

09/11/2026

Friday, September 11, 2015
Peace in the Family/Nonviolence in our Households
James 2:17–26
Submitted by Linda Babcock

Reflection: Today’s calendar date is one that will live on for many as “the day that changed America” and violence from “over there” came to United States soil. The sights and sounds of the destruction on that day still bring chills to spines and tears of anguish to multitudes. The events of that day were televised until they were seared into our collective memory.

On any given day, a child suffers in silence as they watch violence unfold in their home, not on a television or computer screen. Children watch in shock as someone they love is hurt or they are hurt themselves. There are no cries for help answered by police or fire fighters. There is no media crew posted outside reporting live as events unfold. They suffer in silence. The events of those days are burned into the memory of a child who longs to have the violence stop.

The Book of James can be used as a guide for how to lead a steadfast and true Christian life. Faith is evidenced by actions that are honorable and loving. Honorable and loving acts are clues that a person has a God-centered heart. Violence of any kind in any home is not acceptable, and people of faith who become aware of a child in a dangerous home situation have a spiritual responsibility to take action.

Action: Children have the right to a home where they can be safe from harm, and adults are responsible for creating that secure space. If you believe a child is not safe in their home, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD and seek the counsel of a qualified crisis counselor to guide your next step.

Prayer: Merciful God, protect children in their homes and when they are not, empower a faithful person to have courage and take action to get help.

09/10/2026

Order of Worship
Worship in the Park
Freshwater Park
Sunday, September 13, 2026
11am

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.” --John 3:16,17

Prelude

Welcome

Morning Has Broken
Words: Eleanor Farjeon, Paul Junggap Huh
Music: Gaelic melody

Morning has broken like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
spring in completeness where God’s feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning,
born of one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation; praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!

 Call to Worship
from PC(USA) Season of Preparation

Rejoice and give thanks, people of God!
Celebrate the life within you,
and Christ’s presence in your midst!

Our eyes shall be opened!
The presence will have new meaning,
and the future will be bright with hope.

Rejoice and give thanks, people of God!
Bow your heads before the One who is our wisdom
and our strength.

We place ourselves before our God;
That we may be touched and made whole
by the power of God’s Spirit.

 Opening Songs: Worship Team

For the Beauty of the Earth, CH #793
Words: Folliott S. Pierpont
Music: Conrad Kocher

For the beauty of the earth.
For the beauty of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night.
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

Now Thank We All Our God, CH #788
Words: Martin Rinkart
Music: Johann Crüger

Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
in whom His world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms,
hath blessed us on our way,
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and Him who reigns
with them in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heav’n adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

Children’s Message

Passing of the Peace

May the peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

God Of Wonders
Words/Music: Marc Byrd, Steve Hindalong

Lord of all creation
Of water earth and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high

Chorus:
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth

Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night
(Chorus)

Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
Hallelujah (to the Lord of heaven and earth)
(Chorus)

Prayer for Illumination

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Sermon: “Thanksgiving”

Hymn: Come to the Table
Words: Paul Junggap Huh
Tune: Morning Has Broken

Come to the table, all you who praise God.
Laid in a stable, God’s gift of love:
Jesus our Savior poured out his life’s blood.
Our sins forgiven, God’s gift of love.

Come eat this bread now, my broken body.
My vow remember: I am your Lord.
Drink of this new w**e, cup of salvation,
for you are all mine. I am your Lord.

All is now ready, like the first table.
Pray for the Spirit; lift up your hearts.
Christ present with us, our Lord and Savior.
With great thanksgiving, we lift up our hearts.

Prayer of Thanks and Blessing

For the earth, and all that is part of it.

We praise and thank you, O God.

For rocks, hills and mountains, signs of your strength
and your steadfast love.

We praise and thank you, O God.

For the fish of the rivers, lakes, bays and seas,
for all the creatures of the Ocean,
signs of your variety and your joy in creating this world,
which you have given to our care.

We praise and thank you, O God.

For the birds, signs of the freedom that is ours when
we recognize that we are your children.

We praise and thank you, O God.

For the animals that walk on the land,
a reminder to us that the new earth is to be a place
where your people live, work and share in peace.

We praise and thank you, O God.

For forests and fields, for villages and cities where
we experience your beauty and presence
in this world that you have made.

We praise and thank you, O God.

For the people we have encountered and the people present
at this celebration, who by their readiness to learn and listen, and openness of heart and mind, are signs of the body
of Christ and your promises to us.

We praise and thank you, O God. Amen.

Hymn: You Are Holy, GtG #596
Words/Music: Per Harling

You are holy, you are whole.
You are always ever more
than we ever understand.
You are always at hand.

Blessed are you coming near.
Blessed are you coming here
to your church in w**e and bread,
raised from soil, raised from dead.

You are holy, you are wholeness;
you are present.
Let the cosmos praise you, Lord!
Sing hosanna in the highest!
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna to our God!

Words of the Institution – Matthew 26:26-29

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,

“Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying,

“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew, with you, in my Father’s kingdom.”

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Hymn: You Are My All in All, CH #583
Words/Music: Dennis L. Jernigan

You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the treasure that I seek;
You are my all in all.
Seeking You as a precious jewel,
Lord to give up, I’d be a fool;
You are my all in all.

Refrain:
Jesus, Lamb of God,
worthy is Your name!
Jesus, Lamb of God,
worthy is Your name!

Taking my sin, my cross, my name,
rising again I bless Your name;
You are my all in all.
When I fall down, You pick me up;
when I am dry, You fill my cup;
You are my all in all.
(Refrain)

Prayer of Intercession [Offer your Prayers in the comments, with those whom you are gathered, in person or online]

The Lord’s Prayer (Ecumenical)
English Language Liturgical Council – 1988

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory
are yours now and forever. Amen.

 Closing Hymn:
May the God of Hope Go with Us, GtG #765
Words: Alvin Schutmaat
Music: Argentine folk melody

May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.

Praying, let us work for peace;
singing, share our joy with all;
working for a world that’s new,
faithful when we hear Christ’s call.

Benediction

09/10/2026

Thursday, September 10, 2015
Peace in the Family/Nonviolence in our Households
Psalm 116:1–9
Submitted by Peg Simons

Reflection: How often do we call out to God for assistance? The psalmist was faced with the possibility of physical death when he called out for God’s help and was saved. God went one step further, though. Not only was the psalmist’s life saved, God also healed the emotional anguish and distress in his soul.
And how will the psalmist repay God for saving him from physical and spiritual death? They will call on the Lord for the rest of their lives. This might seem a strange reward—if you hear and answer our cries for help, we promise to cry out to you again in the future! In reality, when we cry out for God’s help, we become closer to the Lord by trusting that our physical and emotional pain will be healed.
Often a person suffering domestic violence does not recognize or identify that they are in the middle of a domestic abuse relationship and does not cry out for help. They are so busy trying to survive that they do not look for paths out of their pain. A person may even shun the words “domestic abuse” because of the history of victim-blaming associated with it. A gentler term is being used for relationships that could turn dangerous; these relationships are being called “unhealthy.” The use of this term may offer an easier segue to a conversation with someone you think may be in danger.

Action: Complete a questionnaire on unhealthy relationships to understand the behaviors that can exist. Here is a link to one:http://www.loveisrespect.org/pdf/Healthy_Relationship_Quiz.pdf

Prayer: O Lord, hear the unspoken prayers of those experiencing domestic violence. Remove them from physical harm. Most of all, Lord, please heal their emotional scars and wipe their tears. Help their souls be at rest. Amen.

09/09/2026

Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Peace in the Family/Nonviolence in our Households
Matthew 17:14–20
Submitted by Terrie Benson Murray and Katelyn Murray

Reflection: Domestic violence is everywhere. Not a day goes by without a murder or a beating in the news! We hear the story of her life . . . the threats, shouting, kicks, and punches . . . the humiliation, fear, terror . . . the lies, excuses, justifications. It is pervasive and unending . . . or so it seems.

Jesus told his disciples that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Mustard seeds are tiny, but even one can produce a fast-growing plant that gets large! The faith of one person seems small; however, what faith and action accomplished in Orchard Park, New York was big!
It was the faith of one small group of volunteers in a community, who were outraged at the murder of an Orchard Park woman by her abusive husband. They believed in offering women the chance to break free from domestic violence. This group took a stand and offered their time, talents, and resources to create the Family Justice Center’s Southtowns Satellite. They asked for volunteers, and over a hundred people assisted. In August 2010, Orchard Park Presbyterian Church’s vacant manse was taken down to the studs and, within six months, it was transformed into a welcoming and safe place where people experiencing domestic violence can find assistance.

Action:
Volunteer at a women and children’s shelter and/or donate food/gift cards
Write letters to your local newspaper editor expressing your concerns
Attend fundraisers to support efforts to end domestic violence
Support victims with a listening ear and pray for and/or with them
Refute people when they blame the victim
Speak truth to power when the opportunity presents itself

Prayer: Dear God, watch over your tiny mustard seeds and give us energy, courage, and persistence to bring peace to all families. Amen.

09/08/2026

Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Peace in the Family/Nonviolence in our Households
Isaiah 38:10–20

Reflection: “In the noontide of his days,” in other words only halfway through his life, in what should have been the prime of his life, King Hezekiah became sick and feared he would soon die. He was suffering physically, which affected him spiritually and emotionally. He was tired and sinking into despair, believing that God was responsible for his predicament.
God heard Hezekiah’s cry. God responded to his pleading, sending the prophet Isaiah to provide him with comfort and hope. Hezekiah recovered and rediscovered the presence of God in his life.
The Lord is indeed faithful, working through the Isaiahs of every age to bring healing and peace.

Those experiencing dis-ease within the family sometimes suffer physically, sometimes spiritually, always emotionally. The absence of peace within a household can lead to despair. Perpetrators of family violence will work to convince victims that they, the victims, are at fault. Victims get mixed messages from the church, sometimes hearing it is up to them to bring about peace. We in the church need to be clear with those who suffer that they are not at fault. With Isaiah, let us bear witness to the God who sees our tears and hears our prayers and is ever-faithful.

Action: Find out who in your community provides services to victims of domestic violence. Contact them to see if there are volunteer opportunities.

Prayer: Lord, hear our prayers for those who suffer at the hands of those who should love them most. Provide your comfort, your healing, and your peace. Amen.

by Rev. Dick Young

09/08/2026

Saturday, October 3, 2015
We are Stronger Together—Considering our Systems and Structures
Isaiah 65:23
Submitted by Rev. Matt Gaventa

They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; For they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord —and their descendants as well.—Isaiah 65:23

Reflection: Children for calamity
Like all of us, biblical Israel measures its prosperity by the opportunities available to its children. It carries the national trauma of the fall of Jerusalem and the shadow of exile, the grief of seeing so many children ripped from their homes or separated from their families. It longs for a time when the generation to come will have the opportunity to grow beyond this shadow. Of course this is the most fundamentally human hope: that our children will have a chance. And while in America we are less vulnerable than ancient Israel to invasion or widespread infant mortality, many of our children nonetheless grow up in the shadow of a calamity with its own devastating consequences: poverty.

Poverty itself is hardly a new condition, of course, but new to us is the increasingly overwhelming evidence linking poverty to cognitive development. We now know that the mental burden of poverty takes a toll on the brain similar to losing an entire night’s sleep: about 13 IQ points. Furthermore, we know that, in children, this translates to physical changes in the actual growth of the cerebral cortex: controlling for all kinds of genetic factors, even small differences in the income levels of poor families correlate with substantial differences in the surface area of the brain itself. Without adequate cortical development, these children will face a deeply uneven playing field, with limited access to the opportunities by which we claim to measure our own national prosperity. Where, then, is God’s vision for a generation born beyond this shadow?

Action: Take an extra moment this week to nurture a child in your family or community.

Prayer: God of mercy, we are the children of your tender care. Help us to grow into your loving and living servants. Amen.

09/07/2026

Monday, September 7, 2015
Peace in the Family/Nonviolence in our Households
Psalm 73:1–20

Reflection: In the midst of suffering domestic violence, a person of faith can feel cheated and begin to question and doubt the goodness of God. Psalm 73 helps us to be honest with God about their afflicter. “…5They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people.” “…8They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.”

The Psalm brings the afflicted full circle from almost stumbling into self-pity to blessed assurance of God’s presence. “ . . . 16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task 17until I went into the sanctuary of God . . . ” Fear, loneliness, and desolation are dispelled. God’s company brings relief as if all had been a nightmare: “20They are like a dream when one awakes; on awaking you despise their phantoms.”
God is with us. Even in the midst of our pain and torment; we have a generous, loving God who sees all things and knows all things. With God’s grace, we lift our hearts and give our lives to God with assurance that no matter our circumstance, we are God’s children, forgiven and free.

Action: On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. (Reference: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey | 2010 Summary Report). Gather 20 people. Use a timer and light one candle every three seconds saying these words for those afflicted: “Loving God, lift their hearts and minds. Set them free.”

Prayer: Source of Freedom, thoughts of you are lifelines to rescue me from those things that consume me mentally, physically and spiritually; when I think of you, fear, loneliness, and desolation are dispelled. Amen.

by Rev. Janet James

09/06/2026

10:00 Service

09/06/2026

Sunday, September 6, 2015
Peace in the Family/Nonviolence in our Households

James 2:1–17

Reflection: It is often said the Bible teaches that God gives eternal life to those who believe in Jesus Christ, that faith, without works, gives eternal life. James tells us something quite the opposite: “faith without works is dead.” James also make clear that we not show preference or favoritism to the wealthy in the church but give equal honor to the poor so that they too are rich in faith; that we love our neighbors as ourselves.
We live in a culture and world that condones privilege given to men over women; to whites over communities of color; to those with social and economic status; to those who are able-bodied; and to groups who represent dominant culture. This social structure, these social mores, beliefs, and attitudes marginalize and oppress the most vulnerable—those without a voice. Social structures condoned in both US culture and others across the globe that assign power and privilege condoned in U.S. culture, as well as cultures across the globe, manifest endemic issues of domestic violence, poverty, homelessness, racism, sexism, and violence. It is critical that we all take on the belief that these social ills must stop and take on acts and efforts to end them!

Action: Seek out opportunities to learn about local, state, and national efforts that embrace a mission of racial and social justice. Join efforts and activities to raise awareness of injustices which marginalize the marginalized at every level of society.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for all in our world to understand and end the tolerance that perpetuates suffering and pain from social injustices across the globe based on gender, race, sexual orientation, class, poverty, or homelessness. Guide us and lead us in efforts to end conditions that systemically marginalize the most vulnerable so that all can live safely in peace with dignity and equity. In your name, we pray, Amen.

by Gregory White

Address

819 15th Street
Eureka, CA
95501

Telephone

+17074434897

Website

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