Redeemer East Side Update
Christmas is a season of giving and generosity. While it is important to reflect on how easily all of that can slide into mere consumption, it seems that generosity is, in fact, the right response to Christmas. After all, the gift of God’s only begotten Son, made appallingly vulnerable for us, is an act of matchless grace. His is a generosity so fierce that he was willing to be consumed for us. And that act of grace, if nothing else, must draw out a response of similar generosity in everything we do—however pale in comparison.
As we draw near to the end of our fiscal year at Redeemer, I want to thank you for your generous and consistent support of Redeemer’s ministry in the city—both through your financial gifts and your personal ministries. In our services, we have been drawing your attention to the giving needs in our operating budget. So if you attend Redeemer and don’t yet give regularly, would you considering starting here? Over the years, we’ve emphasized the importance not of equal gifts, but of equal sacrifice for our community. I hope you will be thoughtful yet bold, wise yet sacrificial, in your giving.
But whatever you decide, I am profoundly grateful to be pastoring the East Side congregation. And this Christmas season reminds me of how great a gift it is to be a part of his Church—the body of the incarnate Christ being made vulnerable for the sake of the world.
Warmly,
Rev. Abraham Cho
East Side Congregation Lead Pastor
Hector Sanchez Community Group Intern
"I am always amazed at the stories of how God transforms lives through community"
+ Invite your friends to one of our services this advent season!
+ Meet and hang out with your neighbors at an East Side local event
+ Join the Center for Faith & Work for Overcoming Obstacles to Prayer on December 8th.
+ Volunteer with His Toy Store: East Harlem: Unload boxes on Friday afternoon or set up the store on Friday night
+ Build relationships with adults with disabilities at Do For One’s holiday party
+ Sort and pack donated food at Boxes of Love
Hector was born in Ecuador and grew up in Flushing, NY. That makes him a Mets fan by default, and through the suffering that accompanies that, he has learned that it’s not all about winning in life. He enjoys history and can geek out on WWII facts. He loves traveling and learning about cultures and languages. In fact, that’s one of the many reasons why he loves living in New York. He loves exploring the different cultures that are in the city, and hunting for ethnic foods to try (and maybe music to dance to, maybe). He has been in Redeemer since 2009 and is currently serving as a Community Group Intern. He is really excited to be part of an amazing CG team on the East Side that helps create Gospel centered communities. He is always amazed at the stories of how God transforms lives through these communities. In addition, he is a student at Reformed Theological Seminary’s New York City program. His favorite restaurant in the UES is Mon Petit, a small French place that has great food.
VISION
The Redeemer family of churches and ministries exist to help build a great city for all people through a movement of the gospel that brings personal conversion, community formation, social justice, and cultural renewal to New York City and, through it, the world.
Redeemer East Side
Church Offices: 150 W. 83rd St. | New York, NY 10024
