North Decatur Presbyterian Church

Christ is risen! Rev. David Lewicki preaching.

4.10.22. It is Holy Week. It is one worship service, extended into five gatherings over eight days. Today, Palm Sunday, we meet up with a procession headed to Jerusalem, and walk alongside Jesus and his followers. Worship convenes outside on NDPC plaza and we process with percussion and singing into the sanctuary. When inside, we hear four dramatic retellings of the events of Holy Week that reveal...

4.3.22. We’ve reached week 5 of our Lenten series, “Lighten Up: The Joyful Truth About Sin and Grace.” We promise–no devastatingly revealing hand puppets this week. Only Jesus. Specifically, we take a look at how sin and grace operated in Jesus’ life and ministry. What do we learn about dealing with our own sin from the ways that Jesus confronted and overcame sin? And, most pointedly, we ask of ou...

3.27.22. It is the 4th Sunday in Lent. We continue our Lenten series: Lighten Up: The Joyful Truth about Sin & Grace. Grace is the fundamental reality of creation. Still, sin enters in–both individually and on a systemic level–and threatens our lives. How, exactly, does God’s grace respond to sin? Rev. Lewicki preaches, with the elp of a few “handy” puppets.

3.20.22. This Sunday (3/20) is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. After two weeks talking about sin, this week we turn to grace. Grace is the single most important idea in the Christian tradition. But it’s an elusive idea, at the same time everywhere and nowhere to be found. What is grace?

3.13.22. Welcome to the second week of our Lenten series on “Sin and Grace.” This week, we do some weed whacking around the dubious theological idea called “original sin.” The Christian tradition has alternative ways of understanding sin and the saving event of Jesus’ death & resurection that feel much more true to the nature of sin and to the great good news that we receive in Jesus. To...

3.6.22. This first Sunday of Lent (3/6), we begin our Lenten series titled “Lighten Up: The Joyful Truth About Sin and Grace.”  In worship together, we will explore what our tradition has taught about both sin and grace and we will explore how these theological ideas  really  work in our lives, at the level of our own bodies and spirits. While “sin” sounds like a heavy theme (and th...

2.27.22. We launch NDPC’s participation in the Vital Congregations Initiative . The VCI is a two year process that will involve the whole congregation in self-reflection, discernment, prayer, and the setting of a courageous and spirit-filled vision for our church’s future. Rev. Lewicki preaches on the commissioning of the 70 from Luke, chapter 10.

2.20.22. Joseph’s brothers could not be more surprised: the young man they left at the bottom of a well is now one of the most powerful figures in Egypt. Join us Sunday for an awkward reunion as Joseph and his brothers renegotiate what it means to be a family. Erin Tolar preaching.

Zeena Regis is our preacher this Sunday. Zeena invites us to explore one of the powerful stories from the Women’s Lectionary: Elijah’s encounter with the widow of Zarephath from 1 Kings 17.

2.6.22. This Sunday, Jesus goes fishing… and he catches people ALIVE! It could be the premise of a really creative horror flick. But it’s actually the premise of life’s most rewarding and extraordinary adventure. Rev. Lewicki preaches on Luke 5:1-11.

1.30.22. We explore the provocative story from Luke’s gospel where Jesus stands up in the synagogue in Nazareth and preaches a rip-roaring sermon. Everyone loves him… until they hate him. Why does Jesus’ sermon, based on a reading from Isaiah, create such strong feelings? If that sermon were preached to us, would we praise Jesus… or run him out of town? Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

1.23.22. What do you know about the biblical figures Ezra and Nehemiah? Were these two leaders trying to Make Israel Great Again or build back better? Were walls and ethnic purity laws what Israel really needed to be truly great? What was missing? We draw wisdom from an old, old story into our own time in which the nation’s identity is fractured and contested. Rev. Lewicki, preaching from Neh...

1.16.22. Our guest preacher today is the Rev. Nibs Stroupe. Nibs grew up in the Mississippi River Delta in Arkansas. He retired in 2017 after thirty-four years as co-pastor of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, where he served alongside his partner, the Rev. Caroline Leach. Under Nibs and Caroline’s leadership, Oakhurst became nationally known for its leadership in multicultural ministry. Nib...

1.9.22. Today’s worship service is NDPC’s annual Re-affirmation of Baptism . Those who are baptized are drawn into an extraordinary miracle–we are bound up in the hydrodynamics of God. Rev. Lewicki preaches.

1.2.22. Today is our annual Epiphany service–a service that blends poetic readings, music, images, and quiet reflection. Epiphany is the traditional day when the Magi reached the manger and gave their gifts to the infant Jesus. We remember that epiphany–and also the holy, revelatory moments in our own lives that shimmer with love and truth.

Rev. Emily Bagwell preaches about the Christmas story. 12.26.21.

12.19.21. Our theme for Advent 2021 at NDPC is “Silent Nights.” Each of the four weeks invites you into the different rhythm of this season. Week 1 focused on slowness–slowing down and perceiving time in a new way. Week 2 focuses on stillness–on “not doing,” on letting God do for us. Week 3 focuses on silence–on the beauty and depth of quiet. Week 4 focuses on th...

12.12.21. Our theme for Advent 2021 at NDPC is “Silent Nights.” Each of the four weeks invites you into the different rhythm of this season. Week 1 focused on slowness–slowing down and perceiving time in a new way. Week 2 focuses on stillness–on “not doing,” on letting God do for us. Week 3 focuses on silence–on the beauty and depth of quiet. Week 4 focuses on th...

12.5.21. Our theme for Advent 2021 at NDPC is “Silent Nights.” Each of the four weeks invites you into the different rhythm of this season. Week 1 focused on slowness–slowing down and perceiving time in a new way. Week 2 focuses on stillness–on “not doing,” on letting God do for us. Week 3 focuses on silence–on the beauty and depth of quiet. Week 4 focuses on the...

11.28.21. Our theme for Advent 2021 at NDPC is “Silent Nights.” Each of the four weeks invites you into the different rhythm of this season. Week 1 focuses on slowness–slowing down and perceiving time in a new way. Week 2 focuses on stillness–on “not doing,” on letting God do for us. Week 3 focuses on silence–on the beauty and depth of quiet. Week 4 focuses on the many gifts of dark...

11.21.21. This Sunday is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Advent marks a new beginning. To celebrate the end of the church year, Rev. Lewicki will offer one of his favorite sermons: The Whole Bible in 20 Minutes . Beginning with the chaotic waters of Genesis and ending with the City of God in Revelation, we will hear the whole (well… almost the whole… I mean no one really wants to hear Levi...

11.14.21. The pandemic has taken a huge mental toll on many of us. The statistics about mental health are alarming, but perhaps not surprising: 2 in 5 of us report having significant mental health concerns; that number rises to 3 in 5 for young adults. This Sunday, Rev. Lewicki preaches about the experience of being overwhelmed. What is it? Where does that feeling come from? What can we do about i...

11.7.21. On Sunday, November 7th, we celebrate Holy Communion at both 9 and 11AM. If you are worshipping online, remember to have your elements ready at home. In worship, we will reflect on our congregation’s commitment to be a Matthew 25 congregation , particularly our covenant to “dismantle  structural racism.” Rev. Lewicki will talk about critical race theory and its parallels with Jesus’...

10.31.21. We celebrate the annual festival of All Saints and the 66th anniversary of NDPC’s founding. On this particular day, we remember the specific people who went before us whose lives showed us what faith, hope, and love look like in the flesh. We will spend time remembering the saints–those famous and those known only to us. We will speak the names of those members of NDPC who have died...