After Mathew Comes...

Mark!

Hello!

I still remember when I had the idea for Bible in a Minute, way back in 2021. Short form vertical video had jumped from TikTok to pretty much every platform and I was beginning to connect with so many incredible progressive Christian voices from across the country.

I knew this would have to be more than just me, both because 1,189 videos is a lot to take on and because we’ve had enough theology that revolves around white straight cis men and a project like this, to truly embody progressive and liberative values, would need to model that in its method as well as its message. I had the idea to convince a few friends to take an a three and a half year marathon of daily content, going through the entire Bible, one day/chapter/video at a time, but things never quite fell into place (and then my wife and I had a baby back in 2022, so that pushed “other big projects” off my short term radar).

That October (2022), Riverside called our current Senior Minister and Rev. Adriene brought with her a shift to the Narrative Lectionary, centering our preaching on a more cohesive narrative through the scriptures. And so with a new Senior Minister and a new focus on engaging the whole of Scripture, I decided this was the time for Bible in a Minute to come to life.

We were scheduled to begin on January 1 of 2023. And then we shifted back to launch in the season of Lent. But that didn’t happen either.

A bit more recruiting, recording initial episodes, and then pick a date and stick with it. And so on Monday, September 18 the first video in this series was published and a daily project had officially begun.

958 videos later we find ourselves at today, Thursday, May 14, and the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark. We are 231 short days away from completing the entire Bible, cover to cover, Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, with the final chapter scheduled for December 31 (what a perfect landing!).

All this to say, sometimes we get so caught up in the motion of the river that we don’t stop and realize how it even got started. Bible in a Minute continues to be an incredible project, and one that we have repurposed as the core of our Midweek Bible Study (join us on Wednesday!). But more than anything, it is incredible to see over 100 different contributors come together for an honest exploration of scripture, showing us what it looks like to read and interpret it from a progressive and liberative point of view.

How many of the almost-1,000 episodes have you seen? If you’ve got sixteen hours to spare you could watch them all!

Rev. Jim Keat
Minister of Digital Worship & Education

Wondering where to watch Bible in a Minute? It’s all over the internet!
YouTube • Instagram • Substack • TikTok • Facebook

Also, just a reminder that this Sunday is the Riverside Annual Meeting. This will happen right after worship which means there will be no Virtual Coffee Hour. Join the Annual Meeting on Zoom instead!

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The Word Made Fresh

This week we’re in Philippians 2, and Reverend Adriene Thorne — dancer, preacher, pastor — brings her whole self to the ancient Christ Hymn. The invitation? Stop trying to believe your way into faith and start practicing it. Like a dancer learning to land like a snowflake, discipleship is a technique we train into our bodies until it becomes second nature. Give this one a watch before Sunday!

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Become a Member

The summer New Member cohort is online only. This means it’s the perfect time for you, someone who regularly engages our Riverside online community, to join the church! Three Sunday afternoon sessions on Zoom (May 31, June 7, June 14) will allow you to learn more about the ongoing legacy of The Riverside Church and what it means for you to deepen your commitment to be a part of it.

If you’re reading this and you’re not yet a member of Riverside, consider this the sign you’ve been waiting for. Visit this website, fill out the form, and let’s go!

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NEXT WEEK
Circle of Grace with Rev. Charlene Wingate

Thursdays, May 21 and 28 at 7:00 pm ET on Zoom

There is no Short Circle gathering on Thursday, May 14. See you next week!

We’re back with another Short Circle. Join Rev. Charlene Wingate for the first of a three week series. This will be an opportunity to connect with one another, to get to know Rev. Charlene, and to grow in our faith and spirituality together.

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Coming Sooooooon!

Mark your calendar because we’ve got a few things happening online that you won’t want to miss:

Monday through Friday at 8:00 am ET: Morning Prayer on Zoom

• Sunday, May 17 at 9:30 am ET: Open Bible Study with Rev. Mira Sawlani

• Sunday, May 17 at 10:30 am ET: Sunday Morning Worship

• Sunday, May 17 at 12:30 pm ET: Riverside Annual Meeting
  Virtual Coffee Hour is on hiatus this week!

• Wednesday, May 20 at 12:30 pm ET: Midweek Bible Study (Leviticus 18-20)

• Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 pm ET: Short Circle with Rev. Charlene Wingate

Also, have you seen the latest episode of Bible in a Minute? We’ll be completing the whole Bible on December 31. There’s still time to watch them all!

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You made it!

Last weekend I was running. And this weekend I’m running again! I’m off to Grand Haven, MI to run my tenth marathon! You know I’ll be ready to tell you all about it the next time I see you. But until then, here’s a video I made last weekend about a theology of trail running:

I’d love to hear about what you have coming up. Leave a comment or send me an email and share something that you’re lookng forward to!