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North Decatur Presbyterian Church

North Decatur Presbyterian Church

By NDPC

Listen to sermons delivered at North Decatur Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Decatur, Georgia. We generally update each week, but if we miss a week, check back soon. (These stained-glass windows don't just gaze at themselves.) Make sure you subscribe, so you can stay up to date.

Services also stream on Facebook. You can always go back and find past services in the Video section of the NDPC Facebook page: facebook.com/NDPChurch.

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Currently playing episode

Re-Wilding. 10.15.23.

North Decatur Presbyterian ChurchOct 15, 2023

00:00
27:38
Re-Wilding. 10.15.23.

Re-Wilding. 10.15.23.

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.

Oct 15, 202327:38
Making Room in the Boat. 10.8.23.

Making Room in the Boat. 10.8.23.

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.

Oct 08, 202326:15
Creation Makes Room for Us. 10.1.23.

Creation Makes Room for Us. 10.1.23.

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?

Oct 01, 202327:30
Keeping Promises. 9.24.23.

Keeping Promises. 9.24.23.

9.24.23. In Joshua, God promises God’s people land–and God’s people murder the land’s inhabitants, divide it up, and occupy it. It was a devastating pattern replicated in the Americas–and right here in Georgia. It’s time to reimagine our spiritual relationship to land–to undo the damage of ideologies of occupation and to imagine how to truly share the “promised land.” Rev. Lewicki preaches.

Sep 24, 202322:27
A (Shared) Promised Land. 9.17.23.

A (Shared) Promised Land. 9.17.23.

9.19.23. In the book of Joshua, God seems to direct Joshua to conduct a divinely-sanctioned ethnic cleansing in order to make room for God’s people in the Promised Land. It’s one of the most chilling books in scripture. Why would we even read it? As we begin exploring our annual theme, Making Room, Rev. Lewicki sees Joshua as a powerful place to begin our reflection about how complicated and spiritually-demanding this process of “making room” can be in practice.

Sep 17, 202321:07
Making Room. 9.10.23.

Making Room. 9.10.23.

9.10.23. We begin the new church year with an exploration of our ’23-’24 theme: Making Room. As a person of faith, we are consistently invited by God to make room: for guests at our table, for refugees in our community, for spiritual practices in our busy lives, for… God. It’s harder than it sounds. Over the coming year, we will explore this theme and respond to God’s invitation to make room.

Sep 10, 202325:38
God Lives in the Congregation. 8.27.23.

God Lives in the Congregation. 8.27.23.

8.27.23. God lives in the congregation.

Aug 27, 202324:07
Building a Temple for God. 8.20.23.

Building a Temple for God. 8.20.23.

8.20.23. If you want to learn something about a person, we often ask, “where are you from?” Where we are from says something about us–what formed us, the shape of the world seen from that place. What happens if we ask that same question of God: where are you from? The answers, drawn from Scripture, are surprising, and they teach us about the character of the God who loves us and about how we can love God back. Rev. Lewicki preaches a four week series.


Aug 20, 202323:43
God Lives in a Tent. 8.13.23.

God Lives in a Tent. 8.13.23.

8.13.23. If you want to learn something about a person, we often ask, “where are you from?” Where we are from says something about us–what formed us, the shape of the world seen from that place. What happens if we ask that same question of God: where are you from? The answers, drawn from Scripture, are surprising, and they teach us about the character of the God who loves us and about how we can love God back. Rev. Lewicki preaches a four week series.


Aug 13, 202331:44
God Is from the Wilderness. 8.6.23.

God Is from the Wilderness. 8.6.23.

8.6.23. If you want to learn something about a person, we often ask, “where are you from?” Where we are from says something about us–what formed us, the shape of the world seen from that place. What happens if we ask that same question of God: where are you from? The answers, drawn from Scripture, are surprising, and they teach us about the character of the God who loves us and about how we can love God back. Rev. Lewicki preaches a four week series.


Aug 06, 202323:44
Essential Wisdom. 7.30.23.

Essential Wisdom. 7.30.23.

7.30.23. Essential Wisdom.

Jul 30, 202325:15
Responding to God's Gifts. 7.23.23.

Responding to God's Gifts. 7.23.23.

7.23.23. Responding to God's Gifts.

Jul 24, 202314:09
Hope. 7.16.23.

Hope. 7.16.23.

7.16.23. Hope.

Jul 16, 202326:28
You Find Rest For Your Soul. 7.9.23.

You Find Rest For Your Soul. 7.9.23.

7.9.23. You Will Find Rest For Your Soul.

Jul 09, 202329:59
Terrifying and Joyous News. 7.2.23.

Terrifying and Joyous News. 7.2.23.

7.2.23. Terrifying and Joyous News.

Jul 02, 202315:29
Sabbath. 6.25.23.

Sabbath. 6.25.23.

6.25.23. Sabbath. Rest-taking. Let’s be honest: it’s the most brazenly ignored of the 10 Commandments. Capitalism sees no need to stop the machinery of profit-making for a day. Nor do many of us. In the lead-up to his own sabbath-taking, Rev. Lewicki explores the deeply spiritual practice of sabbath rest and how sabbath is intended to be a cultural–and at least a congregational value, not just an individual choice.


Jun 25, 202320:51
Making Disciples. 6.18.23.

Making Disciples. 6.18.23.

6.18.23. It’s our last Sunday with the Gospel according to Matthew. We read the very end of Matthew, chapter 28:16-20. Matthew ends his story about Jesus with the Risen Christ standing on a mountain, giving the disciples some pretty important instructions about what to do next. The only problem is that we (the church) have completely screwed up those instructions! What did Christ tell us to do? Rev. Lewicki preaches.


Jun 18, 202325:36
The End of History. 6.11.23.

The End of History. 6.11.23.

6.11.23. Sheep or goat? That’s not even the most important question raised by the curious story Jesus tells in Matthew, chapter 25. The bigger question has to do with what you believe about the future… and how your beliefs about the future shape the way you live in this present moment. Rev. Lewicki preaches.


Jun 11, 202325:11
Mending. 6.4.23.

Mending. 6.4.23.

6.4.23. Very few of us like conflict. But what if you knew a way of resolving conflict that didn’t make conflict something scary, but that allowed the truth to come out, justice to be done, and forgiveness to be granted? What if I told you that very process for healthy conflict resolution is written into Matthew’s gospel? Rev. Lewicki preaches and Holy Communion is shared.


Jun 04, 202322:50
Pentecost. 5.28.23.

Pentecost. 5.28.23.

5.28.23. Summer Worship begins today with a celebration of Pentecost. Rev. Lewicki preaches about the Holy Spirit’s weirdness–and her insistence on reconciliation. The handbells open worship, and the NDPC community choir sings a beautiful anthem.


May 28, 202301:14:19
Dogs. 5.21.23.

Dogs. 5.21.23.

5.21.23. Rev. Lewicki preaches on that one time that Jesus was… well… how should we say this… a total jerk. What do we make of Jesus’ interaction with a woman in Matthew 15?


May 21, 202324:17
Get Up and Eat. 5.14.23.

Get Up and Eat. 5.14.23.

5.14.23. In the ancient story of the prophet Elijah, from 1 Kings, there is a very modern lesson about our struggles with mental health, and how God moves to provide us with care. Victoria Robinson, NDPC Ministry Fellow, is our preacher.


May 14, 202317:03
Deeds of Power. 5.7.23.

Deeds of Power. 5.7.23.

5.7.23. Rev. Lewicki preaches about Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5000 people (ed: well, lots more than that because of the sexists who only counted the men). What do you make of miracles? We have a notion that miracles are events that “run counter to the laws of nature.” And they can be that. But Jesus performed all kinds of “deeds of power,” and more than a few of them overturned other kinds of laws. We take a closer look at miracles.


May 07, 202323:31
Youth Sunday. 4.30.23.

Youth Sunday. 4.30.23.

4.30.23. NDPC’s high school and middle school youth lead every part of today’s worship service. Sam Fisher and Freeman Mosley are our preachers.


Apr 30, 202356:47
What Did He Say? 4.23.23.

What Did He Say? 4.23.23.

4.23.23. We explore Jesus’ habit of telling strange, mischievous stories. What is a parable? What do the parables mean? Is there something wrong with me if I just don’t understand them? Or maybe understanding isn’t the point? Rev. Lewicki preaching.


Apr 23, 202323:26
We Have Only One Planet. 4.16.23.

We Have Only One Planet. 4.16.23.

4.16.23. To celebrate Earth Day 2023 and to kick off Climate Action Week, worship asks us to cherish and celebrate our interdependence with the Creation. NDPC members Patrick Kasele and Dr. Dabney Dixon reflect on their own stories of learning to love the Creation; Rev. Lewicki invites us to speak to the plants–and to listen to what they say back to us.


Apr 16, 202317:03
Easter Sunday. 4.9.23.

Easter Sunday. 4.9.23.

4.9.23. Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen, indeed! Easter Sunday, 2023. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.


Apr 09, 202325:13
Hosanna! Palm Sunday. 4.2.23.

Hosanna! Palm Sunday. 4.2.23.

4.2.23. We are joined in worship by the Gate City Brass, who lead us in a New Orleans-style jazz parade to celebrate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. A very special mystery guest leads us in the parade. Rev. Lewicki preaches.

Apr 02, 202320:47
You Matter. 3.26.23.

You Matter. 3.26.23.

3.26.23. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus issues several warnings about what will happen if we fail to put his words into practice. Is Jesus trying to scare us into obedience–or asking us to feel a deep urgency about how we will choose to use this one life we have?

Mar 26, 202323:54
Judge Not. 3.19.23.

Judge Not. 3.19.23.

3.12.23. Rev. Lewicki preaches on Jesus’ teaching: “do not judge others.” What can that mean, given the fact that Jesus is also clear that there is a distinction between “right” and “wrong?” We dive into the spiritual dynamics of judgment and replacing condemnation with curiosity.

Mar 19, 202323:40
God and Wealth. 3.12.23.

God and Wealth. 3.12.23.

3.12.23. Rev. Lewicki explores a collection of Jesus’ sayings at the end of Matthew, chapter 6, including the one that haunts many of us: “you can’t serve God and wealth.” How should a disciple of Jesus relate to this material–and materialistic–world?


Mar 12, 202326:28
Love Your Enemies. 3.5.23.

Love Your Enemies. 3.5.23.

3.5.23. Rev. Lewicki preaches on Matthew 5:17-48, which contain the most beautiful–and challenging–ethical instructions the world has ever seen.

Mar 05, 202323:27
Blessed. 2.26.23.

Blessed. 2.26.23.

2.26.23. Jesus announces to the disciples and to all of us what God’s “Empire” looks like: it looks like those who are poor, and grieving, and weak. We listen as Jesus shares with us how God apportions “blessings.” Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

Feb 26, 202326:07
Fish Paste. 2.19.23.

Fish Paste. 2.19.23.

2.19.23. We read about the calling of Jesus’ first disciples from Matthew 4 and Rev. Lewicki invites us to observe where Jesus goes, who he meets, and what he says to them. How does paying attention to these details help us understand what it means when Jesus invites us to “follow?”

Feb 19, 202331:02
Choose Life. 2.12.23.

Choose Life. 2.12.23.

2.12.23. Allison Arsenault preaching on Deuteronomy chapter 30.

Feb 12, 202316:05
The Devil Would Like a Word with You. 2.5.23.

The Devil Would Like a Word with You. 2.5.23.

2.5.23. Rev. Lewicki preaches on Jesus’ time in the desert with the devil from Matthew 4. Who is the Devil? What did he want with Jesus? And what does he want with us?

Feb 05, 202328:56
A Walk (not a War) Story. 1.29.23.

A Walk (not a War) Story. 1.29.23.

1.29.23. We welcome frequent NDPC guest preacher Zeena Regis as we explore Micah’s invitation to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. We ordain and install elders at the 11AM worship.

Jan 29, 202319:11
Welcome to Matthew. 1.22.23.

Welcome to Matthew. 1.22.23.

1.22.23. This Sunday, Rev. Lewicki begins a new sermon series to re-introduce us to Jesus through the Gospel of Matthew. As a congregation, we will read through Matthew’s gospel in its entirety over the next several months. Perhaps you’ve read it before–read it again. Maybe you only know pieces (“blessed are the poor in spirit,” “the kingdom of God is like…)–fill in the blanks by reading the whole thing. Maybe you have no idea who Matthew is and didn’t know they named a book of the Bible after him–great, read along… you’ll bring the freshest eyes! Jesus is a remarkable figure–a remarkably weird one, too. Let’s meet Jesus through this ancient Gospel story.

Jan 22, 202329:37
MLK Sunday. 1.15.23.

MLK Sunday. 1.15.23.

1.15.23. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke often of the 3 evils of modern society–racism, militarism, and economic exploitation–and he called us to a “radical revolution of values.” Rev. Lewicki preaches on the 3rd of these evils, economic injustice, and he invites us to consider the question, “Is Capitalism Incompatible with the Way of Jesus?” 

Jan 15, 202325:57
Beloved. 1.8.23.

Beloved. 1.8.23.

1.8.23. Today is the Baptism of the Lord. We remember our baptisms together during both worship services, and recall the life-giving, life-sustaining promises that God makes–and keeps–to us in baptism. The Rev. Samantha Hudson is our guest preacher.

Jan 08, 202319:37
Christmas Day. 12.25.22.

Christmas Day. 12.25.22.

12.25.22. Worship for Sunday, December 25th, Christmas Day at North Decatur Presbyterian Church. Rev. Lewicki offers a Christmas message and we sing carols and welcome the birth of Jesus.

Dec 25, 202234:31
Advent 4: Let It Be. 12.18.22.

Advent 4: Let It Be. 12.18.22.

12.18.22. It’s the fourth Sunday of Advent. We light the candle of Love. A younger and an older member of NDPC lead a short drama, a “conversation with God.” We read the story of the angel Gabriel’s “annunciation” to Mary, and we explore the meaning of her response: “let it be.” 

Dec 18, 202224:35
Advent 3: Let There Be Joy. 12.11.22.

Advent 3: Let There Be Joy. 12.11.22.

12.4.22. We had technical difficulties with the audio this week. We don't have a podcast this week. You're welcome to circle back to ndpc.org for this week's service video.

Dec 04, 202200:06
Advent 2: Let There Be Peace. 12.4.22.

Advent 2: Let There Be Peace. 12.4.22.

12.4.22. We light the 2nd Advent candle as we pray for Peace. A younger and older member of the church lead us in the candle lighting liturgy–a “conversation with God” about peace. Rev. David Lewicki preaches on the startling word that starts the 40th chapter of Isaiah: “comfort.” Communion is celebrated.

Dec 04, 202221:37
Advent 1: Let There be Hope. 11.27.22.

Advent 1: Let There be Hope. 11.27.22.

It’s the first Sunday of Advent. We light the candle of hope. Each Sunday of Advent, our meditation and candle lighting will be a led by a younger and older member of NDPC–a conversation with God. Our preacher this Sunday is NDPC Ministry Fellow Victoria Robinson. We celebrate the baptism of Coralie Arsenault. 11.27.22.

Nov 27, 202217:24
The Whole Bible in 30 Minutes (as Seen by its Women). 11.20.22.

The Whole Bible in 30 Minutes (as Seen by its Women). 11.20.22.

11.20.22. It’s the “last Sunday” of the church year. Advent, which begins on November 27th, begins a new year in the liturgical calendar. This Sunday we end the year by reprising an NDPC tradition: The Whole Bible in 30 Minutes. Rev. Beth Waltemath tells the story of Scripture–this time through the eyes of women, beginning “in the beginning” with Genesis, and spinning out the entire story until it ends with the dream of Revelation.

Nov 20, 202236:48
Be Still. 11.13.22.

Be Still. 11.13.22.

11.13.22. We gather around the 46th Psalm, from which we draw the instruction: “be still and know that I am God.” We read the whole Psalm together and discover what those words meant in the context in which they were written and what they mean for us today. Rev. Lewicki, preaching.

Nov 13, 202223:55
All Saints Day. 11.6.22.

All Saints Day. 11.6.22.

11.6.22. It’s NDPC’s annual celebration of All Saints Day. We read the names of those of our congregation who have died in the last year. Rev. Lewicki preaches on “Remembering."

Nov 06, 202222:16
Jacob's Ladder. 10.30.22.

Jacob's Ladder. 10.30.22.

10.30.22. Our children are learning the stories of the matriarchs and patriarchs of the Hebrew Scriptures. We join them this Sunday as we explore the story of Jacob’s Ladder. It’s one of the most vivid, and most enigmatic images in the Bible. Let’s walk up and down with the angels!

Oct 31, 202224:40
You Are There. 10.23.22.

You Are There. 10.23.22.

10.23.22. Rev. Lewicki preaches a message about our church-wide theme, “BE.” We explore the 139th Psalm, one of the great affirmations in Scripture that wherever we ARE, God IS there. 

Oct 23, 202236:05