River NYC Church

The River exists to help people more deeply embody unconditional love (Agape), strengthen their connections (to God, self, others, creation, and the world around us), and become more fully alive (John 10:10).

OUR STORY

The River began in October 2004 with a group of 10 people who moved to New York City with an exciting vision to build a vibrant church in Lower Manhattan. Today, we are a community of approximately 150 members and have moved to a beautiful new location in Midtown Manhattan. In-person attendees of the River come from all five boroughs of New York City, New Jersey, and Westchester County, though people from around the country (and the world!) regularly tune into our services on YouTube Live.

Our Vision for Church

At the River, we believe that church should be a place where people of all ages and backgrounds are:

• Truly and deeply welcomed
• Invited to be their authentic selves ​
• Seen, known, accepted, and celebrated as beloved
• Free from shame, fear, pressure, and manipulation
• Unafraid to ask questions or to voice doubts/disagreements
• Encouraged to engage their hearts/minds and express their thoughts/feelings
• Inspired to spread kindness, pursue justice, and deepen connections (to God, self, others, creation, and the world around us)​

Our vision for a life-giving faith community is shaped by our convictions that:

• God is unconditional love (1 John 4:8)
• The practice of unconditional love is central to following the way of Jesus (John 13:34-35)
• Embracing unconditional love means recognizing the unearned, inherent dignity and worth of every person (Genesis 1:26-31)
• "All flourishing is mutual" (Robin Wall Kimmerer).

Practically speaking, this means that (among other things) we place no limitations on women in leadership, that we fully affirm LGBTQ+ individuals and relationships, and that we are committed to the work of antiracism and creation care.

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When you come to the River, we hope that you will feel refreshed, affirmed, and excited to be part of a community that is pursuing abundant life together. We'd love for you to join us in person or online!