North Decatur Presbyterian Church

Wear RED on Sunday, June 8 to celebrate Pentecost Sunday—the Birthday of the Church! This is our day to shine our lights to celebrate the season of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples gathered and passed on to us. RED is the liturgical color for the Pentecost season. Our preacher is the Rev. Nibs Stroupe.

Rev. Lewicki invites us to reflect on beginnings, endings, and time itself. What happens to our experience of life when we realize that time is, like everything else, God's?

Fools. All of us. For Christ. Rev. Lewicki explores Paul's image of the foolishness of the cross in 1 Corinthians, into the utter ridiculousness of Jesus, and into the history of the "holy fool." Following Jesus is foolishness. But it's so crazy... it just might work!

We re-visit some basic questions at the intersection of politics and theology. How should we think about the changes to our government made by the new administration? How do we discern between morally legitimate differences in political philosophy and political approaches that subvert the gospel of Jesus Christ? Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

NDPC celebrates our youth and graduating high school seniors.

We explore nature's resiliency, as NDPC members reflect on the Lenten study of Refugia Faith. Rev. David Lewicki preaches.

On behalf of the Session and the staff, we are delighted to welcome our community to bear witness to the resurrection this Sunday, April 20th.  Newcomers to NDPC are welcome and expected on Easter!  Rev. Lewicki preaches.

We follow Jesus as he marches into Jerusalem, into the belly of the beast beginning the great confrontation of powers during Holy Week.

Just when you think it might NOT be possible for the rich to find "salvation," a little man named Zacchaeus climbs down from a tree to meet Jesus. What should we make of this beguiling story from Luke's gospel? Tsz Nok Christopher Ng, preaching.

Jesus tells a story about wealth that will make Elon Musk very uncomfortable. And maybe you, too. There is simply no getting around the connection Jesus makes between money and spirituality. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

Rev. Dr. Erin Reed Cooper leads the congregation in telling a story about a shepherd who goes off in search of one lost sheep.

Dr. Lamma Mansour, a Christian Palestinian from Nazareth, holds a DPhil and MPhil in Social Policy and Intervention from the University of Oxford, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar. She also earned a BSc in Psychology from the University of Haifa. Her research, which centers on young people in Israel-Palestine, has been featured in leading academic journals. In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Mansour actively serves in her local church in Nazareth and contributes to conversations on the intersection of faith and society through various local and global platforms as a writer and speaker.

This Sunday, our text is one of the most famous stories from Luke's Gospel. A lawyer engages Jesus about the way to "true life," and he ends up asking Jesus, "who is my neighbor?" The question is more specific: whom am I obligated to love (and who can I leave out? Jesus responds with a story about mercy that the world has been telling ever since. Rev. Lewicki preaching.

As we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus, we recognize the trans-ness of our God. When political leadership is demonizing and erasing trans identity, we will affirm transgender identity as a holy and beloved part of God's good creation. Holy Communion will be shared at both services. Rev. Lewicki preaching.

We continue to journey through Luke's story of Jesus, and we encounter a story--familiar to all four gospel writers--of a woman who anoints Jesus with oil. The event gives Luke a chance to talk about forgiveness--how much we need it, and where and when we can find it. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

As we journey through Luke's story of Jesus, we stop and wonder: "what is it that makes us follow Jesus... or anyone?" We examine our own deeper motivations and drives--and what we see is not always pretty. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

As we journey through Luke's story of Jesus, Jesus reveals himself as someone with extra-ordinary powers to heal bodies. We read two healing stories from Luke 7 and wonder, "what are these gifts that Jesus shares that allow him mend what is broken?" NDPC Ministry Fellow Tsz Nok Christopher Ng, preaching.

As we journey through Luke's story of Jesus, we see Jesus coming into conflict with different systems of power. First, the oppressive military and economic exploitation of Rome. But also his own people--even the "good religious" people get sideways with Jesus. We hear two stories from Luke 6 about what happens when Jesus breaks Sabbath rules. Rev. Lewicki preaching. 

We hear the story of Jesus' calling of the disciples from Luke 5. What does it feel like to be "caught alive?" Is that a threat, or an invitation? Rev. Lewicki preaching.

It's MLK weekend, and we'll read portions of King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail during worship, as we consider Jesus' own "call to ministry" from Luke, chapter 4.

It's "Sea World Sunday" at North Decatur, ie, Baptism of the Lord Sunday, ie, the Sunday when we get a little bit wet in worship. This Sunday, we read the story of Jesus' baptism from Luke, chapter 3. We also remember our own baptisms, and feel the water from the font on our heads and shoulders. At the same time, we hear John the Baptizer call us "a brood of vipers" and challenge us to "bear fruits worthy of repentance."

Poems are read in Sunday's service.

On this first Sunday of Christmas, we begin a journey in Luke's gospel that will take us all the way through Easter. Luke is the New Testament's master storyteller--he wrote both the gospel and "part 2" of the Jesus story, the book of Acts. After the story of Jesus' birth, which we read on Christmas Eve, Luke tells a fascinating story about Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the Temple, and meeting there two elders, Anna and Simeon, who break into song. It's "Luke: The Musical." Kidding. Rev. Lewicki preaching.

We listen to the story of Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel. Mary, long viewed as a docile and compliant recipient of the angel's message, is neither of those things, according to the Gospel of Luke. She is a powerful model of faith for us today. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

This year during Advent, we go back in time to listen to voices from the past. What did God's prophets of old dream about? What did they hope for? What were they afraid of? As we listen to the prophets speak "the hopes and fears of all the years," we compare them to our own hopes and fears. What do we bring to God?Advent 2 brings us a reading from the prophet Isaiah as he looks at the ruined city of Jerusalem after the exile and tries to imagine "what will God do with this?" What kind of future do we imagine for our own community? We light the second Advent candle.

As we begin the season of Advent, we go back in time to listen to the voice from the past. What did the prophets of old dream about? What did they hope for? What were they afraid of? As we listen to "the hopes and fears of all the years," we compare them to our own hopes and fears. What do we bring to God?Advent 1 is the story of Daniel in the lion's den. Rev. Lewicki will lead the storytelling with Margaret Waltemath Lewicki assisting.

This Sunday we walk alongside Jeremiah, the prophet of doom and gloom. Nobody wanted to hear what Jeremiah had to say. No. Body. But Jeremiah had a word from God that people needed to hear and with courage, he shared it. What would a modern-day Jeremiah sound like? Would we listen? Rev. Lewicki preaches.

Ministry Fellow Christopher Ng, second year student at Candler School of Theology, preaches on the call of Isaiah to prophetic ministry from Isaiah 6. Please support our talented ministry fellow as he preaches for the first time at NDPC.

Rev. Lewicki invites us to come back to the basics.

This Sunday, we celebrate All Saints Day. Each year, on the first Sunday of November, we invoke the names of the people through whom we experience the love of God. Who were your teachers, your caregivers, your mentors, your coaches, the people who held you, nursed you, healed you, consoled you, counseled you, and modeled for you what the way of Jesus looks like when it takes on human flesh? Holy Communion will be shared. Rev. Lewicki preaches.

This Sunday, we read the story of Solomon building the first Temple in Jerusalem. It's a grand building... but is it the right thing for Solomon to do? Is there a right way--and a wrong way--to give thanks to God? Rev. Lewicki preaches.

This Sunday, we explore what makes a "good" leader of people. The story of King David is a fascinating, complex invitation for us consider, on the cusp of the election, what it means to say that God "chooses" a political leader. Rev. Lewicki preaches.

This Sunday, the Lectionary turns to the "historical books" of the Hebrew Scriptures, as they recount the way that the people who escaped slavery in Egypt formed a community and became a nation. We turn to 1 Samuel, where the rise of Israel's kings begins with a woman, Hannah, as she struggles with feelings of emptiness and abandonment. Hannah prays. When we look at Hannah's experience, and her relationship with God, what does it illumine about our own experience? Rev. Lewicki preaches.

Revs. Caroline Leach and Nibs Stroupe, NDPC clergy affiliates, will be leading 11AM worship. Caroline and Nibs will be preaching a dialogue sermon on Ephesians 2. Holy Communion will be celebrated.

This week's scriptures are from the Exodus out of Egypt (Ex. 12 & 13). In the middle of the story of God's liberating acts, God's people are told to remember these acts long into the future through the practice of a ritual meal. We will talk together on Sunday about how shared rituals and stories reveal God's identity and our own. Rev. Lewicki preaches.

We read the Joseph story in its entirety--almost 14 whole chapters of Genesis! Don't worry, it'll be abridged. And funny. With lots of weeping. The story of Abraham's family concludes with the story of Joseph, and there is more politics (migration and empire), family drama (sibling rivalries and parenting fails), and depth psychology (insecurity, anger, revenge) in this story that in any of the world's greatest novels. A dramatic reading will be followed by a facilitated conversation, led by Rev. Lewicki.

This Sunday, our story focuses in on Abraham, a man "called" by God into a unique relationship with God. Abraham, however, isn't a spineless "yes man." Abraham pushes back when God seems to delay in fulfilling God's promises. God invites Abraham to come outside at night and look up at the stars. What does stargazing have to do with God's covenant? Rev. David Lewicki preaches.

Exploring the story of Adam and Eve.

NDPC's talented and thoughtful Director of Music, Huu Mai, will offer this Sunday's message as we celebrate a Labor Day tradition at NDPC of a music-centered worship service. Holy Communion will be shared.

What do we mean when we talk about heaven and hell? Living in Georgia, chances are high you've driven past a billboard that screams “Do you know where you're going when you die?” There's a whole mythology about heaven and hell being about angels on clouds and devils with pitchforks in a sea of flames, but is that really what the Bible says? What if heaven and hell were something altogether different? Rev. Lewicki preaches.

Sin. Salvation. Two of the most loaded words in the Christian theological vocabulary. No ideas have twisted our tradition into more knots than these two. On Sunday, Rev. Lewicki will pick at these knots and pull out strands to see if we can release these words into a different meaning–a meaning that is rooted in the Scripture and free of the distortions of our ancestors Augustine and Luther.

What do we mean when we baptize someone? What is God doing in this weird water ritual? Why do we eat Communion often in the church, but only take a bath once? Rev. David Lewicki explores the meaning of baptism.

Rev. David Lewicki explores the basic idea behind the Christian celebration of Communion. What's the point of this quirky little meal? What difference does it make? We will celebrate Communion together (of course)!

In Matthew 5, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world.” What is the source of this light, and how do we allow it to shine through us? We will especially consider the role that aging plays in freeing us to bear Christ's light to the world.Mary Anona Stoops, Preaching.

This is a terrifying political season. Much of America has lost confidence in its aging president and thrown its support behind a former president who is a convicted felon and rapist who also led an attempt to overthrow the government. No matter which party you support ideologically, our nation feels betrayed by our political leaders and hopelessly divided. What's a follower of Jesus to do in this moment? Rev. David Lewicki will preach on the subject and following worship, invites everyone who wishes to remain in the sanctuary for conversation about how we find purpose and agency in these complicated days.

Rev. Lewicki preaches on "What do we mean when we say 'Jesus'?" The world--and even the church!--is full of different ideas of who Jesus was and what Jesus means. Do you ever find that difference disorienting? Yet, how you understand Jesus has a deep impact on the direction of your faith. Is he a model for how to live a human life? The atoning sacrifice for sin? Who does NDPC say that Jesus is? Who do you say that he is? Join the conversation this Sunday in worship.

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own cult? If you could start your own religion--call it “me-ism”--what would you believe in? How would you worship if you were the one in charge? Who would get to be in your religion? How would decisions be made--would it all be up to you… would anyone else have a voice? Rev. David Lewicki preaching.

With Rev. Lewicki traveling this week, we are delighted to welcome NDPC clergy affiliate the Rev. Bobbie Wrenn Banks to the pulpit. Her sermon is titled Bridge Over Deep Water, and the texts we will read is Psalm 46:1-5, 10-11; Matthew 14:22-33.

10.15.23. People laugh at Presbyterians because we say we like things “decent and in order.” We do need to loosen up. After all, there's a lot about God in Scripture that is truly wild. This Sunday, we look at one of the wildest prophets, Ezekiel, and compare his writing to an ecological movement known as “re-wilding,” and we ask whether the church isn't due for some re-wilding ourselves. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

10.8.23. Rev. Lewicki walks us through the story of Noah and the Ark. We love to read it to children… but look again. Is this really a children's story? It's a story that addresses the most difficult aspects of human nature and our relationship with the earth. It's particularly powerful to read in a moment of climate catastrophe.

10.1.23. Rev. Lewicki explores the two creation stories in Genesis. What happens when we look at the world as it is imagined in these two stories? What do they tell us about what the earth and human beings are made for? What might need to change in the ways that we occupy the land that God creates for us all?