Thank you to the more than 100 people who came to the memorial service for Paul Fejko last month! It was a beautiful celebration of his life and the impact he had on our community, and I'm so grateful for how our congregation supported Paul throughout his battle with cancer. If you were not able to attend, a recording of the service is still available on our Facebook page for the next few weeks. 

During the service, I had the opportunity to reflect on icons. As I type this, I can glance up to see a collection of icons that I keep in my office - images of Jesus and some of the saints whose lives have most inspired me. However, as I shared at Paul's service, I think it is also helpful to embrace a broader understanding of what an icon is. Theologically, an icon is a window that allows us to glimpse God's love and beauty. Understood in that sense, we are surrounded by icons: every beautiful sunset, every trip to the zoo, every act of mercy or kindness has the potential to be an icon. Understood in that sense, Paul was an icon, giving us glimpses of God's love and beauty through the beautiful music he created and his generous contributions to the life of our community. 

I hope that this understanding of icons might be helpful to you - that it might encourage you to take time in your ordinary routines to notice the icons that surround us. As Paul's story reminds us, we never know how much time we have left in this life - so take time for wonder, for awe, for joy. Look for God's presence all around you, because when we dwell in God's love and beauty, we have the opportunity to become icons as well, reflecting that love and beauty to those around us. 

Over the past year, we have been working with Brandywine Stormwater to apply for a grant from the Philadelphia Water Department. Although our first application was denied, we are thrilled to report that the second application was approved! As such, Gloria Dei will receive nearly $500,000 to install a new stormwater management system. This system will have a positive environmental impact on our property and the surrounding streets and - even more excitingly, will include some rain gardens and a resurfacing of our parking lot. 

Now that the grant has been awarded, the design process has started in earnest. Once designs are ready, representatives from Brandywine will meet with the congregation to present the designs (stay tuned for details when that meeting is scheduled!). We hope to see construction happen during the fall, and it will likely take 6-12 weeks; Brandywine assures us that the parking lot will remain usable (except during the short period when it is actually being resurfaced). 

Thanks to Cathy Ufheil for her hard work in helping to connect us with Brandywine and apply for this grant! Thanks also to Amy Grant and the board of the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation who have also received multiple recent grants (including one $10,000 grant!) in support of restorations, improvements, and new signs in our historic churchyard. 

Praying together points us to Jesus. In Matthew, Jesus reminds us of the power of community prayer:

Join us for a summer book club, where we will be reading Lydia, by Paula Gooder. Found in chapter 16 of Acts, Lydia is sometimes called the first European convert to Christianity. In Acts we learn that she was a seller of purple cloth living in the ancient city of Phillippi. While that's not much detail, Paula Gooder draws on her experience as a New Testament scholar to imagine Lydia's story. So, while it is a work of fiction, it provides an engaging opportunity to explore the life and culture of the first century, as well as the theology of Paul's letter to the church in Philippi (what we know as the book of Philippians). 

The church has ordered several copies of the book - see Rev. Chris to claim a copy.  We will meet on Tuesday evenings at 7pm, starting June 17, in the Church Library (on the first floor of the Rudman House / Rectory). Those who are unable to participate in person can join via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82785887278?pwd=czOM3FIMyYH8sTqcaVabcauCDbWDz8.1

Meeting ID: 827 8588 7278   Passcode: 726220

Are you interested in brainstorming, discussing, planning and participating in Gloria Dei missions?  We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 9:00 on Zoom (Meeting ID: 897 2826 6283   Passcode: 098374, or use the link below).  

Join Zoom Meeting: Click here to join the Zoom.

Current Outreach Efforts:

• Monthly Lunch Packing Ministry - Upcoming Dates: July 27, August 24
• Providing Recovery Bibles for Mercy Hospice (https://www.mercyhospicephilly.org/) - Donations accepted in the back of the church on Sundays, or through our website
• Collecting Donations for the Food Pantry at Snyder Avenue Congregational Church, which serves many local immigrant and refugee families (see downloadable list for the most requested items) - Donation basket available in the back of the church
• Volunteering with the Philadelphia Ukranian Cathedral to provide clothing to Ukranian Immigrants and Refugees and meals to people on the streets of Kensington

If you have any questions, or want to get more invovled, please contact Jill Duink (jillddd@hotmail.com) or Rev. Chris (rector@old-swedes.org). 

Join us on National Pennsylvania Day as we dive into the world of native plants at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church. Our dedicated volunteer native garden members, who launched this native greening initiative in 2023, will lead educational garden tours and hands-on planting demonstrations that go back to our earliest known ancestors.

You’ll discover how the Lenape people, who thrived in this land for millennia, used these remarkable plants. Plus, you’ll learn about Swedish botanist Pehr Kalm’s visit to Gloria Dei Church in the mid-18th century, and enjoy his vivid accounts of the lush flora that once filled this terrain. Finally, we’ll teach you how to cultivate these sustainable plants in your own garden space.

This event is free, but registration is required. See the link below. 
Hosted by the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation.

On June 2, 1700, Philadelphia’s Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church had its “grand opening.” Celebrate its 325th anniversary with a guided tour led by historian and archivist Jeanette Woehr.

It is easy to imagine the past when you visit Gloria Dei Church. Located on nearly five acres of green space, this national historic site predates the arrival of William Penn and the founding of Pennsylvania. The present day church was built between 1698 and 1703 to serve a parish of European settlers who lived along the banks of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers. Today it serves as a link to a nearly forgotten history. Woehr will describe the history of this church, from its founding to the present day, and talk about many important historical figures who worshipped here or are buried in the graveyard.

Tour participants will meet inside the church building at noon. The tour should take about an hour. Rain or Shine. Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased at the link below.

Please join us on a monthly basis to pack meals for people in need in Kensington. Lunches are packed in Riverside Hall immediately following Sunday services. The meals are then delivered to Prevention Point for distribution. To learn more about the work of Prevention Point, see their website at: https://ppponline.org

            Did you ever wonder what buildings were like in colonial times? To find the answer you only have to look at the outside of the church. By looking at the brick patterns on the building you can almost imagine how the church was put together. Let's start with the simple glazed brick diamond patterns on both sides of the door as you enter church. The design is a decorative technique used by 17th and 18th century English brick masons in the Delaware Valley country brick houses. Remember the Church was in the country in 1700. 
            If you look at different parts of the church building you will notice different types of brick work. Gloria Dei's first pastor, Andreas Rudman, who directed the construction of this church, noted the use of glazed header bricks in the Flemish bond brickwork. There are three bonds found in the church walls.  According to Historical Architect Penelope Batcheler Flemish bond (alternating headers and stretchers in each course) is the bond most used in the principle facades of early Philadelphia houses. A second bond used is the English bond (alternating courses of all headers and all stretchers) is also found in Philadelphia facades. The third bond, Common bond, is made up of three to seven stretcher courses and then a header course is inserted to tie the brick wall together. In 1803 masons used six stretcher courses between each header course.
            Take a look at the southwest corner of the church. You will notice the use of the English bond brickwork in the western wall and glazed header Flemish bond in the south wall. Continue around the church to the south and look at the corner of the church and extended porch or entrance. You will notice that the English bond bricks (1704) do not line up with the Flemish bond bricks (1700).  In 1803 the brick tower was completed. Return to the church entrance and look up about 26-28 feet and you will notice an English bond. Above that point Common bond was used to complete the tower. So if you want to impress your friends just bond with the walls. (Info from Penelope Batcheler, 3/18/2000)

We are taking a break for the summer, but please join us on Tuesday, September 9 at 6:00pm for our fall session.

Jazz & Joe is taking a summer vacation. Please join us again on September 25 at 7:30pm.

July 6 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Isaiah 66:10-14
Psalm 66:1-8
Galatians 6:(1-6)7-16
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Collect: O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

July 13 - Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Psalm 25:1-9
Colossians 1:1-14
Luke 10:25-37

Collect: O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

July 20 - Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Genesis 18:1-10a
Psalm 15
Colossians 1:15-28
Luke 10:38-42

Collect: Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

July 27 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Genesis 18:20-32
Psalm 138
Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19)
Luke 11:1-13

Collect: O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our service is comprised of uplifting music, Episcopal worship and spiritual/biblical teachings. While we are always a work in progress, Gloria Dei strives to be a place where all will feel welcome in faith and spirit.