North Decatur Presbyterian Church

Celebrate NDPC’s 70th anniversary! A message about the future of the church from Rev. Lewicki.

We continue to follow the story of Samuel, chosen by God to help God’s people identify a leader. This week, Samuel is directed to go the family of Jesse, where he picks the youngest, smallest child to lead God’s people. This story (1 Sam. 16) prompts us to wonder aloud about God’s role in our politics, and also to wonder what qualities of a leader–and of a person–really matter. We celebrate the baptism of Oscar Watson at 11AM. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

In a world that often pulls us toward fear or distraction, God still calls us by name.Join us this Sunday as the Rev. Mary Anona Stoops preaches from 1 Samuel 3:1–10 on the Hebrew word “hineni”—“Here I am.” Together we’ll explore what it means to live with attentive, open-hearted presence, especially on Pride Sunday, as we celebrate God’s call to beloved community and courageous love.

We are delighted to welcome guest preacher the Rev. Sarah Lane, pastor of Zo Presbyterian Church. Zo Presbyterian Church is a new church development in our Atlanta Presbytery in which most of the members are immigrants or refugees from Myanmar. The Zo church worships in the sanctuary at NDPC every Sunday at 2PM. We are delighted to welcome Rev. Lane to share the good news at NDPC’s 11AM service.

In Genesis 12-23, God does something new: God takes a particular interest in the life of one specific family--the family of Abraham. How odd of God! But from this story--and from God's relationship with Abraham's family--emerge so many central ideas in Christianity: divine calling, the journey, the promise, covenant, land, people, and perhaps most of all, the centrality of faith. We spend 3 weeks in worship exploring the stories of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael and how they show us what faith in a personal God looks like.This Sunday, we explore the story of Abraham and Isaac. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

In Genesis 12-23, God does something new: God takes a particular interest in the life of one specific family--the family of Abraham. How odd of God! But from this story--and from God's relationship with Abraham's family--emerge so many central ideas in Christianity: divine calling, the journey, the promise, covenant, land, people, and perhaps most of all, the centrality of faith. We spend 3 weeks in worship exploring the stories of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael and how they show us what faith in a personal God looks like. This Sunday, we explore the story of Hagar and Ishmael. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

Beginning in Genesis 12, God does something new: God takes a particular interest in the life of one specific family--the family of Abraham. How odd of God! But from this story--and from God's relationship with Abraham--emerge so many other central ideas in Christianity: divine calling, the journey, the promise, covenant, land, people, and perhaps most of all, the centrality of faith. We spend 3 weeks in worship exploring the stories of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael and how they show us what faiths look like. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

We begin again, at the beginning. We read Genesis 1 and John 1 together at the start of this new church year–not for information about how the world began, we read them with an eye toward our own beginnings. What is your own origin story? What does your origin story say about who you are, where you are headed, and where God is to be found? Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

This Sunday, we welcome you to NDPC for a service of healing prayers, growing out of August’s series on the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. We dealt with some heavy things together during these last few Sundays. This Sunday, we will gather together and invite God’s healing, restoring Spirit to rest upon you, your family, our community, our nation, and the world.We will read the vision of justice and peace at the end of Revelation and reflect on the “healing leaves” of the trees in God’s holy home. You are invited to bring any prayers for healing that you are carrying in this season. Invite friends who would welcome healing prayer. At the end of the service, anointing will be offered for those who would like to receive it. Rev. Lewick and Rev. Stoops lead worship.

It’s August, and it’s hot and you’d like Rev. Lewicki to preaching on something “light”–like bunnies or flowers. Tough! We’re talking about APOCALYPSE!!!In the Book of Revelation (the most misunderstood and mis-applied book in Scripture), there is a scene where 4 color-coded horsemen appear. representing the destructive phenomenon (conflict, war, famine, and death) that signal the end of the world. Revelation is a highly symbolic book that lends itself to creative interpretation. Rev. Lewicki re-imagines the 4 horsemen for today’s America. What are today’s harbingers of destruction?The erosion of attention (8/3)The rise of Individualism (8/10)The end of truth (8/17)Estrangement from creation (8/24)Far from being a downer, this sermon series will explore how Christian spirituality offers hope-filled responses to each of these challenges.

It’s August, and it’s hot and you’d like Rev. Lewicki to preaching on something “light”–like bunnies or flowers. Tough! We’re talking about APOCALYPSE!!!In the Book of Revelation (the most misunderstood and mis-applied book in Scripture), there is a scene where 4 color-coded horsemen appear. representing the destructive phenomenon (conflict, war, famine, and death) that signal the end of the world. Revelation is a highly symbolic book that lends itself to creative interpretation. Rev. Lewicki re-imagines the 4 horsemen for today’s America. What are today’s harbingers of destruction?The erosion of attention (8/3)The rise of Individualism (8/10)The end of truth (8/17)Estrangement from creation (8/24)Far from being a downer, this sermon series will explore how Christian spirituality offers hope-filled responses to each of these challenges.

It’s August, and it’s hot and you’d like Rev. Lewicki to preaching on something “light”–like bunnies or flowers. Tough! We’re talking about APOCALYPSE!!!In the Book of Revelation (the most misunderstood and mis-applied book in Scripture), there is a scene where 4 color-coded horsemen appear. representing the destructive phenomenon (conflict, war, famine, and death) that signal the end of the world. Revelation is a highly symbolic book that lends itself to creative interpretation. Rev. Lewicki re-imagines the 4 horsemen for today’s America. What are today’s harbingers of destruction?The erosion of attention (8/3)The rise of Individualism (8/10)The end of truth (8/17)Estrangement from creation (8/24)Far from being a downer, this sermon series will explore how Christian spirituality offers hope-filled responses to each of these challenges.

August Sermon Series: The 4 Horsemen of the Modern ApocalypseI know--it's August, and it's hot and you'd like Rev. Lewicki to preaching on something "light"--like bunnies or flowers. Tough! We're going to be talking about APOCALYPSE!!!In the Book of Revelation (the most misunderstood and mis-applied book in Scripture), there is a scene where 4 color-coded horsemen appear, representing the destructive phenomenon (conflict, war, famine, and death) that signal the end of the world. Revelation is a highly symbolic book that lends itself to creative interpretation. Rev. Lewicki re-imagines the 4 horsemen for today's America. What are today's harbingers of destruction? The erosion of attentionThe rise of IndividualismThe end of truthEstrangement from creationFar from being a downer, this sermon series will explore how Christian spirituality offers hope-filled responses to each of these challenges. 

This Sunday's worship service concludes our 4-week summer series, "Prayer for People Who Have Trouble Praying."Prayer isn't easy. But it's possible for everyone of us to learn how to pray. When we spend time with the world's "great" prayers, they teach us what it sounds like for us to faithfully address our God.This Sunday, we explore one of the 20th century monk Thomas Merton's most beloved prayers. The "Merton Prayer" is a full-throated embrace of doubt and uncertainty--which makes the faith it expresses all the more life-giving. Rev. Lewicki, preaching..

This Sunday’s worship service continues our 4-week summer series, “Prayer for People Who Have Trouble Praying.”Prayer isn’t easy. But it’s possible for everyone of us to learn how to pray. When we spend time with the world’s “great” prayers, they teach us what it sounds like for us to faithfully address our God.This Sunday, we explore the depth of Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer, which has been embraced worldwide by Alcoholics Anonymous. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

Join us this Sunday as we welcome Bill Brown, NDPC clergy affiliate and Columbia Theological Seminary professor, to the pulpit. Bill will preach on Psalm 82 with a sermon titled “The Divinity of Justice.”

We shared brunch together this week. The fellowship was great; the audio wasn't. Join us next week for another sermon.

Second in a 4-week series about prayer. Prayer is the most familiar of all spiritual practices. We pray together every week in worship. Everyone knows we're "supposed" to pray daily--even to "pray without ceasing!" But if we surveyed the NDPC congregation, we'd probably find that many of us secretly--even ashamedly--struggle with prayer. Our series, "Prayer for People Who Have Trouble Praying," will speak to the struggles many of us have with prayer. We'll look at 4 famous prayers:The Lord's Prayer (June 22)The Breastplate of St. Patrick (June 29)The Serenity Prayer (July 20)The Merton Prayer (July 27)

This Sunday, we begin a short (4 Sunday) Summer Preaching series about prayer. Prayer is the most familiar of all spiritual practices. We pray together every week in worship. Everyone knows we’re “supposed” to pray daily–even to “pray without ceasing!” But if we surveyed the NDPC congregation, we’d probably find that many of us secretly–even ashamedly–struggle with prayer.Our series, “Prayer for People Who Have Trouble Praying,” will speak to the struggles many of us have with prayer. We’ll look at 4 famous prayers:The Lord’s Prayer (June 22)The Breastplate of St. Patrick (June 29)The Serenity Prayer (July 20)The Merton Prayer (July 27)Each week, we’ll explore how these prayers teach us not only how to talk to God, but how to pray in a way that is honest and real.

Continuing the Pentecost theme the focus will be on the Holy Spirit’s power to unleash unexpected gifts within us that lead to joy. Aware that we have a Paraclete alongside us, we can take risks and make sacrifices that result in great freedom within, resulting in a powerful Church that explodes with joy.Preacher: Reverend L’Anni Hill, NDPC Clergy Affiliate