Lent at Riverside 2024

True Religion: Love Poured Out

During the season of Lent, we invite you to engage the practices of prayer, fasting, and sacrifice. As you engage them intentionally and consistently, you will notice a hunger for more time with Jesus.

What does it mean for love to be poured out in your life and in our world?

Lenten Calendar

Experience the Lenten journey at Riverside with our comprehensive Lenten Calendar, bringing all activities together in one convenient place. Download now to stay connected and fully immerse yourself in the spiritual richness of this sacred season, in person and online.

Download the Lent at Riverside 2024 calendar

 

Daily Lenten Practices

This year during the season of Lent we are inviting you to engage the practices of prayer, fasting, and sacrifice. Text “Lent” to 646-759-2476 to receive them each day on your phone. (You can also tap here on your mobile device or scan the QR code.) Click here to download the complete Daily Lenten Practices calendar.

These practices are an invitation to a closer walk with Jesus this Lent. If you engage them intentionally and consistently, you will notice a hunger for more time with Jesus. We are grateful to be on the journey together.

 

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, February 14 at 7AM – 9:00 AM • 116th Street/Columbia University Subway Stop
Imposition of Ashes
Receive ashes at this subway stop from Riverside clergy.

Wednesday, February 14 at Noon – 2:00 PM ET • Nave
Imposition of Ashes

Embrace the solemnity and significance of Ash Wednesday at The Riverside Church. You are invited to join us on Ash Wednesday where we will mark the beginning of the Lenten season with the imposition of ashes. Receive the ashes as a symbol of repentance, humility, and renewal. Start your Lenten journey with a sense of purpose and spiritual commitment.

Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00 PM ET • Nave & Online
Ash Wednesday Worship 

Watch Ash Wednesday 7PM Worship

Friday, February 16 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Organ & Dance Meditation featuring Michael Hey, Marble Collegiate Church, organ and Ian Debono, dancer

Join us to experience a sacred synergy of sound and motion, creating a space for reflection, inspiration, and renewal. You are welcome to bring your own lunch. Water only in the sanctuary, please.

Watch February 16 Organ & Dance Meditation


 

Lenten Worship Schedule

The First Sunday in Lent

Sunday, February 18 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Sunday Morning Worship with Rev. Jim Keat, preaching
Join us after worship for a sermon talkback in Virtual Coffee Hour.

Watch Sunday February 18 Morning Worship

Wednesday, February 21 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Wednesday Noon Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 12 Noon in the Nave & Online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch February 21 Wednesday Noon Prayer Service

Wednesday, February 21 at 6:00 PM ET • Online
Wednesday Evening Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 6PM, online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch February 21 Wednesday Eve Prayer Service

Friday, February 23 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Organ & Dance Meditation featuring Cecily DeMarco, The Juilliard School, organ and Bronte Mayo, dancer
Join us to experience a sacred synergy of sound and motion, creating a space for reflection, inspiration, and renewal. You are welcome to bring your own lunch. Water only in the sanctuary, please.

Watch February 23 Organ & Dance Meditation


 

The Second Sunday in Lent

Sunday, February 25 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Sunday Morning Worship with Rev. Adriene Thorne, preaching
Join us after worship for a sermon talkback in Virtual Coffee Hour.

Watch Sunday February 25 Morning Worship

Wednesday, February 28 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Wednesday Noon Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 12 Noon in the Nave & Online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch February 28 Wednesday Noon Prayer Service

Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00 PM ET • Online
Wednesday Evening Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 6PM, online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch February 28 Wednesday Eve Prayer Service

Friday, March 1 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Organ & Dance Meditation featuring Alan Montgomery, Interim Director of Music, The Riverside Church, organ and Nicole Leung, dancer 
Join us to experience a sacred synergy of sound and motion, creating a space for reflection, inspiration, and renewal. You are welcome to bring your own lunch. Water only in the sanctuary, please.

Watch March 1 Organ & Dance Meditation


 

The Third Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 3 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Sunday Morning Worship with Rev. Adriene Thorne, preaching
Join us after worship for a sermon talkback in Virtual Coffee Hour.

Watch Sunday March 3 Morning Worship

Wednesday, March 6 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Wednesday Noon Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 12 Noon in the Nave & Online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch March 6 Wednesday Noon Prayer Service

Wednesday, March 6 at 6:00 PM ET • Online
Wednesday Evening Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 6PM, online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch March 6 Wednesday Eve Prayer Service

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET • 9T & Online
Space for Grace with Rev. Dr. Lisa M. Weaver, preaching
Join us for Space for Grace, a monthly in-person and online gathering featuring Gospel music, prayer, preaching, communion, and more.

Watch March 6 Space for Grace

Friday, March 8 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Organ & Dance Meditation featuring Eddie Zheng, The Juilliard School, organ and Jeremy Villas, dancer
Join us to experience a sacred synergy of sound and motion, creating a space for reflection, inspiration, and renewal. You are welcome to bring your own lunch. Water only in the sanctuary, please.

Watch March 8 Organ & Dance Meditation

 


 

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 10 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Sunday Morning Worship with Rev. Adriene Thorne, preaching
Join us after worship for a sermon talkback in Virtual Coffee Hour.

Watch Sunday March 10 Morning Worship

Wednesday, March 13 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Wednesday Noon Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 12 Noon in the Nave & Online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch March 13 Wednesday Noon Prayer Service

Wednesday, March 13 at 6:00 PM ET • Online
Wednesday Evening Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 6PM, online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch March 13 Wednesday Eve Prayer Service

Friday, March 15 at Noon ET Nave & Online
Organ & Dance Meditation featuring Raymond Nagem, Brick Presbyterian Church, organ and Mio Ishikawa, dancer
Join us to experience a sacred synergy of sound and motion, creating a space for reflection, inspiration, and renewal.  You are welcome to bring your own lunch. Water only in the sanctuary, please.

Watch March 15 Organ & Dance Meditation


 

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Sunday, March 17 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Sunday Morning Worship with Rev. Adriene Thorne, preaching
Join us after worship for a sermon talkback in Virtual Coffee Hour.

Watch Sunday March 17 Morning Worship

Wednesday, March 20 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Wednesday Noon Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 12 Noon in the Nave & Online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch March 20 Wednesday Noon Prayer Service

Wednesday, March 20 at 6:00 PM ET • Online
Wednesday Evening Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 6PM, online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch March 20 Wednesday Eve Prayer Service


 

Weekday Morning Prayer

 

Join our Riverside community every morning, Monday through Friday, at 8:00 AM ET for a 30 minute morning prayer liturgy. Share your prayer requests and hold our community, neighborhood, nation, and world in prayer.

Click here to register

Lenten Bible Study

One Text; Two Classes (MLK 316 or Zoom)


Open Bible Study, as the name suggests, is a series of Sunday morning Bible Study classes open to anyone. People approach the Bible with a variety of feelings ranging from enthusiasm to disinterest depending on their previous experience with Christian education.

Starting February 18th, a digital Open Bible Study will be taking place in the virtual sphere! Rev. Colleen Birchett and other on-site teachers will facilitate Open Bible Study in person in room 316 MLK. Rev. Jim Keat will lead an online-only Open Bible Study via Zoom. One text, two classes to meet the needs of our whole congregation.

Click here to Join

Click here to Download the Lenten Open Bible Study Curriculum Journal

Wednesday Lenten Prayer Service at Noon & 6PM

Friday Organ & Dance Meditations

Join us on the first five Fridays during Lent for a blend of music and movement during our Organ and Dance Meditations. Feel the music resonate through the Nave as the Riverside organ fills the air with soul-stirring music. Immerse yourself in the graceful and expressive movements of our talented dancers, choreographed to harmonize with the music and elevate your spirit. Experience 30 minutes of sacred synergy of sound and motion, creating a space for reflection, inspiration, and renewal.

You are welcome to bring your own lunch. Please bring water only as a beverage in the sanctuary, please. 

February 16 – Michael Hey, Marble Collegiate Church, organ with Ian Debono, dancer

February 23 – Cecily DeMarco, The Juilliard School, organ with Bronte Mayo, dancer

March 1 – Alan Montgomery, The Riverside Church, organ with Nicole Leung, dancer 

March 8 – Eddie Zheng, The Juilliard School, organ with Jeremy Villas, dancer

March 15 – Ray Nagem, Brick Presbyterian Church, organ with Mio Ishikawa, dancer

Click here to learn More

Holy Week

Palm Sunday

Sunday, March 24 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Palm Sunday Worship with Rev. Adriene Thorne, preaching
Join us after worship for a sermon talkback in Virtual Coffee Hour.

Wednesday, March 27 at Noon ET • Nave & Online
Wednesday Noon Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 12 Noon in the Nave & Online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch March 27 Wednesday Noon Prayer Service

Wednesday, March 27 at 6:00 PM ET • Online
Wednesday Evening Prayer Service
Join us in prayer at 6PM, online, as we journey with Jesus through this Lenten season.  We will read, pray, sing, and listen for God’s word and will.

Watch March 27 Wednesday Eve Prayer Service

Maundy Thursday

Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 PM ET • Nave & Online

Join us for our Tenebrae service including communion and the Stripping of the Nave, a practice which dates from the seventh century and is done in absolute silence and in an unhurried, orderly fashion. In silence and in shadows, communion vessels and paraments are removed or covered symbolizing the end of Jesus’ time on earth.

 

Good Friday 

Friday, March 29 at 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET • Nave & Online

Join us for our Good Friday service of The Seven Last Words. We journey with Jesus in the last three hours of his earthly life. We invite you to stay for the full service or come and go according to your needs.

 

Holy Saturday

Saturday, March 30 at 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET • Assembly Hall

Join us in Assembly Hall from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET for an experience walking the prayer labyrinth. This tradition offers a unique opportunity to be present with the reality of this holy and silent Saturday, as we find ourselves balanced between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

 

 

 

Resurrection Sunday

Easter Sunday

Sunday, March 31 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Resurrection Sunday Worship with Rev. Adriene Thorne, preaching

Join us on Easter Sunday at The Riverside Church as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.

Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!

Easter Egg Hunt

 

After Easter Sunday service on March 31, 2024, children are welcome to participate in the Easter egg hunt, beginning in the Cloister Lounge.

Easter Sunday Brunch

**Ticketed Event**

 

Join us for Easter Sunday on March 31st in Assembly Hall immediately following the 11:00AM Worship Service.

Enjoy a delightful menu featuring a traditional Easter meal with vegan options, a Beverage Bar, and a Delicious Dessert Station.

For more info or to buy tickets

What is Lent?

Lent is not a race to Easter, it’s not a countdown to chocolate bunnies. Lent is a journey, and as cliche as it might be, it’s about the journey and not the destination. It’s about being where you are, not where you’re going. Because Easter is coming, whether we’re ready or not. But Lent comes first, inviting us to slow down and place our feet right behind Jesus as we live the only way we can ever live, step by step, day by day, moment by moment, breath by breath.

Join Rev. Jim Keat for this episode of The Word Made Fresh as we explore the season of Lent — What is it? Where did it come from? And why do we practice it today?