Sharing Good News: A Riverside Year in Review!

We welcomed Rev. Adriene Thorne as the eighth senior minister in Riverside's history in July. If you missed it, you can learn more about her and her journey in this video series, and hear her in conversation on two recent podcasts. We also said goodbye to Rev. Michael Livingston, whose leadership as Executive Minister and Interim Senior Minister were integral in steering Riverside to where we are today.

Worship, Music & Digital Ministry

The pandemic changed the ways we worship, but it did not stop of from coming together in new ways of beloved community. In 2023, our Sunday Morning Worship grew to the highest levels since before the pandemic:

Over 12,000 in-person and nearly 19,000 online worshipped at Riverside this year. 16,922. That's 270 in person, and 360 online on average!

All told, in addition to our Sunday Morning Worship services, Riverside held 45 Grace Notes services, 50 Fresh Start services, 260 morning prayer sessions, ten special holiday services, and saw the return of in-person Space for Grace six times!

"To Rev. Thorne, I wanted to express how much your sermon from this past week blessed me. Thank you for such a timely,
thought-provoking, and brave sermon."

Our Digital Ministry efforts on YouTube, spearheaded by Rev. Jim Keat, resulted in:

487: Total videos published on YouTube
595: Total hours of watch time on YouTube
241,497: Total views on YouTube

Our Podcasts, headlined by our popular Be Still And Go podcast,

More than 50 total episodes published
Over 25,000 total downloads for Be Still and Go

"Your ministry has meant the absolute world to me. I live in a spiritual monolithic right winged evangelical community, and so it does become weary to be out here sometimes feeling alone. The Riverside Church is a community that has made it possible to continue my Christianity without bitterness and anger."

Our wonderful Music programs, led by Chris Creaghan, performed over 110 special services and events in 2022. Did you know that required more than 50 rehearsals to make happen? The Riverside Choir, our Inspirational Choir, the Riverside Ringers, Rising Voices, Youth String Ensemble, and Cherub Choir all enjoy performing for you!

View the 2022-23 Season of Music at Riverside

Consider a Special Year-End Gift Today!

Your generous giving supports worship, music, faith formation, social justice, social services, and more - programs that touch the lives everyone in need of Christ’s love through us. And we couldn't do it without your generous support!

Won't you consider a special year-end gift today?

Give a Special Gift Today

Parish Care & Our Community

Welcoming New Members is one of the bedrocks of strengthening our faith community and doing good work in world. In total, we welcomed 56 new members to the Riverside community in 2022. Interested in exploring membership at Riverside? We would love to hear from you!

In 2022, Riverside's Food Pantry - in operation since 1983 - saw demand for food double while serving over 8,000 guests - including 850 first time guests. This translates into over 20,000 meals provided through October. Donations are always welcome!

Watch this Video on our Food Pantry

Riveride's Clothing Distribution continues to make available free casual clothing and professional attire for those in need each week. Donations of new or gently used clothes are always welcome!

Additionally, as has been the case for many years, our Safe Haven shelter was opened to our unsheltered neighbors during this recent cold spell.

Our Ministry of Older Adults, led by Rev. Lynn Casteel Harper, includes more than 80 members and held 36 in person and online meetings, including special gatherings for Christmas and May 2022 was a month where we celebrated older adults in worship.

Additionally, our Parish Care ministry facilitated 14 weddings
and 36 funerals/memorials throughout the year.

Faith Formation & Social Justice

Our Faith Formation and Social Justice Ministries prepare Riversiders to grow in their faith and transform their faith into action in the world. Whether a small group class or responding to a call to action, Riverside showed up in our local community and the world at large to demand love, justice, and equality for all.

Our Youth and Young Adult Ministries held over 18 different events, including things like field trips, short outings, breakfast, pizza parties, and more - that's a lot of fellowship! Additionally, there were weekly meet ups for all of our groups, our weekly Sunday School, and of course, Freedom School over the summer.

Some of the small group classes held included Bible Study, Riverside Book Club, an eight-week series on Climate Justice, Exploring and Reclaiming Progressive Christianity, Riverside Writing Group, beginner and intermediate Biblical Hebrew classes, and more!

Late this year, we also welcomed Minister Nordia Bennett as Interim Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry - welcome Nordia!

Explore Faith Formation at Riverside

Explore Mission & Social Justice at Riverside

Operations & Facilities

And how could we forget the people and departments who keep Riverside running day-in and day-out? Our Building & Grounds crew kept our 90+ year plant going while overseeing much needed repairs and improvements, including to our beautiful one-of-a-kind stained glass.

Our Finance department processed over 10,000 individual donations,
and completed both the 2021 audit and the 2022 budget!

Did you know nearly 4,000 non-worshipping guests came through Riverside this year? Many of them experienced Riverside for the first time, enjoy our building's majestic beauty while seeing up close all the different programs and initatives going on all the time. Some of them even enjoyed our Tower Tour, led by longtime staff member Raymond Rodriguez.

"It was incredible to go up into the tower and see the heaviest carillon in the world. Those bells are BIG! All in all, a truly unique experience that I'll remember for life."

Our Tower Tours are closed for the winter months, but be sure to make time to schedule one once it warms up in the spring!

Celebrating New Beginnings

If you've made it this far, you've been able to see just a small glimse of all the wonderful stories and programs, events and activities happening at Riverside. And none of them would be possible without your support! That's why we're inviting you to join with the entire Riverside community in celebration of New Beginnings by giving an extra special year-end gift today or making your 2023 pledge today.

Give a Special Gift Today

Make Your 2023 Pledge

Download the Riverside App

Take Riverside with you, wherever you go and stay connected to all the videos, podcasts, and events from The Riverside Church. With one tap you can watch the latest sermon, listen to a podcast, make an online offering, and find out more about upcoming events. Text TRCNYC to 833.833.4035 to download today!