Be Still And Go

"Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” -Mother TheresaWho can you help today?//Isaiah 40:1-11Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to herthat she has served her term, that her penalty is paid,that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.A voice cries out:“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?”All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field.The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass.The grass withers, the flower fades;

"The work of making peace begins with the task of making ourselves whole."What can you do today to help make yourself, and the world around you, whole?//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Cameron Trimble. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear and Threnody by Goldmund. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all eight seasons of Be Still and Go. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episode by email. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/app or text TRCNYC to 77977 to download the Riverside app.• Visit www.camerontrimble.com to find out more about Cameron.• Visit www.convergenceus.org and www.FaithLead.org to find out more about Convergence.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,And death's dark shadows put to flight.How does this verse speak to the realities of our world today?//This episode was recorded by MaryAnne Muglia. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear.• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all eight seasons of Be Still and Go. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episode by email. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/app or text TRCNYC to 77977 to download the Riverside app.• Visit https://www.youtube.com/MaryAnneMuglia/ to see MaryAnne’s YouTube channel.

"To keep alert and to pay attention is our call to be aware of one another and what is going on in the greater world."What are you keeping alert and paying attention to in the world around us?//Mark 13:24-37“But in those days, after that suffering,the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.“But about that day or hour n

"Through Christ, I am stronger than any box; I am stronger than racism or sexism or any -ism."What are the “boxes” that you have had to overcome and break out of?//1 Corinthians 1:3-9Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.//This episode was written and recorded by Minister Charlene Wingate. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms and Pond Lilies by Podington Bear.• Visit www.trcnyc.org/Be

"Teenage girls are visionary. They always have been."Who are the teenage girls that you know. What can you do to support and encourage them today?//This episode was written and recorded by Amanda Meisenheimer. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms and Hopeful Child by Podington Bear. Sample tracks include Emma González from an interview on 60 Minutes, Claudette Colvin from an interview on Great Big Story, and Greta Thunberg from her 2018 TED Talk.• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all eight seasons of Be Still and Go. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episode by email. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/app or text TRCNYC to 77977 to download the Riverside app.

“When we sing we are literally breathing hope and faith that justice will come, that God will shine upon us, God will save us, God will revive us."What is giving you hope and faith during these times?//Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.Stir up your might, and come to save us!Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.Restore us, O Lord God of

"We must be the ones tearing through all of the fences, gates, and walls that separate our world from the compassionate, justice seeking, radically inclusive Christ-child we will soon find in a manger."What obstacles do you see in our world that separate people from this compassion, justice, and inclusivity?//Isaiah 64:1-9O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived,no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways.But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.We have all become like one wh

“Here in the center, in the big middle of the crisis, with months behind us and months ahead of us comes Advent."What does Advent mean to you this year?//This episode was written and recorded by Amanda Meisenheimer. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear and Thousand Miles by Goldmund. • Amanda Meisenheimer is the Minister of Children & Families at The Riverside Church. She’s also the only minister at Riverside who knows how to use TIkTok.• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all eight seasons of Be Still and Go. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episode by email.

“O come, o come, Emmanuel."Emmanuel means “God with us.” How do you know that God is with you?//This episode was written and recorded by Malinda Kathleen Reese. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all eight seasons of Be Still and Go. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice. • Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episode by email. • The story behind this recording: https://youtu.be/8DRyrKPFRgo • Malinda’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/Malinda

“It is a great equalizer. No matter how smart or fit or on top of the world we may believes ourselves to be, everyone requires sleep."What is your relationship with sleep?//Genesis 2:2And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Lynn Casteel Harper. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Barefoot by Podington Bear and The First Person Awake and You Make My Heart Sing So Loud by Will Bangs..Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all seven seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.Rev. Lynn Casteel Harper is the Minister of Older Adults at The Riverside Church and the author of On Vanishing: Mortality, Dementia, and What It Means to Disappear. You can purchase a copy wherever you buy books.

“Power is shared, peace prevails, love is law, grace is poured out, the margins become the center, the earth is cherished, humanity thrives."How would you describe a world filled with justice?//Luke 13:31-35At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”//This episode was written and recorde

"We recommit our need to the charity of daily bread and the justice of an economic system for all the people of God. We are all essential."Who do you consider to be “essential” in our world today?//Matthew 6:11“Give us this day our daily bread.”//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Michael Livingston, the Interim Senior Minister at The Riverside Church. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Barefoot by Podington Bear and Grey Sunday, Memories Again, and Waiting in the Rain by Lee Rosevere. Samples include It’s Too Late by Carole King and James Taylor, Simmerdown by Nostalgia 77, Come With Me by Preservation Hall, Bach Cello Suite No. 1 by Yo-Yo Ma, and Papa Was a Rolling Stone by The Temptations.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all seven seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

Namaske — the mask I wear to protect you recognizes the mask you wear to protect me.How do you feel about wearing a mask when you go out in public?//James 1:27"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress.”Leviticus 19:18“Love your neighbor as yourself."//This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Barefoot by Podington Bear and Building the Sled, Even Dreams of Beaches, Roundpine, Morning Colorwheel, and Greyleaf Willow by Blue Dot Sessions.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all seven seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

“God can make beautiful music with notes that seem out of place."Where do you find God in the dissonance in our world or in your life?//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Kevin VanHook. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Barefoot and Reckoning by Podington Bear, I’ll Miss You by Will Bangs, and Lucky Kentucky by The Night Train.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all seven seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.Rev. Kevin VanHook is the Minister of Justice, Advocacy, and Chance at The Riverside Church.

“Thanks be to God for dirty dishes."Who was the last person you shared a meal with?//John 21:1-14After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, f

"Your strength and dignity comes from your humanity itself. God made you in their image. You are dressed in garments of glory whether you are wearing scrubs or 3-day-old jeans."What garments of glory are you wearing today?//Proverbs 31: 24-25She makes linen garments and sells them;she supplies the merchant with sashes.Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.Isaiah 61:10-11I will sing for joy in God,explode in praise from deep in my soul!He dressed me up in a suit of salvation,he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness,As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedoand a bride a jeweled tiara.For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers,and as a garden cascades with blossoms,So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloomand puts praise on display before the nations.//This episode was written and recorded by Amanda Meisenheimer. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Barefoot, Triste, Wilt, and Moonglow by Podington Bear.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo

"Taking a walk is an invitation to observe the world as it is and to anticipate it as it might be."What do you notice and anticipate when you observe the world around you?//Luke 24:13-35Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified

"Find the divine in the daily, the Christ in the common, and whatever you do, give thanks to God."Where have you found God today?//Colossians 3:17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything...giving thanks to God.//This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Barefoot and Arctic by Podington Bear.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.Rev. Jim Keat is the Digital Minister at The Riverside Church. Visit www.JimKeat.com to see more of his online content.

"Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed."What does it mean to see Easter as a message for systems and not just individuals?//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Michael Livingston. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear and Juncture by Dexter Britain.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.This season of Be Still and Go is supported in part by Convergence as they help share each episode with their community. (You should do the same!) Convergence a network that supports the reshaping of organizations, congregations and leaders engaged in an age of movement from “organized religion” to “organizing religion” driven by the values of an inclusive, progressive theological vision for a more just world for all. Visit www.convergenceus.org t