Welcome Home

Join us online (or onsite) for Homecoming Sunday at Riverside

Hello!

This email is new experiment, offering a weekly(ish) check in so you can know all ways you can connect with Riverside online, from groups and events and classes to the latest videos and digital ministry projects. I’m Rev. Jim Keat, Riverside’s Minister of Digital Worship & Education (aka, Digital Minister). I’ll be writing these emails from me to (all of) you. Yes, there will be information and announcements, but also a whole lot of personality. I’ll share stories from our online community, a glimpse behind the scenes as we plan and prepare for things, and an easy way for you to know what’s coming up and how you can connect and engage.

So let’s start with this Sunday: Homecoming Sunday!

No matter where you are in the world, we hope you will join us. Worship will be sustained by the return of the full Riverside choir, Rev. Thorne will be in the pulpit to preach, and I’ll be in the building to offer the Message for All Ages!

And then after worship, while all the onsite festivities ensue, I will be up in the bell tower for a special Virtual Coffee Hour, allowing our online community to connect with one another and see some of the best sites (and loud ringing sounds) of the city.

But more than just a single event, Homecoming Sunday launches a new program year of groups, events, and online resources.

One resource has officially begun its new season: The Word Made Fresh. This weekly video is a conversation about the text that we will hear on Sunday at Riverside. (It’s also the text that we will study in Open Bible Study, but that class is on pause for Homecoming Sunday. More on that next week!)

Rev. Thorne and I had an incredible time talking about this Sunday’s text and Homecoming Sunday. You should definitely watch this one and bonus points if you watch all the way to the end. 🍦🍦

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Looking ahead we have two different online classes that are about to begin: Short Circles and an Online Bible Study that utilizes our Bible in a Minute series. They both begin in October and in a week or two there will be all sorts of information available for you to learn more and register. Consider this your official “save the date” invitation.

And speaking of Bible in a Minute, that project keeps going and going and going. A new chapter of the Bible, every single day. We are halfway through Isaiah and have all the Major and Minor Prophets coming up next. If you haven’t already, be sure to go binge the Bible and watch as many as you can.

Or if you just want a list of the latest chapter’s we’ve published, here you go:

• Isaiah 30 (Rev. Hillary Kimsey)

• Isaiah 31 (Rev. Greg Baker)

• Isaiah 32 (Rev. Jim Keat)

• Isaiah 33 (Rev. Jim Keat)

• Isaiah 34 (Rev. Nathan Webb)

• Isaiah 35 (Rev. Dr. Ruth Shaver)

• Isaiah 36 (Rev. Jim Keat)

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Two quick things before we go:

• You all heard the incredible Jazz this past Sunday, right? Click here to watch it again (or for the first time). You won’t regret it.

• In addition to all these incredible Riverside gatherings and resources, I am often making videos about progressive theology while I’m out on a run. And so naturally I have a YouTube channel all about it. My latest “Running for Donuts” series has a couple videos that you might enjoy. Here’s one. Here’s another. I’d love to hear what you think!

Ok, that’s all for this one. I’d love to hear what you think and any questions you have. You can always email me directly at jkeat@trcnyc.org or just reply/comment to this!

I hope to see you on Sunday!

Rev. Jim Keat
Minister of Digital Worship & Education

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