Be Still and Go

"God sings songs that carry the heaviness of this world and songs that hold the hope that this world will give birth to something new."

What songs do you hear God singing?

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Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:

Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

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This episode was written and recorded by Minister Richard X, the Assistant Minister of Faith Formation at The Riverside Church. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relinquish by Podington Bear, Go Tell It On The Mountain by Antioch Mass Choir, and Silent Night by Be Still the Earth. Samples include I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause by the Jackson 5, Silent Night by The Temptations, Winter Wonderland by PJ Morton, Let It Snow by Boyz II Men, This Christmas by Donny Hathaway, and All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey.

• 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

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• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.

“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

In your own words, how would you describe “the hopes and fears of all the years”?

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This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relenquish by Podington Bear, Surly Bonds by Blue Dot Sessions, We Call This Home by Alex Fitch, and O Little Town Bethlehem by Phillip Brooks and Lewis Redner, performed by Rich Mountain Revival. This episode was originally published on December 2, 2019.

• 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episodes by email.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them."

What will you do to advocate for children in our world?

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Matthew 19:14-15
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

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This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Amanda Meisenheimer, the Minister of Children & Families at The Riverside Church. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relinquish by Podington Bear and When All Have Left by Kurtis Parks.

• 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episodes by email.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.

"Say 'yes' to joy."

Where can you find joy in your life? How can you bring joy to the world around you?

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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 Relinquish by Podington Bear and Joy to the World by Renderings.

• 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episodes by email.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.

"Let us prepare a path for the righteous one to shake up this world and make it heaven on earth."

What does it mean to you to make heaven on earth?

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Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

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This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, the Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church in New York City. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relinquish, Reckoning, and Smooth Actor 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

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• Visit https://jacquijlewis.com/ to learn more about Rev. Lewis and her book, Fierce Love.

"May we, like the magi, open our eyes to see God at work, not simply in our culture or religion, but anywhere and everywhere in the world and all of creation."

Where have you seen God at work outside of your culture or reigion?

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Matthew 2:1-2, 11
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

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This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rev. Jim Keat, the Digital Minister at The Riverside Church. Background tracks include Relinquish by Podington Bear, The Joy of Giving by Moments and Solemnly by Acreage.

• 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episodes by email.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.

• Visit www.jimkeat.com to find out more about Rev. Jim Keat and his work.

How have you experienced God as shepherd? As Mother?

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The Lord is my Shepard, I have all I need
She makes me lie down in green meadows
Beside the still waters, She will lead

She restores my soul, She rights my wrongs
She leads me in a path of good things
And fills my heart with songs

Even though I walk, through a dark and dreary land
There is nothing that can shake me
She has said She won’t forsake me
I’m in her hand

She sets a table before me, in the presence of my foes
She anoints my head with oil
And my cup overflows

Surely, surely goodness and kindness will follow me
All the days of my life
And I will live in her house
Forever, forever and ever

Glory be to our Mother, and Daughter
And to the Holy of Holies
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be
World, without end

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This episode was recorded by The Riverside Choir on Sunday, October 17, 2017. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relenquish by Podington Bear. This version of Psalm 23 was composed by Bobby McFerrin.

• 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episodes by email.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.

"Advent peace meets us at the edge and sits down as we remember. Advent peace holds our hand as we walk back through the grief and once again find ourselves in the joyful place of memory."

What do you need to remember and grief during this Advent season?

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Philippians 1:3
I thank my God every time I remember you.

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This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Amy Lunde-Whitler, the pastor at South Acton Congregational Church. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relinquish by Podington Bear and O Christmas Tree (Lights All Around) and O Little Town of Bethlehem by Kurtis Parks.

• 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episodes by email.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.

"In the dark nights of our human story I trust God to be bringing resurrection from the crucifying experiences of life."

How have you experienced "resurrection" in the past years?

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Malachi 3:1-4
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

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This episode was written and recorded by Cameron Trimble, the Executive Director of Convergence and the author of Piloting Church. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relinquish by Podington Bear and Morning and And So It Goes by Moments

• 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episodes by email.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.

• Visit www.convergenceus.org to find out more about Convergence.

• Visit www.PilotingChurch.com to find out more about Cameron's book.

"In this land, people are desperately in need of good news."

What is the good news that you are waiting for?
What is the good news that you can help bring to the world around you?

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Luke 1:76-79
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Kevin VanHook. It was produced by Jim Keat. Background tracks include Relinquish and Ink 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 ministry resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo/#sign-up to receive new episodes by email.

• Visit www.trcnyc.org/app to download the Riverside app.