2024 Small Groups
The Riverside Church Education and Faith Formation Ministry Small Groups
We all have questions about life, faith, and our role in the world. Come explore them in a safe and caring environment where hard questions are welcome. Our Faith Formation classes offer a variety of group experiences that will allow you to study Scripture, engage in theological reflection, and deepen your faith. Registration is now open for the 2023 Semester – In Person and Online. All are welcome to attend and membership at Riverside is not required. Please reach out to education@trcnyc.org with any questions. See full course listings and registration links below.
- Open Bible Study
- Riverside Book Club
- Riverside Writing Group
- Absolute Beginners Biblical Hebrew
- Advanced Beginners Biblical Hebrew II
- Intermediate-Advanced Biblical Hebrew
- The Seekers Book Study
- Word @ Night
OPEN BIBLE STUDY
Every Sunday | 9:30 AM | MLK 330 & ZOOM
Participate in Open Bible Study to look at the texts that will be preached that Sunday as we pray, study scripture, and check in with one another. This class takes place each Sunday morning before worship. Contact Education at education@trcnyc.org for more information.
We will begin the year with a special 6 week book study, reading and discussing Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism. This conversation will inform and empower us as we move towards the 2024 election, able to better navigate and respond to Christian nationalism and it’s theological and political implications. These sessions will be led by Riverside clergy, culminating in an afternoon conversation with Rev. Dr. Brian Kaylor on Sunday, October 27, one of the authors of the book.
| September 29, 2024 | Baptizing America: Christian Nationalism in Context (chs 1-3) |
| October 6, 2024 | Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Brought Church to State (chs 4-6) |
| October 13, 2024 | Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Brought State to Church (chs 7-9) |
| October 20, 2024 | Baptizing America: Living in the Nation Mainline Protestants Built (chs 10-12) |
| October 27, 2024 | Baptizing America: Final thoughts and questions with Rev. Dr. Brian Kaylor |
2nd Saturday of each month, October – June | 11:00 AM | ZOOM
All readers and thinkers are welcome to a time of fellowship and lively discussion over a monthly book selection. This year we will read books through the lens of True Religion.
RIVERSIDE WRITING GROUP
TBD
ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS BIBLICAL HEBREW
Sundays, October 6 – June 8 | 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM | 314MLK & Zoom
Biblical Hebrew is the language in which Jesus read the Scripture and prayed its Psalms. As true followers of our Lord, we also want to know the language of the Hebrew Scriptures (The Tanakh) that formed His unique rhetoric. The Riverside Church offers you a great opportunity to refine your language Hebrew speech and thought about God. We start by learning the Hebrew script, its transcription, vocabulary, grammatical rules, and basic syntax. These will be demonstrated in various verses from the Old Testament (Tanakh). The class is open for absolute beginners with no knowledge of Biblical Hebrew.
ADVANCED BEGINNERS BIBLICAL HEBREW II
Wednesdays, Oct 2 – June 11 | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Zoom Only
Biblical Hebrew offers students an opportunity to explore the foundational language of the Bible and gain insights into the culture and history of ancient Israel. These will be demonstrated in various verses from the Book of Ruth. We start by learning the Hebrew script, its transcription, vocabulary, grammatical rules, and basic syntax. The class is open for beginners and advanced beginners. Its purpose will be to prepare you for a more advanced level that will follow next year.
INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED BIBLICAL HEBREW
Sundays, October 6 – June 11 | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM | 314MLK & Zoom
The Riverside Church presents an excellent opportunity to further develop your proficiency in Biblical Hebrew and enrich your understanding of God as portrayed in the Old Testament. Building upon the foundation of Introductory Hebrew grammar, this class will likely delve into more advanced aspects of the language, such as verb conjugations, syntax, and a deeper exploration of biblical vocabulary. The class is open for both advanced beginners and intermediate levels. Its purpose will be to prepare you for a more advanced level that will follow next year.
THE SEEKERS BOOK STUDY
Sundays, September 22 – December 17 | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM | MLK 323 and Zoom
The Seekers is a study group that explores spirituality through books and videos by progressive theologians. As Carl Jung observed, many outgrow the childhood image of God as being ‘up there’ in heaven. This class offers new ways to understand the divine that resonate with a more mature faith. This year, we will explore the video series Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity.
Classes begin on Sunday, September 22, at 9:00 AM in MLK 323 and on Zoom. The following Sundays there will be no class: Dec 1st, Dec 22nd and 29th. All are welcome.
WORD @ NIGHT
October 25 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
For more information, email Rev. Charlene Wingate at cwingate@trcnyc.org.