Whoops!
What happened to last week's email?
Hello!
Here it is, your favorite weekly email filled with all the ways you can connect with Riverside’s online community and content. Only what happened to last week’s “weekly” email?
Confession: I never sent it! I had it written and everything but it remained sitting in the drafts. I guess hitting that “schedule” button is an essential part of this process.
To me this evokes a similar feeling as all the times I’m talking on Zoom but forget to unmute. (Yep, many of you have seen this happen!) Yes, working in these online spaces is a big part of my job, but even still, I’m human! I too forget to unmute on Zoom. And after last week, I also forget to schedule this not-so-weekly email.
But more than a confession, this is a reminder that behind all this technology are real people. And that’s what makes Riverside’s digital ministry so amazing. It’s not the videos or the online platforms (though they are really great!) but it’s all the people (you!) who show up and connect and grow together, one Zoom call or YouTube video or live chat or comment at a time.
It’s easy for digital ministry to become tech support. But digital ministry is people support. It’s creating spaces for people to connect with people in real (albeit virtual) ways, to be present with yourself in new ways, and to notice a God who is always and already here.
I’m looking forward to this Sunday at Riverside as we welcome an entirely online New Member cohort. I’ll be leading a hybrid Open Bible Study (onsite and online together!) and will be leading the Message for All Ages and preaching the sermon. Rev. Tim will be hosting Virtual Coffee Hour (where we can welcome all the new members) and I’ll be joining for the last half to talk more with you all about the service and the sermon and all the ways it challenges and inspires our lives and our world.
All this to say, this Sunday (and beyond) is another incredible opportunity to connect with the people (you!) who make Riverside’s digital ministry so incredible.
Rev. Jim Keat
Minister of Digital Worship & Education
The Word Made Fresh
This Sunday is part 3 of our five week series, “How Does Our Garden Grow?” We heard Rev. Thorne the past two Sundays and now this Sunday (and the next one) we’ll hear from Rev. Jim Keat. Watch the video above (or click below) to watch our mega episode of The Word Made Fresh, specifically at the portion where Rev. Jim talks about this Sunday!
(Also, we are planning on more summer episodes of The Word Made Fresh! Keep an eye out for them in July!)
One More Short Circle
Tonight at 7:00 p ET is the final Short Circle of the 2025-2026 season! Join Rev. Tim Dalton for the final session of “Helpful Ways to Read the Bible.”
Short Circles are an amazing way to connect with other congregants (both in New York and across the country) as well as get to know our Riverside clergy.
And yes, this session is the finale (for now!). We’ll be back in October with a new season of gatherings. But until then, you should definitely join this one.
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
Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 pm ET: Short Circle with Rev. Tim Dalton
Sunday, June 21 at 9:30 am ET: Open Bible Study with Rev. Jim Keat
Sunday, June 21 at 10:30 am ET: Sunday Morning Worship
Sunday, June 21 at 12:30 pm ET: Virtual Coffee Hour
Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00 pm ET: Summer Organ Concert Series
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!
You made it!
All the way to the very end of this week’s email — way to go!
As I mentioned above, I’m headed to NYC for the next two weekends, which means I’ll get to run in some of my favorite places! And yes, they’ll likely show up in all the running videos I make. All this to say, any requests for where I go running? Central Park? The Hudson River? The Brooklyn Bridge? Let me know and I’ll see what I can do!
Run the McDade Trail along the Delaware River in Pike County PA. We’ll take you out for lunch afterwards.