WS Update: Remembering 9/11

September 6, 2021

Never Forget. 

Those two words have already started to flood social media posts and news outlets in anticipation of September 11, 2021. For those of us who were around 20 years ago (has it really been 20 years!?), it is hard to forget. I still choke up when I see the images of that day as I think about the devastation to our city and the senseless loss of life. So why remember such a horrible event? Why keep replaying the evil and grief of that day and its aftermath? Isn’t it something we would rather forget?

Of course there are many answers to that question. The annual reading of the names of those killed becomes a sacred moment that speaks to the devastating truth that death robs us of something we know should never end, love. Remembering is also an act of underscoring the inherent dignity of every human life. I also think we remember to try and make sense of a world in which planes fly into buildings. We remember to honor what is noble and good in an attempt to find hope in the rubble. But is there any?

In Scripture we find an answer that starts with God remembering (Exodus 2:24). He hears the groans of his enslaved people and remembers his promise of love, leading to an act of gracious liberation (the exodus), a story God’s people called to memory over and over again in the Old Testament. This discipline of remembering is at the heart of following Jesus as we come to the Lord’s Supper remembering the new exodus. We remember that God remembered us and set us free, turning an act and symbol of terror (crucifixion and the cross) into one of love and hope. So yes, we need to remember and honor the dead, the heroic first responders and all who worked to bring hope out of the rubble 20 years ago. And as we do, let us also remember and look for ways to share the story of the God who remembered us and set us on a “rock and that is higher than I, a strong tower against the enemy” (Psalm 61:2).

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? — Psalm 77:11-13

In Christ,

Rev. David Bisgrove
Redeemer West Side Senior Pastor


Vision Sunday

We encourage you to join us this upcoming Sunday, September 12 to kick off the start of our new ministry year! In addition to our kids moving up in their classes at West Side Kids (in-person!), we’ll also be holding an in-person event at 12 pm at W83.

Together we’ll look back at God’s faithfulness to us and look forward in anticipation and excitement for where God is leading us. Pastor David will share in detail our mission, values and strategies for the upcoming year and we’ll have time to reconnect with others! Snacks will be provided as we transition between the service and the gathering.

Vision Sunday

We encourage you to join us this upcoming Sunday, September 12 to kick off the start of our new ministry year! In addition to our kids moving up in their classes at West Side Kids (in-person!), we’ll also be holding an in-person event at 12 pm at W83.

Together we’ll look back at God’s faithfulness to us and look forward in anticipation and excitement for where God is leading us. Pastor David will share in detail our mission, values and strategies for the upcoming year and we’ll have time to reconnect with others! Snacks will be provided as we transition between the service and the gathering.


Goings On

• WS Youth Ministry Welcome Gathering, Sep 19: Parents, guardians, fans and advocates of youth are invited to our Youth Ministry Welcome Gathering on Sunday, Sep 19 at 9:30am at our W83 Loft. Copious amounts of coffee will be provided. RSVP to let Shirley you plan on coming.

• Community Picnic, Sep 19: Reconnect with other members of the church while enjoying lunch outside! Our Community Groups will be hosting so you’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about our small groups and get connected. Bring a blanket and a lunch. We’ll meet at 81st St and Central Park West just past the Diana Ross Playground.

• Sign up for a Moms Group this fall: Moms Groups are re-starting in September with in-person meetings at W83 Ministry Center! Register today for limited childcare spots. Groups are available on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings

• Volunteer Fair, Sep 26: Mark your calendars! Being part of a church means committed to one another. God also calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The Volunteer Fair will be an opportunity to learn more and sign up for ways to search each other and our neighbors.

• New at RWS, Sep 26: If you’re new at Redeemer West Side this is the place to get to know us and learn how to take the next step! We’ll talk about our vision, values, and history, and introduce you to various ministries so you know how to get better connected.

• Family Worship Night, Sep 26: Mark you calendars! Hosted by West Side Kids, this is a new monthly opportunity for our families to come together and celebrate the love of Christ, learn, grow, and encourage one another.

• Faith & Work 101, Sep 27: Class led by the Center for Faith and Work. Work and faith can feel entirely separate, divided into categories of “secular” and “sacred”—but Scripture offers a different take. This fall at Faith & Work 101, discover how your everyday work fits into God’s own work of making all things new.

• Registered nurses needed to teach Avail Classes: In-person volunteers will teach classes on childbirth and postpartum care to expectant mothers. Classes are twice a month in the evening. Training is provided, but there is a detailed screening process.

• Building relationships with teens in Queens: If you live in Astoria or are open to commuting there, Young Life Queens needs mentors who want to shape a young person’s life through Bible study, dinners, games and activities, and more!

• Consider group counseling with Redeemer Counseling Services: This fall Redeemer Counseling Services has several group counseling options including Calming Your Anxious Mind, Sexual Integrity For Men, Emotion Regulation, and Empowering Your Asian American Voice