The Riverside Church
in the City of New York
S u n d ay, N O V E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 4
T W E N T Y- T H I R D S U N DAY A F T E R P E N T E C O S T
Welcome
to
The Riverside Church
We are glad you are here this morning and hope you will return often.
The Riverside Church is an interdenominational, interracial, and international Christian congregation, which
wholeheartedly seeks to be open, receptive, and affirming. We strive to be broadly inclusive. We welcome persons
from different backgrounds, races, economic classes, religions, cultures, ethnicities, genders, ages, and sexual
orientations. The Riverside Church is a member of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. and the United Church
of Christ.
If
this is your first visit:
Complete a blue pew card and place it in the Offering Plate as it passes.
Join us for Fellowship Hour in the Cloister Lounge directly after Worship. You can meet members of this
congregation and learn about our ministries. As you leave the Nave, take the stairs on your left down one level.
Take a right, and an immediate left into the Cloister Lounge. You may also take the elevators in the Narthex to the
“C” Level.
If you would like to know more or become a member, we would love to get to know you. Please call the
church during the week at 212.870.6786.
If you would like information about baptism or baby dedication, please contact The Ministry of Education at
212.870.6833, or visit our website at www.TheRiversideChurchNY.org.
A church tour is offered each Sunday after Worship. Meet in the first balcony to learn more about Riverside’s
unique history, programs, and landmark Gothic building. There is no charge. Tours also take place on Wednesdays,
Thursdays, and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. No reservations are necessary. For special tours by appointment,
call 212.870.6792. There is a small fee for these tours.
If your car is parked in the garage below the building, present this bulletin to the attendant before
6:00 p.m. and your parking spot will cost you only $4.00. On Wednesday evenings, have your parking ticket
stamped after service and receive the same discount.
Speak to an usher about the use of an assistive hearing device if you need one.
Unfortunately, we cannot allow the use of recording devices such as audio and video recorders or cameras
during any portion of the service. Please remember to silence your cell phone upon entering the Nave.
Lunch is available for purchase at the Riverside Café in South Hall Lobby.
The Cloister Library has closed for a collection review and evaluation. Members and library users who wish
to return books or other materials may use the convenient slot to the left of the Cloister Library entrance for
this purpose.
Riverside
at
Worship
Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost
•
10:45 A.M.
Please enjoy this time of quiet meditation in the Nave, and remember, silence all cell phones and other electronic devices.
If you brought offerings for the Food Pantry, please place them in the carts in the Narthex.
You may also leave financial offerings for the Food Pantry in the envelopes provided.
Carillon
Agnus Dei" G. Bizet
arr. Leen T'Hart
ORGAN
Cantabile LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY PROCESSIONAL HYMN 391
All who are able may stand.
Take My Life
César Franck
The Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler
CALL to worship
Please remain standing.
Hendon
The Rev. Debra P. Northern
Leader:Rejoice, people of God! Celebrate the life within you,
and Christ’s presence in your midst!
People:Our eyes shall be opened. The present will have new meaning,
and the future will be bright with hope.
Leader:Rejoice, people of God!
Bow your heads before the One who is our wisdom and strength.
People:We place ourselves before this God, that we may be touched
and cleansed by the power of God’s Spirit. Amen.
INVOCATION
Please remain standing.
PASSING OF THE PEACE Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
anthem
Please be seated.
Ev’ry Day a Day of Thanksgiving Leonard Burks
Ev’ry day is a day of thanksgiving. God's been so good to me, ev’ry day He's blessing me. Ev’ry day
is a day of thanksgiving; take the time to glorify the Lord today. I thank God for the moments when
I worship in His name; I thank Him for the sacrifice of praise. It's no mystery to say, how my God
is ev’ry day; making my way through clouds so dark, bringing His light into my heart. Yes, there's
pressures all around me when fighting Satan's descending powers, that never cease from trying to bring
me down. But I just lift my hands to glory, believing in God's redemption story; thanking Him for
His saving grace, as God gives me power just to win this race. He keeps blessing me, blessing me; He
opens the door that I might not see, He's blessing me. Take the time to glorify the Lord today.
David Vaughn, tenor Matt King, piano
The Riverside Inspirational Choir
Nedra Olds Neal, director
New member welcome The Rev. Michael E. Livingston
Ms. Celia Lloyd
People:
We welcome you with joy into the common life of The Riverside Church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together in God's knowledge and love and be witnesses of our risen Savior.
“Blest be the Tie”
Blest be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love,
The fellowship of kindred minds, is like to that above.
PASTORAL PRAYER Please remain seated.
The Rev. John Janka
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up unto the Lord.
The Lord's Prayer Pray in the language or version of your heart. CHORAL AMEN
INVITATION TO GIVE AND SERVE Please remain seated.
Ms. Irene King
OFFERTORY anthem
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
arr. Mack Wilberg
Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing
call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount I’m fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love. Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by
thy throne I’m come; and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Prone to wander, Lord
I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let thy
goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
AT THE PRESENTATION: THE DOXOLOGY
The congregation rises row by row as ushers pass.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God all creatures here below.
Praise God above you heavenly hosts.
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON
Please be seated.
Rev. Livingston
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 (page 205 in the New Testament)
Leader: The Word of God for the People of God.
People: T
hanks be to God.
HYMN 428
All who are able may stand.
We Give Thee but Thine Own
GOSPEL LESSON Please remain standing for the reading of the Gospel.
Schumann
Rev. Northern
Matthew 25:14–30 (page 28 in the New Testament)
Leader: This is the Gospel of Christ.
People: T
hanks be to God.
SERMON Dr. Butler
Living Generously: Time And Talents
RECESSIONAL HYMN 483
All who are able may stand.
Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above
INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP Please remain standing.
Mit Freuden zart
Dr. Butler
BENEDICTION Please remain standing.
POSTLUDE
Please be seated for a time of quiet reflection.
Final (from Grande Pièce Symphonique, Opus 17)
César Franck
Ms. Celia Lloyd joined The Riverside Church in March of 2002. Celia served as Chair of the New Member Planning
Committee for many years, and has actively participated in churchwide volunteer activities as needed. Celia is
currently the Chair of the Membership, Care, and Parish Life Commission, and a member of the Church Council.
Ms. Irene Ryan King joined The Riverside Choir in 1998 and became a member of The Riverside Church in 2003.
Irene is also a member of the Worship Commission and the Nominating Committee.
The Riverside Deaf Ministry provides sign-language interpretation at the first Sunday service of each month and
every Wednesday at our Space for Grace service, as well as at significant special services throughout the year.
Sermons may be found online at www.trcnyc.org/worship/?sermon
Large print bulletins are available from the ushers.
Times of Passage: Farewell
Sunday, December 7, 4:00 p.m. in the Nave
A farewell service and celebration of the ministry of The Rev. Linda Tarry-Chard.
Reception Celebration to follow immediately afterward.
Adjourned Annual Meeting
As required in the bylaws of The Riverside Church in the City of New York and the New York Religious
Corporations Law, notice is hereby given to full members of the Church over the age of 16 that the Adjourned
Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, November 16, at 1:00 p.m. in the South Hall of the church.
The purpose of the meeting is to vote on the budget for 2015, receive the 2013 audited financial statement,
and to conduct other such business as shall properly come before the meeting.
All Riverside afternoon programs are cancelled
so that members may attend the Adjourned Annual Meeting.
Riverside's Children, Youth, and Families ministry will provide childcare for children from infants to sixth grade.
Children from infants to Kindergarten may be signed in at the Infant Nursery on the Cloister Level. Sign-in for
children in the first through sixth grades will be in Room 425 MLK. The childcare service will be provided from
12:30 to 3:00 p.m., for parents who will be participating in the Annual Meeting. If you have any questions or need
any additional information, please contact Rev. James Singletary at [email protected] or 212.870.6828.
A memorial mass for Robert MacDonald, former Associate Organist and Choir Director (1969–1977), has been
scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, at 6:00 p.m. at Church of our Savior, 50 Park Avenue at 38th Street in Manhattan.
The Most Reverend John Joseph O’Hara, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, will be the celebrant,
and The Reverend Robert Robbins, pastor at that parish, will also participate.
The Riverside Annual Candlelight Carol Festival – Sunday, December 21
Tickets for the Candlelight Carol Festival Concert are on sale at the Riverside box office. There will be two
performances: 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. All tickets are general admission; no reserved row seating. Ticket prices:
$25 (adult), $15 (senior), and $10 (student with ID and youth 14 and under).
For more information, please call the Riverside box office at 212.870.6784.
Calendar of Events This Week
Today: NOVEMBER 16
8:30 a.m.
Morning Light, Christ Chapel
An intimate gathering for meditation, Scripture, homily, discussion, and communion
9:00 a.m. Small Group Class • The Gospel of Mark: Conflict & Discipleship in God's World, 20T
In our daily work for justice and peace, and renewal within our church, this course explores what true
discipleship should include for those who seek to follow Jesus. In this earliest account of his life, we will
study the "good news" through the specific lens of social, political, and economic justice. Jesus’s life story has
transformative power only if it intersects with each of our own life stories, and with the broader story of the
times of conflict in which we live. This course emphasizes in-depth personal Bible study, reading, reflection,
prayer, and group discussion.
Facilitator: Brian O’Dell
Required Texts: Myers, Ched and Dennis, Marie & others, Say to This Mountain: Mark’s Story of Discipleship
(Orbis Books, 1996). Paperback $24
A Study Bible of your choice
Small Group Class • Biblical Hebrew: Introduction, 318 MLK
The Riverside Church is proud to offer Biblical Hebrew, the ancient prose in which Jesus read the Scripture
and prayed its Psalms. Delve into the original language of the Old Testament (The Tanakh) that formed His
unique rhetoric, undistorted by translation. Enhance your understanding of the grammar, vocabulary, poetry,
word play, acrostics, rhymes, and cultural genuineness of the Scriptures. The classes are open to those of all
levels who are interested in acquiring or improving their understanding of Biblical Hebrew.
Instructor: Laura Harris
Required Texts: Pratico, Gary D. and Van Pelt, Miles V., Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar (Zondervan, 2nd
Edition, 2007). Hardcover $25
Basics of Biblical Hebrew Workbook (Zondervan, 2nd Edition, 2007). Paperback $15
The Divestment Movement: Using Our Personal & Church Funds to Fight Climate Change & Economic Injustice, 330 MLK
Christian discipleship impels us to use all our resources, including our financial power, to support environmental
and economic justice. Through readings, discussion, and special presentations, this class will consider: What
does the Bible say about our money and our responsibility to the Church and for the Earth? What is the
history of Riverside’s investment in the fossil fuels that result in global warming and environmental racism?
How has Riverside changed its portfolio investments in the past (divested) to bring about justice? Should
Riverside join the emerging national movement to divest from fossil fuels and invest in well-paying green
energy jobs?
Facilitator: Team of Beth Ackerman, Alan Bentz-Letts, Sonia Ingram, and Steve Knight,
plus guest presenters
Reading Materials: $20
9:30 a.m. Open Bible Study, 15T
Radical Forgiveness
Facilitator: Dr. Colleen Birchett
Matthew 18:25–31
Today, the economies of the poorest countries (mostly African) are impoverished, largely due to forms of debt
bondage to former colonizers (mostly European). In the United States, economists and psychologists can still
trace persistent forms of poverty among African-Americans to the aftershocks of slavery. So the question is: can
there be true racial reconciliation without reparations?
Dr. Colleen Birchett has an MDiv in Theology from Union Theological Seminary, as well as a Masters of
Science in Journalism and a PhD in Instructional Design, both from the University of Michigan. Among
her publications are Family Ties: Restoring Unity in the African American Family, and Biblical Strategies for a
Community in Crisis.
10:45 a.m. Worship Celebration, Nave
The Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler, preaching
12:45 p.m. Lunch is available for purchase in the Riverside Café, South Hall Lobby
1:00 p.m. Adjourned Annual Meeting, South Hall
As required in the bylaws of The Riverside Church in the City of New York and the New York
Religious Corporations Law, notice is hereby given to full members of the Church over the age of 16
that the Adjourned Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, November 16, at 1:00 p.m. in the
South Hall of the church. The purpose of the meeting is to vote on the budget for 2015, receive the
2013 audited financial statement, and to conduct other such business as shall properly come
before the meeting.
Childcare will be provided.
All Riverside afternoon programs are cancelled
so that members may attend the Adjourned Annual Meeting.
3:00 p.m. Chinese Christian Service, Chapel of the Cross
Room assignments are subject to change. Please confirm room assignments at the Security desk.
Room abbreviations: “MLK” – a room in the Martin Luther King Wing. “T” – a room in the Tower of the Church.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17
10:00 a.m. Tower League — Art of Movement, 411 MLK
5:30 p.m.
Tai Chi Class, Wellness Center
ai Chi class meets every Monday from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Wellness Center. All are welcome.
T
For more information, please contact Sheila Ann Mason-Gonzales at [email protected].
6:00 p.m.
Weeknight Prayer, Meditation Chapel
7:00 p.m.
Alcoholics Anonymous, 7C
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18
6:00 p.m.
Qigong, 6th Floor Chapel
Intermediate Yoga, 630 MLK
6:45 p.m.
Mindful Meditation, 13T
7:00 p.m.
Narcotics Anonymous, 7C
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19
10:30 a.m. Intermediate French, Multi-purpose Room
7:00 p.m.
S
pace for Grace, Assembly Hall
An informal celebration of praise, Scripture, and prayer
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Tower League Day
9:00 a.m.
Art of Movement (men only), 411 MLK
10:00 a.m. Art of Movement, 411 MLK
11:00 a.m. Art of Movement (special attention), 411 MLK
12:15 p.m. Bible Study with Rev. Jeff Pettis (Bibles are available for the Beatitudes), 9T-Library
1:15 p.m.
Meditation & Reflection with Ms. Eileen Jones, 9T-Library
2:00 p.m.
This week, join us for a Travelogue with Alan and Mary Borthwick, 9T
6:00 p.m. Weeknight Prayer, Meditation Chapel
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21
9:30 a.m. Bulletin Collating, 5T
6:00 p.m. Friday Night Live Fellowship, 425 MLK
Calling all youth between the ages of 13 and 18 to join our Friday Night Live Fellowship Program. Join us on
Fridays at 6:00 p.m., in Room 425 MLK. Registration is open now. This signature program is open to boys and
girls from the church and the surrounding communities and offers dynamic and innovative weekly educational
activities. Join us for step team, preparation for college, job readiness, digital media training, field trips,
basketball, movie night, and loads of fellowship, food, and fun! For more information and registration, please
contact Rev. James E. Singletary, Director of Children, Youth, and Families Ministry, in Room 415 MLK, via
phone at 212.870.6828, or via email at [email protected].
SATURDAY, November 22
8:30 a.m. Yoga (All Levels), 630 MLK
10:15 a.m. Beginner Yoga, 630 MLK
12:00 p.m. Small Group Class • J EREMIAH: Tracing an Arc of Sorrow and Steadfast Love,
423 MLK
Perhaps no other book of the Bible depicts the "inner life" of God so dramatically and with such tension as
the words of the prophet Jeremiah. His ministry spans the period from 625 BCE to sometime after the fall of
Jerusalem in 587 BCE. The prophetic voice of Jeremiah was an inspiration to Riverside’s first called minister,
Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick. And, as a result, when Riverside was built, Fosdick asked that the prophet’s story
be incorporated into the design of the Nave.
Registration is required by emailing [email protected]. Lunch will be served.
Required Text:
A Study Bible of your choice
1:00 p.m. Theatre of the Oppressed Uptown, Multi-purpose Room
I n the Theatre of the Oppressed, “spectator” is a bad word. Be a spectator who acts (spect-actor) and become
fluent in the human language of theatre. Theatre of the Oppressed Uptown meets every Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Contact Jeremiah Kyle Drake at [email protected].
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23
8:30 a.m.
Morning Light, Christ Chapel
An intimate gathering for meditation, Scripture, homily, discussion, and communion
9:00 a.m. Small Group Class • The Gospel of Mark: Conflict & Discipleship in God's World, 20T
In our daily work for justice and peace, and renewal within our church, this course explores what true
discipleship should include for those who seek to follow Jesus. In this earliest account of his life, we will
study the "good news" through the specific lens of social, political, and economic justice. Jesus’s life story has
transformative power only if it intersects with each of our own life stories, and with the broader story of the
times of conflict in which we live. This course emphasizes in-depth personal Bible study, reading, reflection,
prayer, and group discussion.
Facilitator: Brian O’Dell
Required Texts: Myers, Ched and Dennis, Marie & others, Say to This Mountain: Mark’s Story of Discipleship
(Orbis Books, 1996). Paperback $24
A Study Bible of your choice
Small Group Class • Biblical Hebrew: Introduction, 318 MLK
The Riverside Church is proud to offer Biblical Hebrew, the ancient prose in which Jesus read the Scripture
and prayed its Psalms. Delve into the original language of the Old Testament (The Tanakh) that formed His
unique rhetoric, undistorted by translation. Enhance your understanding of the grammar, vocabulary, poetry,
word play, acrostics, rhymes, and cultural genuineness of the Scriptures. The classes are open to those of all
levels who are interested in acquiring or improving their understanding of Biblical Hebrew.
Instructor: Laura Harris
Required Texts: Pratico, Gary D. and Van Pelt, Miles V., Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar (Zondervan, 2nd
Edition, 2007). Hardcover $25
Basics of Biblical Hebrew Workbook (Zondervan, 2nd Edition, 2007). Paperback $15
The Divestment Movement: Using Our Personal & Church Funds to Fight Climate Change & Economic Injustice, 330 MLK
Christian discipleship impels us to use all our resources, including our financial power, to support environmental
and economic justice. Through readings, discussion, and special presentations, this class will consider: What
does the Bible say about our money and our responsibility to the Church and for the Earth? What is the history
of Riverside’s investment in the fossil fuels that result in global warming and environmental racism? How has
Riverside changed its portfolio investments in the past (divested) to bring about justice? Should Riverside join
the emerging national movement to divest from fossil fuels and invest in well-paying green energy jobs?
Facilitator: Team of Beth Ackerman, Alan Bentz-Letts, Sonia Ingram, and Steve Knight,
plus guest presenters
Reading Materials: $20
9:30 a.m. Open Bible Study, 15T
The First and Most Painful Forgiving
Facilitator: Dr. Mary Biggs
Romans 14:10–14
Many lesbians and gay men must struggle first with the task of forgiving themselves: for not conforming, for
disappointing, for hurting, for lying, for concealing. Only after doing so can they forgive individuals and a larger
society that often hurts and rejects them. And then finally they can forgive God and discover God in themselves.
Dr. Mary Biggs is a retired English professor. She is secretary of the Education Commission, convener of the
Riverside Book Club, and deputy convener of Maranatha: Riversiders for LGBT Concerns.
10:45 a.m. Worship Celebration, Nave
The Rev. Michael E. Livingston, preaching
12:45 p.m. Lunch is available for purchase in the Riverside Café, South Hall Lobby
1:00 p.m. The Way, Meditation Chapel
“ The Way” is a welcoming fellowship, open to all college students and young adults (ages 18–39) who are
journeying along the Christian path. New members and friends are always invited! For more information,
please contact Jacqueline Hopkins at [email protected] or 212.946.1189.
The Riverside Church Poetry Group, 423 MLK
he Riverside Church Poetry Group invites you to share in "A Time for Expressing Thanks." Please bring
T
several copies of two poems that express the concept of "Thanksgiving." You may also bring a treat to be
shared with the group.
1:30 p.m. Small Group Class • Biblical Hebrew: Intermediate
A Close Reading of the Biblical Book of Ruth, 419 MLK
(See class description for "Biblical Hebrew: Introduction" at 9:00 a.m.)
This is an advanced class that requires prior knowledge.
Instructor: Laura Harris
Required Texts: Pratico, Gary D. and Van Pelt, Miles V., Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar (Zondervan,
2nd Edition, 2007). Hardcover $25
Basics of Biblical Hebrew Workbook (Zondervan, 2nd Edition, 2007). Paperback $15
3:00 p.m. Chinese Christian Service, Chapel of the Cross
5:00 p.m. Choral Evensong with The Riverside Choir, Nave
In honor of the great traditions of The Riverside Church music program, we share an evening service of music
and word, which was once a weekly occurrence in the life of our diverse community of faith. Our Evensong
celebration will have a decidedly "Riverside" flavor, with canticles and spirituals sung by The Riverside Choir
and soloists, and evening hymns for all to sing. A free-will offering benefiting the Riverside Food Pantry will
be received.
News & Events
Bring Your Food Pantry Donations to Worship on Sundays and Wednesdays
One in five New Yorkers lives in a home that is food-insecure. Over the last few years, a number of pantries have
been forced to close their doors, and while we have managed to serve the increased number of guests visiting our
pantry, the strain has been tremendous. Food collections are taken every Sunday at Worship, and Wednesday
at Space for Grace. Please bring food items and cash donations to support the Food Pantry.
Maranatha Christmas Party
Saturday, December 13, 7:00 p.m. in Room 10T
Mark your calendars: Maranatha: Riversiders for LGBT Concerns, is hosting a Christmas party! Admission will
be a "hearty side dish" to share, or $10 at the door. Free soft drinks, and a cash bar of wind and beer. Join us for
a Christmas carol sing along, live entertainment and dancing.
Ordination at Riverside
The local church is the primary place where persons are nurtured in the Christian faith, hear the call to
discipleship, and respond with a decision to seek a specific form of ministry, of which ordained ministry is only
one. Lay leaders, clergy, and staff encourage inquirers to consider ordained ministry, but they also encourage
inquirers to ask: is ordination necessary to respond faithfully to my vocational call?
This discernment process is deliberative, and at Riverside it is the responsibility of the Ordination Committee.
Through a Practicum under the guidance of skilled mentors, the Committee prepares individuals for ordained
ministry in the American Baptist Churches and the United Church of Christ.
The basic requirements for coming into care are:
• Membership in good standing at Riverside for at least a year;
• Residency within easy commuting distance of Riverside; and
• Clarity about service in the institutional church of Jesus Christ.
Please contact Rich Glassey in the Senior Minister’s office at [email protected] or call him at 212.870.6775 to
pick up an inquirer’s packet.
The Riverside Latino Ministry
The Latino Ministry celebrates Latino lives, spirituality, and culture in all its diversity. The Ministry shares the
concerns of the Latinos in the U.S. and abroad with the congregation and the community. We meet every third
Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Room 430 MLK.
Contact Arelis Figueroa at 646.345.2321 or [email protected].
The Riverside Book Club
Saturday, December 13, 11:00 a.m. in Room 240 MLK
Join us as we discuss the 1861 novel Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. No writer has depicted poverty,
abandonment, childhood, redemption through love, and the final triumph of good over evil more powerfully than
Dickens. He considered this coming-of-age story of the orphan Pip to be his best novel.
Saturday, January 10, 2015, 11:00 a.m. in Room 240 MLK
Join us as we discuss Collected Essays, by James Baldwin. Reviewers of this collection, published in 1998, wrote
that Baldwin "articulated black anger in a way that allowed blacks and whites to affirm the justness of that anger."
It is a voice and vision that is needed now more than ever.
Saturday, March 8, 2015, 11:00 a.m. in Room 240 MLK
Celebrating Women's History Month! Join us as we discuss Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, by
A. Elizabeth and Sarah L. Delany with Amy Hill Hearth. The sisters' father was a former slave who became the
first African-American elected Bishop in the Episcopal Church in the U.S. The sisters were civil rights pioneers,
but their stories were largely unknown until Hearth, a reporter for The New York Times, interviewed them for a
feature story in 1991, then expanded her story into book form. It quickly became a best seller, and the Delanys
enjoyed fame and honor in their last years.
For more information, please contact Mary Biggs at [email protected] or 718.796.8915.
Light refreshments will be provided, and all are welcome!
Employment at Riverside
Interested in employment opportunities at The Riverside Church? Please visit our website:
www.trcnyc.org/about/?jobs for a complete listing of Riverside’s current job postings.
Annual Thanksgiving Brunch: Thursday, November 27
As is our tradition, we will again hold a Thanksgiving morning service at 10:30 a.m., followed by Thanksgiving
Brunch at 12:00 p.m. in South Hall. Tickets may be purchased at the Visitors Center Gift Shop and on Sundays
during Fellowship Hour in the Cloister Lobby. Meal prices are: Adults $20, Senior Adults (age 62 and older)
$12, and Children (under age 12) $10. Tickets will not be sold on Thanksgiving Day.
Seating is limited. If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation to feed someone in need. For more
information, call Angela Haddock in the Membership, Care, and Parish Life office at 212.870.6703, or email
[email protected]. Tickets are on sale now.
Church Leadership Meetings
Our Church Commissions meet on the second Monday of every month. The Church Council meets on every
fourth Monday. Please keep them in your prayers, to help them lead The Riverside Church.
Keep Up with Riverside News and Worship Services
If you would like to receive the weekly eNewsletter from The Riverside Church, visit www.trcnyc.org to sign up.
This Sunday's worship service will be broadcast next Sunday on 106.7 Lite FM at 5:00 a.m. You can also listen
online any time at www.trcnyc.org.
Consider Having Your Wedding at The Riverside Church
Looking for the perfect venue for your wedding and reception? Call the Weddings Office at 212.870.6762 for details.
Remember Your Loved Ones by Giving to the Flower Fund
By donating $150 to the Flower Fund, Riverside Florist, Ms. Vera Smith-Holzman, and the Flower Guild will
create beautiful floral arrangements for the Chancel. Contact Vera at 212.870.6817. Send your contribution,
along with your dedication message, to the attention of: The Finance Office, The Riverside Church, 490 Riverside
Drive, New York, NY 10027. The memo line on your check MUST indicate “Flower Fund” for proper processing.
English Conversation Partners Program
The English Conversation Partners Program invites you to stop by its table during Fellowship Hour after Sunday
service to learn how to become a Volunteer Tutor. Tutors meet with adult Conversation Partners once a week.
International students for whom English is a second language and English-speaking tutors are welcome to
participate in the program.
Contact ECPP at [email protected].
Education at Riverside
OPEN BIBLE STUDY • November 2014: Forgiveness, Justice, and Reconciliation
Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in Room 15T
November 23 • The First and Most Painful Forgiving
Facilitator: Dr. Mary Biggs • Romans 14:10–14
Many lesbians and gay men must struggle first with the task of forgiving themselves: for not conforming, for
disappointing, for hurting, for lying, for concealing. Only after doing so can they forgive individuals and a larger
society that often hurts and rejects them. And then finally they can forgive God and discover God in themselves.
Dr. Mary Biggs is a retired English professor. She is secretary of the Education Commission, convener of the
Riverside Book Club, and deputy convener of Maranatha: Riversiders for LGBT Concerns.
ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION • Fall 2014 Small Group Classes
Enrich your life, your involvement in Riverside’s faith community, and the world by making the commitment to be
part of a Small Adult Education Group!
As you choose from among our rich offerings, please know that:
• There is no fee — except for the required books or other materials — for any Small Group class at Riverside!
• K
ERYGMA guides may be purchased directly from the Adult Christian Education table after worship service or
from the Education Department.
• B
ooks for other classes may be purchased at the Riverside Visitors Center, or online at amazon.com. Used books
can be purchased through booksprice.com.
• F
or further information about Small Group classes or any of our other programs, please call the Education
office at 212.870.6833. You can also contact Laura Harris, Chairperson of the Adult Education Committee,
at [email protected], or Brian O'Dell, Coordinator of Small Groups and Facilitator Training,
at [email protected].
Descriptions for each Small Group class can be found in the calendar section of the bulletin.
Small Group Class • The Gospel of Mark: Conflict & Discipleship in God's World
Sundays, September 14 – December 21, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. in Room 20T
Facilitator: Brian O’Dell
Required Texts: Myers, Ched and Dennis, Marie & others, Say to This Mountain: Mark’s Story of Discipleship
(Orbis Books, 1996). Paperback $24
A Study Bible of your choice
Small Group Class • Biblical Hebrew: Introduction
Sundays, September 21 – December 21, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. in Room 318 MLK
Instructor: Laura Harris
Required Texts: Pratico, Gary D. and Van Pelt, Miles V., Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar (Zondervan, 2nd
Edition, 2007). Hardcover $25
Basics of Biblical Hebrew Workbook (Zondervan, 2nd Edition, 2007). Paperback $15
Small Group Class • Biblical Hebrew: Intermediate • A Close Reading of the Biblical Book of Ruth
Sundays, September 21 – December 21, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. in Room 419 MLK
This is an advanced class that requires prior knowledge.
Instructor: Laura Harris
Required Texts: Pratico, Gary D. and Van Pelt, Miles V., Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar (Zondervan, 2nd
Edition, 2007). Hardcover $25
Basics of Biblical Hebrew Workbook (Zondervan, 2nd Edition, 2007). Paperback $15
Small Group Class • JEREMIAH: Tracing an Arc of Sorrow and Steadfast Love
Saturdays, October 4 – December 13, 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. in Room 423 MLK
Registration is required by emailing [email protected]. Lunch will be served.
Required Text:
A Study Bible of your choice
For flyers with full course descriptions and to register for courses,
stop by the Adult Education Table during Fellowship Hour after Sunday service.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE
CHRISTMAS FLOWER FUND
Older Youth and Adults:
Come and Decorate the Nave for Christmas!
Friday, December 19, 4:00 – 9:00 p.m., and
Saturday, December 20, 9:00 a.m. until...
Training will be offered for first-time decorators.
***********************************************
Checks should be made payable to The Riverside Church.
Mail checks to:
The Riverside Church
490 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10027
ATTN: Kaitlin Cook, Room 17T
***********************************************
Please be sure to include “Christmas Flower Fund”
on the memo section of your check
You can also drop off your contribution at The Visitors Center
Please include a note naming the person(s)
you wish to remember or honor.
Suggested donation for each memorial is $50.
Names received by December 17, 2014 will be published
in the worship bulletin on Sunday, December 21, 2014.
Names received by December 29, 2014 will be published
in the worship bulletin on Sunday, January 4, 2015.
Social Services Ministry
Food Drive Volunteers & Prospective Volunteers
The September Food Drive raised $750 in cash and food donations.
Thank you for all of your hard work and support!
Food Drives are conducted the third Saturday of the month from September through December at:
Food Emporium
• 90th Street & Broadway
D’Agostino • 110th Street & Broadway
Whole Foods • 97th Street & Columbus
Please keep these dates on your calendar: Nov. 22, 2014 and Dec. 20, 2014. You can sign up for both or one
of these dates.
For additional information, please contact Pat Pell at 212.288.9638, or Reyita Rodriguez at 212.870.6740.
Immigration Clinic
The next Free Legal Services Clinic will be held on Thursday, December 11, 2014, in the Cloister Lounge from
5:00 to 8:00 p.m. To register as a participant or to join the Riverside Immigration Clinic Volunteer Corps, please
call: Reyita Rodriguez at 212.870.6740 or Elise Burton at 347.560.0362. We would especially love to hear from
attorneys interested in volunteering their time at future Immigration Clinics at Riverside.
Time, Talent, Treasure – Preparing to Live Generously
"Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has
consecrated his guests.” Zephaniah 1:7
As we consider our offering to The Riverside Church for the year ahead, and as we prepare for the joyous feast of
Thanksgiving, let us be mindful that we are the Lord’s consecrated guests. To us to whom much is given, much is
also expected. Let us share our table, and our blessings, with those less fortunate as well as those whom we hold
close, and be silent before the Lord.
The spirit of generosity: deepening our faith and sustaining our connection.
the riverside church i n the city of n ew york
490 R iverside D rive · N ew Y ork , N.Y. 10027 · T elephone 212.870.6700
www.theriversidechurchny.org
Interdenominational · Interracial · International · Open · Affirming · Welcoming
The Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler, Senior Minister
The Rev. Michael E. Livingston, Executive Minister
The Rev. Amy Hayden, Associate Director of Worship
The Rev. Stephen C. I. Mann, Director of Communications and Media
The Rev. Debra P. Northern, Director of Social Services
The Rev. James E. Singletary, Director of Children, Youth, and Families Ministry
The Rev. Julie Johnson Staples, Interim Minister for Education
The Rev. John Janka, Interim Minister for Membership, Care, and Parish Life
Mr. Christopher Johnson, Director of Music and Organist
Mr. Christopher Creaghan, Associate Organist
Mr. Dionisio A. Lind, Carillonneur
Mr. Robert Pearson, Organ Curator
The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister Emeritus
The Riverside Church is a member of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. and the United Church of Christ and cooperates
with the Council of Churches in the City of New York, and with the New York State, National, and World Council of Churches.
Twitter: @RiversideNYC • Facebook: facebook.com/RiversideNY • Web: theriversidechurchny.org
Printed on recycled paper