Dear People of  Gloria Dei,

As we make our way through the 12 days of Christmas, I write to you with so much gratitude for our community. December was an incredibly busy month (including an unwelcome bout with COVID for my family), but it was also full of blessings. Here are just a few of the things that I am grateful for: 
*We welcomed many hundreds of visitors for our 88th annual LuciaFest, our 7th annual musical tribute to O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and our Christmas Eve service;
*We raised tens of thousands of dollars through those events  (signficantly more than what we had budgeted!);
*We patched a hole in the church ceiling above the organ, which gives us time to plan and raise funds for more extensive repairs and repainting of the church ceiling;
*We completed our fall Stewardship campaign, in which the total amount pledged to the 2026 budget increased by almost 15% from 2025;
*We made end of year gifts supporting local food pantries, Christmas toy drives, and community members in need of extra support;
*We continued faithfully in worship, to include baptizing a new member of our congregation.

Thank you to everyone who gave generously of time, energy, and finances to make all of this possible. Thank you for trusting in - and being part of - God's abundant provisions for our community. I am very conscious that these signs of life and health for our community come at a time when many people and many organizations are struggling. So, as we move into a new year, please join me in giving thanks for all the blessings of the past year, and in praying about how we might continue to share those blessings with the world around us.

Are you interested in brainstorming, discussing, planning and participating in outreach and missions efforts at Gloria Dei?  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.

At our first meeting of 2026 (January 7), we will be meeting with a representative of POWER Interfaith, a local non-profit that helps churches and other faith communities organize to advocate for a better world. Their current focus is on affordable housing in Philadelphia. 

We are also looking forward to a new meal ministry, in partnership with St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in North Philadelphia. Join us in early February as we gather to cook a meal for their community (in Riverside Hall, on Thursday, February 5, at 2pm) and then delivcer and serve the meal (at St. Gabe's, on Saturday, February 7). 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). 

We are happy to announce that Adam Haines, who served as our interim organist throughout the fall, has accepted an offer to be our new permanent organist and music director. While Adam is currently enjoying a couple of weeks of time away, he will be with us regularly starting January 11. Please take the time to make him feel welcome. 

A Brief Bio from Adam:

Adam Haines is a pianist, organist, composer, and music educator whose work bridges performance, composition, and community music-making. He is thrilled to join Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church as its new organist, and is especially excited to collaborate with the congregation and clergy in creating joyful, meaningful, and spiritually enriching worship. A lifelong musician, Adam began studying piano at the age of five and has since developed a style that blends classical lyricism with contemporary expression. His original compositions are featured on two albums—Divine Whispers and Intersessions—each exploring music’s power to inspire reflection and emotional connection.

Based in the Philadelphia area, Adam serves as a public school music teacher and as a church organist and pianist, roles that allow him to share his passion for music across a wide range of settings.

Adam earned his undergraduate degree in Music from West Chester University and holds master’s degrees from Cabrini College and the University of the Arts, with a focus on educational leadership and creative practice. In his ministry at Gloria Dei—Adam strives to inspire creativity and a lifelong love of music in congregants by creating joyful and soul stirring moments in worship.

Join us for a refreshed version of our popular service.  Keep an eye out for some interesting guest guitarists, a drum circle, poems, and discussions that we hope will inspire you throughout the rest of the week. The program is led by our sextons, Jim & Paula Minacci, who work to create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere that everyone will enjoy. 

Note: Our first Musical Meditation of 2026 will take place on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6)! We will celebrate with a special liturgy, followed by food and fellowship in Riverside Hall. 

Philadelphia’s African Americans, Jews, and Catholics all made major contributions to the celebration of America’s 150th birthday. Yet each were treated very differently by the fair’s managers and by the city government, reflecting the prejudices of America in the 1920s.  Irish Catholics used the Sesqui to trumpet their emergence into the city’s power structure. Despite their major financial and organizational contributions to the fair, Jews were reviled and attacked by anti-Semites, starting with Henry Ford and his Dearborn Independent. African Americans struggled to make their presence felt despite the widespread racism of the day, only to see their major projects sabotaged by fair executives. All this against a backdrop that included eugenics, anti-immigration agitation, and a planned visit by 100,000 Ku Klux Klan members for their 1926 Klonvokation, all with the blessing of Philadelphia’s city fathers.

On January 8, 2026 at 7:00 pm, Tom Keels will describe these events at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church. Admission is $10, which includes a drink ticket for a beverage of your choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Advance registration is required.

This program will take place inside the church sanctuary, followed by a reception in Riverside Hall. For a modest donation, you can taste delicious gourmet desserts paired with wine, coffee or tea and buy copies of Mr. Keels’ books. 

This event is hosted by the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation. 100% of the funds that we raise from this event will go toward the preservation of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church and its graveyard.

About the Author

Tom Keels is a lecturer, writer, and commentator specializing in Philadelphia history and architecture. He is the author or co-author of seven published books on Philadelphia history: Sesqui! Greed, Graft, and the Forgotten World’s Fair of 1926; Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love; Forgotten Philadelphia: Lost Architecture of the Quaker City; Philadelphia Graveyards and Cemeteries; Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square; Chestnut Hill, and Philadelphia’s Golden Age of Retail (with Lawrence M. Arrigale). 

Every Monday at 9:00am, Christine Pickup leads us together in prayer. Praying together points us to Jesus. In Matthew, Jesus reminds us of the power of community prayer: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

In the late 18th century Philadelphia saw a large influx of musicians from London and other areas of the British Isles – many coming at the personal invitation of the theater impresario and composer, Alexander Reingale. Musicians who performed with Joseph Haydn and Johann Peter Salomon, who played at the Drury Lane and Saddler’s Wells Theatres, church musicians, and musicians of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens converged on the capital of the new nation, bringing skill, grit and an entrepreneurial spirit that changed the face of Philadelphia’s musical life. They founded the Musical Fund Society and cultivated musical culture, laying the groundwork for later organizations, such as The Philadelphia Orchestra.

This concert, the first in a spring concert series, will feature The Publick Pleasure playing the music of Joseph Haydn, Rayner Taylor, Benjamin Carr, JGC Schetky, Hugh Reinagle, and Ignace Pleyel.​ This event is hosted by the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation, the non-profit organization that preserves and interprets Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church and its graveyard. A portion of the proceeds from this concert will help fund these initiatives.

Jazz & Joe is a "coffee-house" style venue held in Riverside Hall. Active listening and quiet conversation is welcome throughout the evening. Refreshments are served, and attendees are welcome to BYOB. This event is free, but donations are appreciated to help defray costs. Music starts at 7:30pm, and wraps up by 9:30pm. 

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

Future dates: February 22, March 29, April 19

Thanks to a wide variety of grants and donations received in 2025 - and the incredible work of both the Property Committee and the Board of the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation - we have a number of upcoming projects to repair, maintain, and enhance our property. Here's a glimpse at some of the work that will be taking place over the coming months:

*A new roof on the south side of Riverside Hall, which will address persistent leaks in the southeast corner;
*New flooring throughout Riverside Hall;
*A stormwater management system, to include the creation of rain gardens and a resurfaced parking lot;
*A displayof historic gravestone fragments which will hang on the south wall of Rudman House (aka the rectory);
*A new window to replace the broken window on Riverside Hall;
*A new roof for the church, together with repairs to the bell tower. 

You can learn more about these efforts by talking with Rev. Chris or any Vestry Member. We're also always looking for more people to get involved in our efforts to manage the property and to seek out grants and other sources of funding. 

(Image by https://www.vectorportal.com; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Rev. Jehu Curtis Clay years...

 During the thirty-two years that Jehu Curtis Clay was rector of Gloria Dei, many changes took place. When Dr. Clay arrived, Gloria Dei was part of the United Swedish Churches, which also included St. James Kingsessing and Christ Church Upper Merion. Dr. Clay had two assistants. The Rev. Samuel C. Brinckle was assigned to Kingsessing and Rev. William N. Diehl was assigned to Upper Merion.  Dr. Clay officiated at Gloria Dei twice a month and once a month at the other two churches until 1843, when a separation of the churches took place. For a number of years Dr. Clay attended the Episcopal Diocese convention having no seat or voice. However, the Bishop of the Diocese regularly visited the three Swedish Churches holding confirmations. Gloria Dei joined the Episcopal Diocese in 1845.

When Rev. Clay arrived at Gloria Dei, the Church was as Rev. Clay referred to it “in a very feeble and depressed condition. There seemed little prospect of building up the parish.”  One of the first changes made was removing the high and uncomfortable pews. The arrangement of the pews was changed removing the center aisle. The aisle running across from the south door remained. The high old fashioned Pulpit with a sounding board was removed. With the Church more comfortable the congregation increased. So much so that four additional pews were added removing the aisle from the south door. With the increase in the congregation, plans were discussed for enlarging the Church. To add to the west end of the Church would have been too costly. It was decided to add Galleries at the cost of $500. Windows were also added to the west wall. The stained glass window was also added. Also a new organ was ordered and built by Mr. Hunter. In 1858 another organ was purchased and built by Mr. Knauff at a cost of $1,500.

Two services were held on Sundays – one in the morning and one in the afternoon and one on Wednesday evening. The Wednesday service was discontinued during May, June, July, August and September. On the third Sunday of the month the children were instructed in their catechism. Rev. Clay considered Sunday School important to the prosperity of the parish.

In December 1856, Dr. Clay preached his 25^th anniversary sermon. In the following year a house was purchased for the sexton and a two story brick building was erected for the Sunday School (Roak House location). The cost of improvements during his rectorate was about twelve thousand dollars. Dr. Clay averaged confirming twelve people each year. When he first arrived he administered the holy Eucharist to about eight people but by the 1860’s the number was up to one hundred and fifty. During the 1860’s a new building was erected for the Sunday School (Riverside Hall).

On Trinity Sunday, May 31, 1863, Dr. Clay celebrated his 50^th Anniversary of his ordination. He preached 6,750 sermons during those years. He baptized 3,440, married 2,370 couples, and buried 1,322 people. His last sermon was preached on September 27, 1863. That night Dr. Clay suffered a stroke and he died on October 20th.

January 4 – Second Sunday after Christmas

• Jeremiah 31:7-14
• Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a
• Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
• or Luke 2:41-52
• or Matthew 2:1-12
• Psalm 84 or 84:1-8

Collect: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

January 11 – First Sunday after the Epiphany, The Baptism of Our Lord

• Isaiah 42:1-9
• Acts 10:34-43
• Matthew 3:13-17
• Psalm 29

Collect: Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

January 18 – Second Sunday after the Epiphany

• Isaiah 49:1-7
• 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
• John 1:29-42
• Psalm 40:1-12

Collect: Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

January 25 – Third Sunday after the Epiphany

• Isaiah 9:1-4
• 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
• Matthew 4:12-23
• Psalm 27:1, 5-13

Collect: Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; 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.