Worship with us in-person or via livestream on Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

Calling all Easter bunny helpers – we will prepare the Easter eggs following the 10am service on Palm Sunday,
April 2nd.

Join in our joyous celebration of Easter with a children’s egg hunt in the churchyard following Easter morning service on April 9th!

What Do Eggs Have to Do with Easter?

The tradition of dyeing and decorating Easter eggs is ancient, and its origin is obscure, but it has been practiced in both the Eastern Orthodox and the Western churches since the Middle Ages. The church prohibited the eating of eggs during Holy Week, but chickens continued to lay eggs during that week, and the notion of specially identifying those as Holy Week eggs brought about their decoration. The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolized new life emerging from the eggshell.

Join us in Riverside Hall for a communal meal as we re-create the story of Passover and remember that Christ celebrated this Jewish feast on the evening of the Last Supper.

Since it is a communal meal, please bring something you can share with others…a bottle of wine, a loaf of crusty bread, a dessert, (store-bought or otherwise) a box of after-dinner mints, some soft drinks….and let us know if you are coming so we can gather enough food for all of us!

The most important thing to celebrate is that we are all back together at Seder….again!!

Please e-mail or call me to let me know if you plan to come.

Cathy Ufheil

newamcat@aol.com

609 953 1667

• Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
• John 13:1-17, 31b-35
• Psalm 116:1, 10-17

Collect: Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

• Isaiah 52:13-53:12
• Hebrews 10:16-25
• John 18:1-19:42
• Psalm 22

Collect: Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Join us for a refreshed version of our popular service. Don't worry, it isn't entirely different! Paul Fejko will still be performing on our beautiful Hook & Hastings organ. 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 will be led by our sextons, Jim & Paula Minacci, who want to create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere that everyone will enjoy. 

On Mondays at 9:00am, Megan Bartlett will lead a ten minute prayer, following the Morning Devotion service in the Book of Common Prayer. We lift up to God our personal and parish needs, as we search for a new Rector. 

Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

or use:

Meeting ID: 909 012 0129

Passcode: 1U029q 

If you have the BCP,  turn to page 137.

If you don't have a paper copy, this is the link to Morning Devotion as a PDF.. 

Join us for a very special service and concert held during our regular Sunday service. Stay for fellowship afterwards and a meet & greet with the children.

Come enjoy beautiful music from the 17th century inside Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church, 916 S. Swanson Street (Columbus Blvd. and Christian Street), 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, April 16, in the Queen Village section of Philadelphia.  

Filament, a chamber music baroque ensemble, will play “From the Source” in one of their favorite venues. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

This trio of Philadelphia-based period-instrument soloists features Evan Few (violin), Elena Kauffman (viola da gamba) and John Walthausen (harpsichord).

For this special program, Filament will interpret never-heard-before handwritten copies of unpublished 17th-century manuscripts. The result: a completely unique classical music experience.

You’ll quickly learn why Filament was selected by Early Music America to take part in its 2021 Emerging Artists Showcase. 

Fervor and delight

BroadStreetReview.com says: “The trio plays with a fervor and delight that make early music seem current, and their easy, joyful communication allows the musical intricacies to be clearly heard and followed.” 

Admission is $20 per adult and $5 for children under 12, which includes a drink ticket for a beverage of your choice (alcoholic or non-alcoholic).

This concert will take place inside the church sanctuary, followed by a reception in nearby Riverside Hall. For a modest donation, you can treat yourself to delicious gourmet desserts and pair them with wine, coffee or tea while you chat with the performers.

From the Source is hosted by the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation. Some proceeds from this event will go toward the preservation of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church and its graveyard. Plan to attend and bring a companion.

 7:00pm

Click here to join the Zoom

OR use:  Meeting ID: 856 1499 7430

                Passcode: 706722

OR cut and paste into browser:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85614997430?pwd=aXlCYUhieXRxeDYvNHRZZzBPeVNpZz09

OR dial in:  1 929 205 6099 

Click here to buy tickets!

Doors open at 7:00, show starts at 8:00.

Sexton Sideshow presents: E.J. Simpson performing the ever-popular "Jesus Christ Superstar: One Man Twelve Guitars". 

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. 

Back by popular demand! Join the Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Preservation Corporation on Saturday, Apr. 29, for a historical walking tour of Philadelphia’s Headhouse Square, led by researcher and writer Michael Schreiber. 

This area of South Second Street, became a central marketplace in the 1740s, serving the fast-growing area around Society Hill. In subsequent years, a colorful assortment of men and women could be seen within the market shambles — farmers from the “Neck,” French and Haitian pastry cooks, Irish revolutionaries, gentlemen merchants, foreign diplomats, and tavern brawlers and thieves. Schreiber will describe many of these characters and their adventures.

Tour participants will meet at the plaza at 2nd and Lombard at 1 p.m. (If it is raining, we will meet under the Shambles on 2nd Street, between Lombard and Pine). The tour should take under two hours. The tour will be limited to 30 people; if more apply, the organizers will consider repeating the event on a date to be determined. Rain or Shine. Tickets are $15 each.

Are you a history buff who loves food and libations? If so, join the Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation for Spirits and History.

You’ll be treated to a guided churchyard tour where you will hear stories about several of our illustrious permanent residents. These early settlers came to what is now Philadelphia to seek commerce with the Lenape long before William Penn arrived:

• Anders Svensson Boude
• Sven Gunnarsson
• Mary Robeson
• Rev. Andreas Rudman
• Olof Stille (Stilley)
• Peter Gunnarsson Rambo
• Andris Souplis

Inside Riverside Hall, sample spirits from local distilleries, hors d’oeuvres from local chefs and enter a wine auction to help raise funds to restore the property.

Plus, enjoy live jazz music courtesy of the Jazz Sanctuary.

And the best part: proceeds from the event will help us preserve and restore the Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church property.

The annual meeting and vestry elections will take place on Sunday, May 7th.   If you have any interest in running for Vestry for the upcoming term, and have any questions, please talk to a current Vestry member.  

Flea Market is from 8:00 - 3:00, rain or shine. Come down and find some treasures and enjoy the food trucks! 

Vendors: set up is from 6:00 - 8:00am. Choose a chalked-off space (6 foot) and set up your table. A parishioner will come around about 10:30am to take your $25 fee. Limited parking will be available underneath 95, entrance at the gate on Washington Avenue.

Please join me in congratulating Ruth Duink and Giovanna (Gigi) Eisenstein on completing their confirmation coursework! It has been a blessing teaching them (and learning from them!). They will be confirmed by the Rt. Rev. Daniel G. P. Gutierrez, Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, on Sunday, April 23rd at 11am at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. All are welcome to join us for worship there that day. If you can't join us, please keep Gigi and Ruth in your prayers. May they be open to the Love so freely offered by God. May we, the congregation of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes'), continue to support them as they seek to live out their baptismal vows.

Thank you to Sarah and Leo Eisenstein and Jill Duink, parents of the confirmands, for their flexibility with all the scheduling changes over the last 18 months. Special thanks to Rev. Koshy Mathews for the sessions he taught in the first half of the coursework. Much gratitude also goes to Heather Myers and Carol Jenkins for their role as mentors to Ruth and Gigi.

Peace and blessings!

--Megan Bartlett

We are giving Mercy Hospice copies of their favorite recovery books with proceeds from our Lenten disciplines. Green envelopes with donations (and copies of the books we have purchased to date!) are in the back of the church. You can put the envelopes directly into the Sunday collection basket. You may also donate online on our website under the heading "Give". Please be sure you mark your online donation "recovery bible".

April 2 – Palm Sunday, Sunday of the Passion

The Liturgy of the Palms

Matthew 21:1-11

The Liturgy of the Word

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Philippians 2:5-11

Psalm 31:9-16

Collect: Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

April 9 – Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34-43

Colossians 3:1-4

Matthew 28:1-10

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Collect: O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

April 16 – Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a,22-32

1 Peter 1:3-9

John 20:19-31

Psalm 16

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

April 23 – Third Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a,36-41

1 Peter 1:17-23

Luke 24:13-35

Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17

Collect: O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

April 30 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:42-47

1 Peter 2:19-25

John 10:1-10

Psalm 23

Collect: O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.