The Word Made Fresh

Let's talk about Joseph.  His story makes up such a significant part of the book of Genesis, yet he is rarely the first character that comes to mind when we think of this book.  But watch out, because Rev. Adriene is going to tell Rev. Jim about a way to look at Joseph that just might change the way you see him and his story forever.  What happens when you cozy up to the dreams of empire?  And how...

We're back! Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat return for another season of The Word Made Fresh, the weekly show where they talk about the upcoming Narrative Lectionary text and give you a glimpse of what to expect this Sunday at The Riverside Church.  In this episode they talk about the first time God makes a joke, what it means to have a dynamic view of creation, and all the delicious flavors...

This Sunday we are celebrating Pride! Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they talk about some of the ways we will be celebrating Pride Sunday at Riverside as well as a quick dip into 1 John 3:1-7 and how this particular Sunday frames the text in such a wonderful way.

Let's talk about the "S" word. No, not that one. We're talking about sin. While some streams of Christianity can't get enough, in our liberal mainline Protestant bubble we tend to avoid this world, especially when it refers to the personal implications. So rather than avoiding it, let's dive in and talk about it. What is confession and why are we invited to confess our sins? Join Rev. Adriene Thor...

What is Juneteenth and why are we including it in worship on Sunday? You'll learn all that and more in this episode of The Word Made Fresh. Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they talk about what to expect on Sunday, June 16 at The Riverside Church. From a guest preacher to why we include Juneteenth but not Father's Day and more, this conversation will have you taking notes on all the n...

What is God's name? And what does it mean to keep it holy? These are some of the questions Rev. Jim Keat explores with Rev. Jabe Ziino on this episode of The Word Made Fresh.  Wait, who is Rev. Jabe Ziino? He is one of the newest additions to the clergy team at Riverside. In this episode you will hear about the sermon he is preaching but you will also get to know him, what he brings to Riverside,...

This Sunday we will welcome Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow into theh pulpit at The Riverside Church. But before he steps into the pulpit Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat were excited to sit down with him to talk about his upcoming sermon and everything that he will bring. Rev. Bruce recently returned from his second trip to Palestine and while a trip to a country in the midst of conflict is not requir...

Let's talk about the revolutionary prayer of Jesus, more commonly known as the Lord's Prayer. Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they explore the first two words of this prayer – Our Father – and dip their toe in a few other well-known but often-misunderstood sections. And be sure to watch to the very end to know what phrase to drop in the comments!

What is Pentecost? What are Spiritual Gifts? By the end of this episode of The Word Made Fresh you will know the answer to them both! Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they talk about this coming Sunday's Narrative Lectionary text, why you should wear something red, and the perfect alignment of the church's annual budget meeting on this particular Sunday. Enjoy!

What do you believe about the resurrection? Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they dive into 1 Corinthians 15 and all the ways Paul talks about the resurrection. Enjoy some laughs, learn something new, and get ready to join us on Sunday as Rev. Thorne steps into the pulpit with the sermon you can hear her start writing in this conversation.

Love is patient. Love is kind. Yep, you've probably heard this one before. But here's the thing: 1 Corinthians 13 was not written for weddings! This well known chapter was written to a church, to a group of people navigating the messy and real and conflict-filled reality that we find in our lives and our world and especially in our faith communities. Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as t...

Welcome to Corinth! This week begins the first of four weeks in the letter to the church in Corinth (otherwise known as 1 Corinthians). Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they explore a few verses from the first chapter (1 Cor. 1:10-18) and explore the particularities of a two thousand year old letter that wasn't written to us! Also, Rev. Jim has some fun facts to share about why 1 Cori...

Rev. Adriene and Rev. Jim are covering a lot with this one, so buckle up (which is a reference to something Rev. Jim will talk about later on in the video) because here we go. First, we have a guest preacher joining us this Sunday at Riverside. Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the in...

What happens when Rev. Jim talks to himself about the Bible? Watch this episode of The Word Made Fresh to find out! Join Rev. Jim (and Rev. Jim) as he (they?) talk about this Sunday's Narrative Lectionary text (Acts 3:1-10) and how a story about Peter healing someone outside the temple gates might still possible (or even necessary) in our world today.

What is Holy Humor Sunday? Who is Rev. Jane Ann Groom? And does Rev. Jim know any good Bible jokes? You'll know the answer to all three of these questions (and more) after you watch this week's episode of The Word Made Fresh! Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they sit down with this Sunday's guest preacher, glance through the history of Holy Humor Sunday, and focus on the story of Jesu...

This is a big one: Easter Sunday! But at the same time it's just another Sunday. It's just another Sunday to preach the good news of God's love. It's just another Sunday to be invited to see life springing up in the midst of death. It's just another Sunday to enjoy community as we gather on site or online. Easter is important, but really, it's just another Sunday. Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev....

From waving palm branches to pouring expensive perfume on someone's feet, this Sunday's Narrative Lectionary text gives us the energy of the crowd and the intimacy of a meal. Jon Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they talk about this text, how Rev. Thorne is approaching her sermon, when feet actually mean feet (and when they don't), and the the significant difference between "hosanna" and "...

We're moments away from entering Jerusalem, and with it comes an impending death on a cross. But before we get caught up in that momentum, Jesus takes a moment to remind us that life goes on and that God is always in the business of life flourishing and even if these stones (Jesus' body) will crumble, stay woke because you just might see something being rebuilt. With a text like this you know it's...

How many narratives can we squeeze into this Sunday's Narrative Lectionary? Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they find out! This text invites starts with a pop quiz on which commandment is the most important, offers the very practical and timeless advice to stop devour the houses of widows, and ends with Jesus' observation on a widow giving all her money - a single penny - and what sh...

The Bible is not a children's book. It's filled with stories about murder and trick questions about whether or not you should pay taxes. And this week's text, Mark 12:1-17, dives in deep with an R-rated parable and some trickster Pharisees and Herodians trying (and failing) to set Jesus up for tax evasion. Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they talk about Rev. Throne's upcoming sermon...

“I don't think I could think of a single thing that's more isolating than being famous.” —Lady Gaga What does Lady Gaga have to do with this Sunday's Narrative Lectionary text? Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they discuss the sermon she will be preaching on Sunday and how it intersects with Lady Gaga's thoughts on fame. And bonus, they're in the same place for this recording! Woohoo!

"This story is about Jesus and Jeff Bezos." That's how Rev. Jim Keat summarizes this Sunday's Narrative Lectionary text, Mark 10:17-31. Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and she talks with Rev Jim about the sermon he is preaching on Sunday, February 18 at The Riverside Church. Their conversation captures so many nuances about this particular passage to the first Sunday in Lent to Love Poured Out to flying...

An older woman has had an "issue of blood." A young girl has unexpectedly died. Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they discuss Mark 5:21-43, how Jesus brings healing and wholeness to both of these women, and how everyone – especially men – can approach and learn from a text like this.

What happens when Jesus heals someone who has been troubled by demons and ostracized from his community? It's not good for the nearby herd of pigs and the local community doesn't seem to welcome this healing as much as we would think. Join Rev. Adriene Thorne and Rev. Jim Keat as they discuss this Sunday's text, Mark 5:1-20, and a refreshing way to approach the story of Jesus and the Gerasene Demo...

A parable is a story rooted in the world from which it is told that continues to flourish in our whatever time and place it is encountered. In Mark 4 we hear Jesus telling four different parables and on Sunday, January 21 Rev. Adriene Thorne will preach from one (or all?) of them! Listen in as she talks with Rev. Jim Keat about her upcoming sermon, the nature of parables and why they are still pow...