Dear People of Gloria Dei,

When I have the privilege of working with a couple to prepare for marriage, one of the first questions I ask them is “What were some of the core values for your family of origin?” For most folks, it takes a bit of reflection to identify these values; they often operate under the surface, shaping the way that we think and act without being spoken aloud. For example, it wasn’t until I was in seminary that I recognize duty as one of my family’s core values. This makes sense, with my father being a naval aviator and our moving to a new duty station every few years. However, as much as it shapes the way that I continue to perceive and interact with the world, it wasn’t a value that we regularly named or discussed.

Especially because they often go unnamed, identifying core values can help us to understand ourselves, and to be more intentional about how we act and react to the world around us. To draw on my own story again, naming duty as a core value helps me to recognize that I sometimes place my sense of duty above my own well-being; while there may be times when that it worth doing, I must be aware of my own limitations in order to establish sustainable patterns of life and ministry. At the congregational level, being clear about our core values also helps others to understand us, and allows us better welcome newcomers into community with us. Finally, understanding our core values helps us to discern where God might be calling us in the future, and to decide how we might best use our energy and resources.

For all these reasons, I believe it is time for our congregation to identify and embrace our core values. This is something that the Vestry has begun to do in conversations over the past few months, but it is also a central part of the work we will be doing on our upcoming parish vision day. If you are able to be present, I hope that you will make a point to join in the conversation and discernment on June 14. If you are not able to be there in person, please feel free to reach out to me or to your Vestry members to share your thoughts. And, in either case, please be praying for our community as we take these steps into the future.

With love and in prayer,

Rev. Chris

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: 831 8432 8558   Passcode: 683663, or use the link below).  
Join Zoom Meeting: Click here to join the Zoom.

Current Outreach Efforts - 

• Collecting Donations for the Food Pantry
  at Snyder Avenue Congregational Church, which serves many local immigrant and refugee families. Donation basket is available in the back of the church.
• Collaborations with POWER Interfaith
  in their ongoing campaign to address the issue of affordable housing (and affordability in general) in the city of Philadelphia. Join us in attending monthly meetings, and contact Rev. Chris for details (rector@old-swedes.org). 
• Caring for those on the streets of Kensington 
  through our monthly meal packing ministry, and through upcoming collaborations with the Clare Project (more details to be announced soon).

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

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.”
We are currently using the The Morning Prayer from Northumbria Community Celtic Daily Prayer,which is available at this link.

Click Here to Join the Zoom Meeting!

Join us in preparing a meal for the community at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in North Philadelphia, a ministry that we are providing every other month (a network of churches ensure meals are provided each week). More importantly, providing this meal empowers a long-running outreach ministry that St. Gabe's does for their surrounding community! RSVP to Rev. Chris if you are able to do so, but also feel free to just show up! If you’d like to help with planning and shopping - or with delivering and serving the meal - also reach out to Rev. Chris.

Join the Episcopal Church at the Philly Pride Festival & March on June 7! Episcopal churches in Philadelphia will march in the parade and sponsor a table at the festival to show our support for the LGBTQ+ community and spread God’s message of love. The march will begin this year in the Gayborhood and move to the festival, which will be held on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Our group will assemble for the march around 10:30 am, with the parade scheduled to begin at 11 AM. We will also sponsor a table from Noon until 6:00 pm. If you are interested in marching in the parade or signing up for a shift at the festival table, please fill out this online form at https://tinyurl.com/episcopalchurchpride and we will provide more details. If you have any questions, please contact Lauri Cielo at St. Peter's Church at cielo@stpetersphila.org.

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. Historian and archivist Jeanette Woehr will describe the history of this church, from its founding to the present day, and talk about many important historical figures who worshiped here or are memorialized in the graveyard.

Tour participants will meet inside the church building at 1:00 pm. The tour should take about an hour. Rain or Shine. Tickets are $15 each. Advanced registration is required.

As we head into the summer months, our calendar is a little bit lighter - and it's well worth looking back at all the incredible events that we hosted this spring. We've had a host of weddings, numerous historical concerts, lectures, and tours sponsored by Preserve Old Swedes, a pancake brunch, a book group, several jazz performances, the 10th performance of Jesus Christ Superstar, a movie in the graveyard, and the fabulous Memorial Dei picnic! And, that list doesn't even count our weekly services or the special services for Lent and Holy Week. 

None of this would be possible without your energy, creativity, and passion - so thank you so much to all who have planned and volunteered and made this community such a delight. (And, apologies to those whose events and efforts we failed to highlight above!). While there is too much going on now for anyone to be part of everything, please do take time to ask each other about recent events, and to say thanks for the gifts that have been shared; this recognition means so much, and is an important mark of healthy and supportive communities. 

We will see everyone again in the fall for Tuesday night Musical Meditation. Enjoy your summer!

For five weeks this summer, we will be exploring the stories of some of the great women of the Old Testament (Eve, Hagar, Bathsheba, etc...). For this discussion series, we will be drawing on the widsom and insight of the book Womanist Midrash, by Episcopal priest and biblical scholar Wil Gafney. Rev. Gafney's approach to Scripture is imaginative, inclusive, and liberating, helping to highlight people and perspectives that are too often overlooked.

We'll kick off on Tuesday, June 9, at 6pm. A schedule of readings and discussion topics is available on our website, as well as a download of readings for the first week. That said, you don't have to keep up with the reading (or attend all of the sessions) in order to participate! Come as you are and join in what is sure to be engaging conversation. Folks are welcome to participate in person or on Zoom (Meeting ID: 870 6901 5735;   Passcode: 299377;   link on the website). 

Join us again for Movies in the Graveyard in 2026!

Our first showing, held on May 29, was a great success - with a host of neighbors and parishioners coming out to enjoy Rear Window. The next showing will be Plan 9 from Outer Space, on June 11. 
Free popcorn included in the price of a ticket. Beverages will be sold.
Bring a chair, bring a blanket, bring a friend!
Click here to buy tickets

Over the past few months, the Vestry has been having conversations about forming a vision for our church for the coming years - and the whole congregation is now invited to take part in the conversation! On this afternoon, we will share a meal and consider questions such as: 
*What is our current identity?
*What current programs and ministries best express who we are and what we are called to do?
*What might God be calling us to do and be in the future? 
*What should we be doing now to help us continue to grow and thrive in 5 years?

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: July 26, August 30, September 27

Please note: this is the last Jazz & Joe until September!

Jazz & Joe is a "coffee-house" style venue. 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. 

Jazz & Joe is not held in July, August, November, December.

Rev. Jacob Fabritius 1677-1693

Churches proved to be easier to come by than clergy,  and Reverend Lock preached alternately in four churches. Eventually, he became so feeble that the parish had to find an assistant. The newcomer Rev. Jacob Fabritius was from the Lutheran Church in New York where he was without any assured position. Rev. Fabritius was born in Grosglogau (modern-day Poland). He arrived in New York in 1669 to take over Dutch Lutheran churches in Albany and New York City. His behavior alienated the church elders who described him as a turbulent fellow prone to violent outbursts. The elders also noted he was fond of wine, brandy, and profanity. He wore bright red clothes and dressed his stepchildren in matching red attire. In 1674, his wife Annetje, successfully sued him in a New York court for marital cruelty after he forced her to sleep in a freezing garret. Rev. Fabritius was suspended for a time in September 1675. Fabritius also made progressive moves by baptizing and welcoming Emmanuel, an African American man into full church membership in New York in 1669. Fabritius was always in disagreement with his wife and his parishioners, and therefore glad of the opportunity to move to the Philadelphia area.  He preached mostly in Dutch, but had mastered the Swedish language that he could intelligibly hold service in it.  He preached his first sermon in Wicaco on Trinity Sunday 1677. It was in Dutch, a language which all the Swedes evidently understood. Five years later Fabritius had the misfortune to go blind, but he continued to discharge his duties until his death nine years later. Nevertheless he watched over his congregations according to his ability. However, there are no records during his tenure. He resided above Philadelphia, in the place called Kensington. By the aid of a dugout canoe he went to Wicacoa even sometimes continuing about 25 miles downriver to the church at Tinicum. He made his way to the church by holding onto a stick held out by his escort. Rev. Jacob Fabritius died in 1693 and was buried in the block house in front of the altar.

June 7 – Second Sunday after Pentecost

Collect: O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 33:1-12
Romans 4:13-25
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

June 14 – Third Sunday after Pentecost

Collect: Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7)
Psalm 116:1, 10-17
Romans 5:1-8
Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23)

June 21 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Collect: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Genesis 21:8-21
Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
Romans 6:1b-11
Matthew 10:24-39

June 28 - Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Collect: Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Genesis 22:1-14
Psalm 13
Romans 6:12-23
Matthew 10:40-42

Sunday Services are held in-person at Gloria Dei Church every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Afterwards, join us for coffee and conversation at our Fellowship hour inside Riverside Hall. If you cannot attend in-person, you are welcome to join us on Facebook for the live-stream (https://www.facebook.com/gloriadeioldswedes).

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.