Presbyterian Mission Agency rev. deette decker Archives

Presbyterian Mission Agency president and executive director takes to the airwaves to discuss the upcoming Matthew 25 Summit

Posted September 27th, 2023

“An invitation to innovation” is the theme for the Matthew 25 Summit, which is set for Jan. 16-18, 2024, at New Life Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Registration for the first-ever in person national gathering is now available here.

Synod School closing worship explores the church’s role as co-creator

Posted September 27th, 2023

Concluding her weeklong journey through biblical accounts starting with the letter “c” — Creation, crisis, covenant and Christ came before — the Rev. DeEtte Decker, the preacher during Synod School and the communications director for the Presbyterian Mission Agency, concluded worship on the with more alliteration: the church as co-creator.

A wily serpent and God in three persons lay out the Genesis story of sin and banishment during Synod School

Posted August 23rd, 2023

“Hey,” a middle school improv class member playing the serpent in the Genesis 3 account told the Garden of Eden’s first female inhabitant during Synod School worship, “I see you’re interested in that tree over there.”

Poignant Synod School band offering reminds worshipers God makes beautiful things out of dust and out of us

Posted August 23rd, 2023

Closing with “Beautiful Things” by the artist Michael Gungor as performed by Synod School musicians, a recent worship service held in Schaller Memorial Chapel at Buena Vista University explored how Creation came about and what an act that occurred 4.5 billion years ago means for us today.

Taking her cue from 29,000 cycling enthusiasts

Posted August 23rd, 2023

With a nod to the 29,000 or so RAGBRAI riders who’d arrived in Storm Lake, Iowa, hours earlier, the Rev. DeEtte Decker showed up for opening worship at the 69th Annual Synod School on a borrowed bicycle that she pedaled down the center aisle of Buena Vista University’s Schaller Memorial Chapel.

Synod School closing worship explores the church’s role as co-creator

Posted July 31st, 2023

Concluding her week-long journey through biblical accounts starting with the letter “c” — Creation, crisis, covenant and Christ came before — the Rev. DeEtte Decker, the preacher during Synod School last week and the communications director for the Presbyterian Mission Agency, concluded worship on Friday with more alliteration: the church as co-creator.

Synod School gathering pauses to celebrate communion

Posted July 27th, 2023

Communion was served to those attending Synod School worship on Thursday. The elements — a small round cracker and a green grape — were distributed in compostable plant starch sandwich bags.

Synod School worship looks at agreements big and small, from pinky promises to biblical covenants

Posted July 27th, 2023

A time for children during worship Wednesday at Synod School saw about two dozen children make pinky promises before God and the 500 or so people assembled.

A wily serpent and God in three persons lay out the Genesis story of sin and banishment during Synod School

Posted July 25th, 2023

“Hey,” a middle school improv class member playing the serpent in the Genesis 3 account told the Garden of Eden’s first female inhabitant during Synod School worship on Tuesday, “I see you’re interested in that tree over there.”

Taking her cue from 29,000 cycling enthusiasts

Posted July 23rd, 2023

With a nod to the 29,000 or so RAGBRAI riders who’d arrived in Storm Lake, Iowa, a few hours earlier, the Rev. DeEtte Decker showed up for opening worship at the 69th Annual Synod School on a borrowed bicycle that she pedaled down the center aisle of Buena Vista University’s Schaller Memorial Chapel.