NAPC Community

What an inspiring beginning to the 51st annual Mission Conference, as Rev. Dr. James Logan from Charlotte, N.C. preached a powerful sermon in both morning services based on the conference theme verse, Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Dr.

Last Sunday was a wonderful celebration of our fall programming season Kick-Off. The early service, which began for the first time at 8:30 a.m. instead of 8:50 a.m., was filled with uplifting music under the direction of new worship leader Mindy Carter.

I am very happy to announce that the Personnel Ministry Team, upon recommendation of the Youth Ministry Team, has extended a call to Ms. Jessica Dart to serve as NAPC’s next Coordinator of Youth Ministry. Jessica has accepted the call and will begin her ministry on Monday, August 20. Jessica graduated from Georgia Tech with a B.S.

At the July 10th meeting of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, the Presbytery approved the formation of a new church in the Atlantic Station area that will be co-pastored by Thomas and Beth Daniel. Yes, it’s true—Thomas, Beth, and their daughters are returning from Chicago to lead this effort of establishing a new Presbyterian church in midtown Atlanta.

In the midst of my travels over these past several weeks to Honduras, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and a family reunion in Clemson, S.C., I have been encouraged by the good reports from NAPC. The staff and officers met in July for a joint meeting that focused exclusively on prayer, with special prayers offered for members, the congregation, the denomination, and the world.

It’s great to welcome Rev. Chris Weichman back from his mission travels over the past several weeks. Chris has just led two trips—one to Israel/Egypt and the other to Honduras. It will be wonderful to hear from Chris this Sunday, as he weaves stories of his mission experiences into his sermon.

In the ongoing blockbuster movie series, I will focus this week on Shrek the Third. The theme of the sermon focuses on the key message of any fairy tale: “They lived happily ever after!” Is it possible in the world as we know it to find any answers to life’s deepest questions, challenges, opportunities, and mysteries?

Over the next three weeks, I will preach a sermon series that raises theological themes associated with three of the summer’s biggest blockbuster movies. It’s remarkable to me that movie producers are willing to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in movies that have one goal in mind—making money by entertaining us.

One of the reasons that Cynthia and I love the city of Atlanta is the breadth and depth of the community’s commitment to the arts. Because our daughter Christen has lived within the world of dance for over a decade, we have seen more dance performances and recitals than we ever would have seen otherwise.

January at the annual staff/officer retreat, Rachael Oswald, our Coordinator of Children’s Ministries, along with Tim Gray, chair of the Children’s Ministries Team, spoke of the great need for additional congregational volunteers in the nursery and preschool discipleship ministries.