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About Redeemer |
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A Brief
History of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran
Church
By the mercy of Almighty God, Redeemer
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Bronx,
New York, was founded in 1928.
Members of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Yonkers who lived in the Wakefield
section of the Bronx in New York City
believed that they could, by God’s grace,
start a mission east of the Woodlawn
Cemetery instead of traveling south and then
west over the 233rd Street Bridge to get to
St. Mark’s for worship services. The first
worship service for Redeemer Evangelical
Lutheran Church was conducted in the
afternoon on Sunday, April 15, 1928 in a
rented storefront at 686 237th Street, just
west of White Plains Road in The Bronx, New
York City. The Rev. Adolf Meyer, the Pastor
of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Yonkers,
conducted worship services and served as the
founding pastor. The small congregation grew
and raised funds to purchase property and an
adjacent building at the corner of Barnes
and Boyd Avenues, not far from the
storefront on 237th Street. A portable
church building was assembled in 1929 on the
purchased property, and The Rev. William
Bruening was installed as the first pastor.
The original church building had no pews and
no undercroft. Folding chairs were used, and
the church building served the dual purpose
of providing space for worship services as
well as for social gatherings. Pastor
Bruening and his family lived on the second
and third floors of the adjacent building
that was purchased and expanded by the
congregation. The first floor of that
building was enlarged and converted into a
parish hall and used for Sunday School
classes, confirmation classes and a Boy
Scout troop. Today, that building is called,
“The Parish House.”
In 1944, Pastor Bruening accepted a Divine
Call to Washington, D.C., and the Rev.
Robert Haupt was installed as Redeemer’s
second pastor on January 7, 1945. The
congregation continued growing, not only
gathering for worship services but also
having a thriving Sunday School, Senior
Choir, Junior Choir, Walther League (youth
group), Married Couples’ Club, Women’s
Guild, Men’s Group, and much more.
In the 1940s, money was raised to build the
present beautiful edifice where worship
services and ministries are currently
conducted. The cornerstone was laid in 1950
for the main building. Worship services were
held at the Wakefield Theater, a local movie
house, until the new church edifice was
completed. Interestingly, the old portable
church building was disassembled,
transported and re-erected in Putnam Valley,
New York, where St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
worships to this day. An addition to
Redeemer’s new building was added in 1964
that includes the current parish office,
pastor’s study and upstairs classroom.
During Pastor Haupt’s pastorate, a parsonage
was purchased in Mount Vernon, New York.
Pastor Haupt accepted a Divine Call to
Smithtown, Long Island in 1963. The Rev.
Donald Heitner accepted the Divine Call to
serve as Redeemer’s pastor from 1964 to
June, 1967. Redeemer then decided to sell
the Mount Vernon parsonage. In 1969, the
Rev. Theodore Wittrock accepted the Divine
Call to be Redeemer’s fourth pastor.
During the late 1960’s and 1970's,
Redeemer's neighborhood in the Wakefield
section of the Bronx experienced a
significant socio-cultural and economic
transition. Many of Redeemer's ethnic
European members moved from the Wakefield
community to the suburbs of New York City
and elsewhere. New people from diverse
cultural backgrounds replaced those who
relocated. Many urban parishes did not
adjust well to similar changes, but, by
God’s grace, Redeemer did. This was in great
part due to the Spirit-inspired love and
devotion of Pastor Wittrock, his family and
the many laypeople of Redeemer who welcomed
newcomers of every race, ethnicity and
culture. In the 1980s and 1990s, Redeemer
remained a beacon of hope in the north
Bronx, hosting square dances, potluck
suppers, congregational dinners, talent
shows, “Festa Italiana” dinners, “Broadway
in the Bronx,” and other events, in addition
to the many baptisms, confirmations,
weddings and funerals with music from the
Senior Choir, Junior Choir and Guitar Choir.
In addition to these, the Sunday School
remained a strong focus for the parish,
welcoming new young people and their
families to the congregation. Redeemer’s
work with the Wakefield Taxpayers and Civic
League, the Wakefield Patrol, Al Anon,
Overeaters Anonymous, AARP, the 47th
Precinct Community Council and other groups
has demonstrated our ongoing Christian
witness in the Bronx.
To celebrate the parish’s 70th anniversary,
Redeemer made many building repairs and
renovations, including the conversion of the
former “Green Room” to “The Wittrock Room”
in honor of The Rev. Theodore and Lenore
Wittrock. Pastor Wittrock retired in
January, 2000 on his eightieth birthday and
was named “Pastor emeritus.” In 2004, as a
part of the 75th anniversary celebration
that was themed, “Jesus Christ Is the Same
Yesterday, Today and Forever,” Boyd Avenue
was renamed, “Rev. Theodore Wittrock
Crossing,” in honor of the then late Pastor
Wittrock. The street was dedicated by the
President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, the Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick.
The Rev. Dien Ashley Taylor accepted the
Divine Call to be Redeemer's fifth pastor
and was installed on Good Shepherd Sunday in
2001. He continues to serve as our pastor to
this day. Pastor Taylor brought new energy
to Redeemer with worship attendance doubling
in fewer than two years. Our Lord guided
many people to Redeemer during Vacation
Bible School in August of 2001. He also led
many people to our parish after the horrific
events of 9/11; our Sunday School theme for
that year, “God’s People Pray,” became a
parish motto and helped us to appreciate and
treasure this unique contribution that the
Body of Christ offers a sinful world. Much
of the growth at Redeemer has included young
people seeking the Lord’s love in His Word
and Sacraments who desire to be part of the
Body of Christ. Moreover, many are also
participating in various Redeemer youth
activities. At the invitation of The Rev.
Dr. David H. Benke, the President of the
Atlantic District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, Redeemer’s Youth
Choir both opened the Atlantic District
Convention to a standing ovation in July,
2003 and sang at the 100th Anniversary
Banquet of the Atlantic District in June,
2006. To celebrate our 75th anniversary,
Redeemer began Homework Help, an after
school tutorial program, in the same spirit
of outreach that characterized Redeemer’s
founding.
During our 75th anniversary celebration, we
were delighted to welcome The Rev. William
Meyer, the son of our founding pastor, to
preach during festival Liturgies. We were
also thrilled to have The Rev. Dr. Gerald B.
Kieschnick, the President of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, preach at other
festival liturgies during our 75th
anniversary celebration.
Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church
continues to grow by God’s grace. In 2001,
there was one Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist
that was conducted on Sundays at 11AM. As
the congregation has grown, there are four
weekly Liturgies: Saturdays at 7PM; Sundays
at 8AM; Sundays at 11AM; and Wednesdays at
7:30PM. As our neighborhood has experienced
an influx of speakers of Spanish, our
congregation incorporates the Spanish
language in hymnody and liturgical rites.
Baptisms, weddings, confirmations and
funerals have been conducted in Spanish as
well as in English as the Gospel of Jesus
Christ is shared with many people. As the
congregation has continued to grow, a young
adults group, “HEARTS,” (Here, Eager And
Ready To Serve) was formed that complements
the EYES—Energetic Youth Engaged in Service
(Youth Group), WRISTS (formerly the Women’s
Guild which was formerly the Dorcas
Society), LIPS (Ladies In Prayer and
Service), LEGS (League of Extraordinary
Gentlemen in Service) and other entities of
the parish as all are using their gifts to
tell the Good News about Jesus.
Christ continues to be confessed at Redeemer
Evangelical Lutheran Church. With
conservative Biblical preaching, orthodox
Lutheran catechesis and liturgical
sacramental worship, this congregation is a
confessional, evangelical catholic communion
in the Lutheran tradition. With a strong
emphasis on worship, the congregation
continues to grow in Christ’s mission. In
addition to organ and piano music, we are
blessed with choirs, liturgical dance
troupes, many soloists, an instrumental
ensemble and a percussionist. Music from all
over the world enhances our gathering as we
celebrate the rich diversity of the Body of
Christ in our midst. Over the years,
Redeemer has been blessed with many
musicians who have served God’s people,
including The Rev. Dr. Oswald Hoffman, Dr.
M. Alfred Bischel, Dr. Maura Mitrushina,
Timothy Fink, Martin Ganshau, Donna Dixon,
Richard Duncan, Joan Harkness, Mary Merle
Faulkner, Arlene Oplinger, Ruth Cunningham,
David Greatrix, James Taglauer, Edgar
Aufdemberg, Christopher Losee, Allyyssa
Kirnon, Dr. Daniel Leguizamon and The Rev.
Dr. Dien Ashley Taylor. Currently, Dr. Jean
Boehler serves as Redeemer’s Cantor as
Redeemer’s many musicians serve the Body of
Christ in LUNGS—Lifting Up the Name of God
in Song (formerly Senior Choir and Adult
Gospel Choir), EYES—Energetic Youth Engaged
in Service (formerly Youth Choir) and
EARS—Enthusiastically Adoring our Redeemer
in Song (instrumental ensemble).
Our ushers (now named “HANDS—Helping All to
be Neighbors in the Divine Service”)
continue to welcome ne people into the
Liturgies. The one-year adult catechumenate
and two-year youth catechumenate continue to
be ways by which new people are welcomed
into this praying community of service. Rosa
Cruz Molina served over nine years as
Redeemer’s Catechist, working with Pastor
Taylor, as adults were catechized, baptized
and confirmed. Private confession with Holy
Absolution is offered and embraced at
Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church as
people grow in the grace and knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Weekly fellowship
hours after the Liturgies, congregational
dinners (many times in different locations
because we have outgrown our undercroft),
talent shows, trips to religious
productions, retreats to Camp Koinonia,
worship services on the beach, servant
events and other fellowship activities have
all been part of Redeemer parish’s life.
Bible studies and doctrinal studies on The
Book of Concord: The Confessions of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church attract many
people who desire to grow in their knowledge
of Christ and His Holy Church. Redeemer has
also been a classroom for seminarians from
Concordia Seminary in St. Louis as Pastor
Taylor has taught a course and led a
cross-cultural module for seminarians to
help them prepare for church work in urban
contexts. Seminarians and professors from
the seminary have spent time at Redeemer to
learn ways in which they can serve Christ
and His people in our nation’s ever-growing
cities.
Our 80th Anniversary theme, “Witnessing the
Living Christ,” gives us an opportunity to
reimagine our life as the Body of Christ as
we continue to be a parish of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod where "God's People
Pray." Redeemer congregation is blessed with
gifted members who, by God’s grace, dedicate
themselves to the mission of Christ Jesus.
Our 80th anniversary celebration has
included an anniversary banquet and reunion
in April, 2008; former members of Redeemer
attended this event and they were joined by
friends of Redeemer, current members of
Redeemer, President Gerald B. Kieschnick and
President David H. Benke. During the summer
of 2008, Redeemer’s sanctuary was renovated,
complementing the air conditioning of the
sanctuary that was completed a few years
earlier.
As part of our 80th anniversary celebration,
Redeemer is also intentionally assisting
other congregations and organizations in our
area. Redeemer is specifically working with
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in the
Castle Hill section of the Bronx to help
them as they receive and share God’s gifts.
As this began, Redeemer was blessed with two
interns who worked at Redeemer with Pastor
Taylor and other Redeemer members from
2009-2010. Matthew R. Gonzalez from
Concordia Seminary in St. Louis served as a
Vicar at both Redeemer and Trinity. Raquel
A. Rojas from Concordia Theological Seminary
in Ft. Wayne served as a Deaconess Intern at
both parishes. As her internship year
concluded and she became eligible for full
time service in the Church, Redeemer
extended a Divine Call to Raquel A. Rojas to
be our Deaconess. Deaconess Rojas was
commissioned and installed on September 19,
2010 by Atlantic District President David H.
Benke in the presence of many other pastors,
commissioned ministers and laypeople of the
Church. Deaconess Rojas continues to serve
with Pastor Taylor in a full-time capacity
as Redeemer endeavors to continue the work
our Lord has given us to do.
As the parish has celebrated ten years with
Pastor Taylor, the theme was “The Good
Shepherd Celebration.” The initiative
included Liturgies, concerts and other
events in addition to a fundraiser with
three goals: supporting a mission a far
away, supporting a local mission and
supporting the renovation of The Parish
House. By the end of the Good Shepherd
Celebration year, $10,000 gift was sent to
Concordia College Alabama, a $5,000 grant
was given to Trinity Lutheran Church in
Schenectady, New York and Redeemer’s Parish
House has been renovated.
We are humbled that our Lord has moved us to
love, serve and lead countless people in the
New York metropolitan area and beyond. As
“God’s People Pray,” Redeemer is “Witnessing
the Living Christ,” |
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