Five Thing Friday
AI + more AI + a webinar + daily-ish reflections + daily Bible
I’m trying something new. (Digital Ministry is all about experimentation, right?)
Every Friday I’m going to send out a special “Five Thing Friday” post where I share five things I think you should read or watch or listen to. (HT to Ashley Dargai for this idea!) Rather than just creating new content, it’s always a good idea to curate the amazing content that is already out there.
So, here are five things I think you should check out!
AI and the Irreplaceable Magic of Human Creativity
This one comes from Nathan Webb. If you’re into digital ministry and not subscribed to his substack, you should probably fix that right now. In his latest post he reflects on AI and the irreplaceable magic of human creativity. You should definitely read (or listen to) the whole thing, but here’s a snippet:
As we navigate this new digital frontier, let’s approach AI with both curiosity and caution. Let it be a partner in creation, a tool for connection—but never the substitute for what makes us human.
In ministry, this means leaning into tools like AI to share our stories better and prioritizing the relationships and creativity that define our faith. The unexpected is where God often works best, and our stories—however humble or grand—are the vessels through which that work unfolds.
6 Ways AI Could Go Wrong
This one is a video, from YouTube journalist, Johnny Harris. If you’re not subscribed to his channel, do yourself a favor and subscribe, smash that like button, all the things YouTubers are always telling us to do.
His latest video is all about AI, specifically six ways it could go wrong. His videos are filled with incredible research and visuals. I know you’ll love this video and will probably spend the next couple of hours binging more of his content.
I found myself watching this video right after reading Nathan’s post and wanted to invite you to have the same experience!
5 Reasons We Are Thankful for Digital Ministry
We’re allowed to be thankful for things even if it’s the day after Thanksgiving, right? Because in this video I’m joined by four incredible digital ministers and we all share one reason we are thankful for digital ministry. I’m pretty sure each reason could be it’s own video (which might be something I’m working on!) but for now, enjoy this buffet of digital ministry gratitude from an five fantastic digital ministers.
Piloting Faith: An (Almost) Daily Meditation
Would you like to have an (almost) daily meditation about progressive spirituality and social justice delivered right to your inbox or phone? Well, you should subscribe to Rev. Cameron Trimble’s substack! She’s picked up this daily-ish rhythm again and brought it over to Substack, allowing us all to easily subscribe and and share and comment and engage and all those things that this platform allows. We need reflections like this all the time, but especially in the world we’re living in now (and for the next four years ahead.)
Here’s a snippet from one of her recent posts:
In our own lives, we sometimes feel surrounded by darkness. There are seasons of uncertainty, fear, and loss when it seems like the light has gone out. But the ner tamid reminds us that there is always a spark of hope, even if we cannot always see it. God’s presence, like the eternal flame, is not dependent on our ability to perceive it—it simply is.
We are invited to trust in that light, to hold fast to the belief that even in the darkest moments, God’s presence burns brightly. And just as the eternal light requires care and attention, so too must we tend to the light within us. Through prayer, reflection, and acts of kindness, we keep the flame alive in our hearts and in our communities.
Bible in a Minute
Yes, I’ve talked about this one before. And I will talk about it again and again and again!
Bible in a Minute is a daily short form vertical video project I am producing as part of my work at The Riverside Church. This project has three goals: teach people something new about the Bible, inspire people to open the book and read it for themselves, and model what it means to read and interpret the Bible from a progressive and liberative point of view.
We’re about to wrap up the book of Esther and will be turning to Job next, and you know that’s going to be a wild 42 days!
All this to say, you should probably binge a bit of the Bible, one chapter/minute at a time!
There you have it: my very first Five Thing Friday! Now let’s see if I keep this experiment going every week. If you have ideas for something I should check out and share, let me know!
Love this idea and appreciate the shoutout 🙌 curation for the win!