Tuesday, December 25, 2018
by Todd Speed
Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was
the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be
registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called
Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with
Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for
her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid
him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn…
Unexpected
“Even now we simply do not expect
to find a deity in a stable.
Somehow the setting is all wrong:
the swaddling clothes too plain,
the manger too common for the likes of a Savior,
the straw inelegant,
the animals, reeking and noisy,
the whole scene too ordinary for our taste.
And the cast of characters is no better.
With the possible exception of the kings,
who among them is fit for this night?
The shepherds? Certainly to crude,
the carpenter too rough,
the girl too young.
And the baby!
Whoever expected a baby?
Whoever expected the advent of God in a helpless child?
Had the Messiah arrived in the blazing light of the glory
of a legion of angels wielding golden swords,
the whole world could have been conquered for Christ
right then and there
and we in the church—to say nothing of the world!—
wouldn’t have so much trouble today.
Even now we simply do not expect
to face the world armed with love.”
(Ann Weems)
Merry Christmas from the DPC Staff & Session

Our Mission Statement
The Mission of the Decatur Presbyterian Church community
is to share Jesus Christ’s love for the world.

DPC’s Bicentennial Goal
Every child of God – belonging, engaging, being transformed

The Church Staff
Rev. Dr. J. Todd Speed, Senior Pastor
Rev. Alex Rodgers, Associate Pastor for Faith Formation & Congregational Care
Rev. Allysen Schaaf, Associate Pastor for Youth & Their Families
Emily Wilmesherr, Director of Children’s Ministries & Fellowship Events
Matthew McMahan, Minister of Music (Choirmaster and Organist)
Lori McMahan, Director of Children’s Music Ministry
Brandon Laird, Director, Decatur Presbyterian Children’s Community
Missy Rodil, Church Administrator
Denise Howell, Program & Ministerial Secretary
Ann Beesley, Financial Administrator
R. G. Evans, Part Time Physical Plant Manager
Ellen Gallow, Coordinator of Threshold Ministry
Sylvester Poole, Custodian
Juan Hernandez, Contract Custodian
Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Dr. Jasper N. Keith, Jr.
Ministry Interns
Amanda Edwards, Supervised Ministry Intern, Focus on Threshold Ministry
Alexandra Hutson, Supervised Ministry Intern, Focus on Youth Ministry
Affiliated Staff
Rev. Vernon Gramling, Parish Associate for Pastoral Care
Rev. Sarah Hooker, UKirk Campus Minister to Agnes Scott College and Emory University
The Session
Clerk of Session: Betty Saye Asst. Clerks: Dudley Larus and Hikie Allen IV Treasurer: Anne Marie Miller
Asst. Treasurer: Kathy Smith
Class of 2018
Bill Cheatham
Cheryl Darnell
Rachel Reiff Ellis
David Holbrook
Jeanie Mehlhop
Ed Owens
Betty Saye
Beryl Taylor
Vic Verdi
Class of 2019
Sue Bingeman
Lynn Evans
Ken Graff
Dudley Larus
Connie Morris
Connie Perry
Gordon Rose
Jody Sauls
Class of 2020
Hikie Allen IV
Trish Allen
Jan Bedol
Betheda Gramling
Laura Hampton
David Hughes
Charlie Orth
Scott Overcarsh
Jeremy Smith
Trustees
Les Cook, Class of 2018
Tricia Wynegar, Class of 2019
Walt Drake, Class of 2020
Youth Elder
Stephen Hughes (May, 2019