Every Sunday morning from 9:30-10: 30 am, adults have an opportunity to grow in faith by learning about God’s love and grace. We ascribe to the communal aspect of learning and transformation through meaningful relationships.

2019-2020 – God’s Creative Story

NDPC is a storytelling community. Every Sunday in worship, we choose part of God’s story from the scriptures to tell in words and images. We receive the story into our lives and let it intersect with our own life story. Stories – God’s and ours –  are sources within which we discover meaning in our world.

We are delighted to announce that NDPC is the recipient of a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Mich., with funds provided by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. This grant enables us to launch a year-long project called God’s Creative Story for 2019-2010. It will help us discover new ways to enhance our storytelling through visual media and creative expression in worship, and it will provide new opportunities for learning in adult education and liturgical arts.

• Ellen Gadberry welcomes you to creative arts gatherings – Liturgical Arts Group and Craftivists – at the church Thursday evenings where we will make beautiful artwork for wor- ship, for devotion, and to support our social justice initiatives.
• Every Sunday at 9:30 am, as part of adult education, Rick Neale welcomes you into a creative, rollicking conversation about the Artistry of the Bible – a “Bible study” for people who hate Bible study.
• During the year we will welcome three nationally known guest speakers for special presentations, each of which will offer us opportunities to engage Word and worship through visual arts.

In worship through the coming year, the preaching will focus on teaching our community to engage scripture by examining stories that evoke the Bible’s major themes: creation, covenant, prophecy, liberation, wonder, power, mercy, salvation, and community.

By the end of this church year, we anticipate that every member of our community will feel a deeper appreciation for God’s artistic and arresting, weird and wonderful, complex and creative story – and how our own story is bound up with God’s.

For more details about this project, go to our website – ndpc.org/story.

 

Weekly Offerings

Our Fall Catalog for Adult Education Offerings can be found here. 

 

 

Year Long Classes 

FORMING US PARENTING CLASS

Want to deepen your connections with other NDPC parents and dialogue about the hard and holy work of parenting?  The NDPC Parenting class seeks to foster community among our families and to teach, encourage and support the spiritual formation of children and parents alike.  This Fall, we’ll be focused on Sharing Our Stories, Parenting with Mindfulness, and Simplicity Parenting.  All parents and those who love our NDPC children are welcome to join us!

Facilitators: Kimberly Broerman, John Morgan and others

Location: Parent Classroom in the Children’s Education Building

 

THE ARTISTRY OF THE BIBLE

The Bible is weird. It’s filled with quirky characters, and a lot of strange things happen. The Bible is also a big deal. But why? As part of our God’s Creative Story project (connected to our Vital Worship Grant), we will explore this inspiring, sometimes baffling, and often controversial book, using a variety of media and approaches. In our time together we will learn more about its amazing artistry, what’s in it, where it comes from, and the ways it influences our culture and our personal lives. For more information, see www.ndpc.org/story

This program is made possible through a Vital Worship grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Facilitators: Rick Neale, Ellen Gadberry and others

Location: Studio Classroom in Sanctuary Building

 

CRAFTIVISTS AND LITURGICAL ARTS – ON THURSDAYS!

Can God work through our hands to do good in this world while we craft? Join us for two distinct flavors of crafting— ‘Craftivists’ and Liturgical Arts—on Thursday evenings. Activism has never looked so beautiful. The mission of the Liturgical Arts Group is to support, enhance, and extend elements of worship in our community through the visual arts at North Decatur Presbyterian Church.

Dates & Times: 1st & 3rd Thursday, 7 pm (Craftivists);

                2nd & 4th Thursday, 7 pm (Liturgical Arts) 
Facilitator: Ellen Gadberry [email protected]
Location: Studio Classroom in Sanctuary Building 

 

 

Monthly Classes

COMFORT MY PEOPLE – STRENGTHENING SPIRIT AND SELF

This class will explore the nature of mental health and mental illness, with special emphasis on supporting mental health in ourselves, our families, and our community. The course will consist of a series of five interactive discussions led by mental health professionals in the NDPC congregation. Together, after defining mental health, we will discuss establishing and maintaining healthy family relationships, dealing with severe stresses, maintaining personal wellness, and accessing mental health resources when the need arises. In 2nd Corinthians 1:4 Paul says, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.” The aim of this course is to be better equipped to provide (and accept) that comfort.

Dates: September 15, 22, and 29 October 6, and 13.

Facilitators: Kathleen Allen, Rusty Godwin, Audra Grace, Kathryn Sandifer

Location: Parlor in Sanctuary Building

 

YOGA AND THE POWER OF RADICAL KINSHIP

In this gentle yoga class, we will start and end each week with a reading from Father Gregory Boyle on the power of radical kinship. In between we’ll use breath, movement, and mindful presence to explore how we can open to greater connection with all people. Bring a yoga mat if you have one. We’ll have extras if you don’t.

Dates: October 27, November 3, 10, 17, and 24.

Facilitator: Kara Morrison

Location: Parlor in Sanctuary Building

 

ADVENT: THE ARTS AND THE LIFE OF FAITH

The Advent season is one of eager anticipation. We offer you opportunities to enrich your experience of the season as we explore its meaning through a variety of media, including scripture, artwork, music, poetry and film.

Dates: December 1, 8, 15, and 22.

Facilitator: Rick Neale and others

Location: Studio Classroom in Sanctuary Building

 

INQUIRERS’ CLASS

Are you visiting NDPC? Would you like to learn more about this church, who we are as Presbyterians (PCUSA), and what we are doing? We try to follow Jesus by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. Let’s get to know one another and talk about how we at NDPC approach this ancient call and how you can be part of our journey.

Facilitators: Pastoral Staff and Engagement Team

Location: Pastor’s Study

Dates: Sundays Nov 3, 10, 17, and March 1, 8, 22

9:30 am to 11:30 am on Saturdays January 4 and May 2

 

Anticipated Spring 2020 Classes

 

DEATH AND DYING

Dates:  January 5, 12, 19, and 26

Facilitator: Mary Anona Stoops

Location: Parlor in Sanctuary Building

 

TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Dates: February 2, 9, 16, and 23

Facilitator: Rev. Melissa Browning, PhD

Location: Parlor in Sanctuary Building

 

JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD:

TRANSFORMING OUR FOOD

Dates: March 8, 15, 22, and 29

Facilitator: Rebecca Watts Hull, PhD.

Location: Parlor in Sanctuary Building

 

IDOLATRY OF VIOLENCE IN US CULTURE

Dates: April 5, 12, 19, and May 3

Facilitators: Members of the Peace and Justice Committee

Location: Parlor in Sanctuary Building