One of my very favorite Easter memories comes from an evening about 10 years ago. For many years, Heather and I had a tradition of hosting a large Easter gathering of anyone who didn’t have local family to celebrate with. After the beautiful services at our church, people flooded our home, bringing all manner of delicious food – as well as an abundance of laughter and joy. The party went on all afternoon and into the evening, but eventually we had to call an end to the festivities and put the kids to bed. Just a little while later, however, I was passing a bedroom door and I heard one of our boys talking to his favorite stuffed animal: “The Lord is risen, Blue Dog! He is risen indeed!”

It was an adorable moment – and it is also a reminder for me that Easter is good news for all of creation, even stuffed animals. Every time we look at the news, we are reminded of all the ways that our world is broken, and about how often children end up suffering. Too often, the world does not allow kids to hold on to the faith and hope and love that was expressed in my son’s conversation with his stuffed animal. But the good news of Easter is that these virtues really are greater than the brokenness that so often surrounds us.

On the cross, Jesus confronted the powers of sin and death, choosing to walk a path of sacrificial love and forgiveness. That choice cost him his life, and the sealing of his tomb could have been an indictment of the ultimate futility of faith and hope and love. But the resurrection announces to all creation that the power of God’s love cannot be contained by the grave. It says that faith will be rewarded, that hope will be fulfilled, and that love ultimately wins. This is why Easter is such a big deal – and why we get to spend a total of 50 days celebrating the resurrection.

So, throughout this coming season, I invite you to join us in celebrating the good news of Easter, and to ask what the resurrection of Jesus means in your life. Are there places where you have been struggling to hold on to faith? Are you close to losing hope about certain circumstances in your life or in our world? Do you find yourself questioning whether the way of love is really a coherent response to the challenges you face? The Spirit of God – the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead and whose ongoing work we will celebrate at Pentecost – is ready to meet you in those vulnerable places. So, please, join us in celebration, but also join us in looking for the new ways that God is at work in our lives, and in this community, and in the world around us.

One night only! Listen to the masterful sounds of E.J. Simpson, and his tribute to the Broadway hit Jesus Christ Superstar. Doors open at 7:00, show begins at 8:00. Beverages and snacks will be available, as well as some cool vendors selling their wares. Don't miss it!

Click here to buy tickets!

Join the Ministers of Apollo in a unique concert featuring songs, sonatas, keyboard works, and other pieces interspersed with quotations from the Washington family. With these delightful and informative pieces, the Ministers will provide a facsimile of a late 18th century concert in America. The concert will begin at 2:30 with a Q&A to follow at 3:30.

Admission is $20 per adult, $15 per student with ID and $5 for children under 12. The price includes a drink ticket for a beverage of your choice (alcoholic – adults only) or non-alcoholic.

Meet-and-Mingle afterward at Riverside Hall

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 there … and pair them with wine, coffee or tea while you chat with the performers.

Ministers of Apollo 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.

Bring a fellow music-lover and share beautiful music in a spectacular, historic setting.

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. 

As you may be aware, the Vestry is the governing body of the church. Consisting of 9 elected members, the Vestry meets monthly with Rev. Chris to shape our communal vision and priorities - to include creating and appoving an annual budget. This year, we will have four open Vestry positions, and you are highly encouraged to consider running for one of those spots. This can be a great way of serving the community and of getting more involved - and we very much want a group that reflects the diversty of people who are part of the broader Gloria Dei community.  To be eligle to run, you need to be at least 18 years old, have worshiped at Gloria Dei for at least a year, and have contributed financially in the past year to the well being of this community. If you are interested, please contact Rev. Chris or any current Vestry member.

Every other Sunday, Rev. Chris Micklewright and Carol Jenkins will be leading an adventure on church grounds for kids of all ages. These adventures, which will include things like climbing the bell tower and exploring the graveyard, are a chance to learn about the life of the church, to have some fun, and to talk about faith. Immediately following the 10:00am Sunday service, kids are invited to grab a snack and gather in Riverside Hall while Rev. Chris gets ready, and we will plan to be back at Riverside Hall before noon. Parents are welcome to come along if that helps your kids feel more comfortable.

On Mondays at 9:00am, Christine Pickup will lead a ten minute prayer, following the Morning Devotion service in the Book of Common Prayer. Please join in this simple, devotional service and start your day in a peaceful way.

Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

or use:

Meeting ID: 748 3341 8409

Passcode: 8C3fDK

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 clean up of the grounds in honor of Earth Day (even if it is only for one hour!). If you have your own gloves, please bring them. Lunch is supplied for all of the volunteers!

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. 

Please note: Jazz & Joe is not held in March, July, August, November, December.

Have you ever wandered the graveyard at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church and wondered about the people buried there? Now is your chance to find out.

The Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of our official Old Swedes Self-Guided Graveyard Tours app. This app is available for free and without advertisements in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It can be used on smartphones and tablets.

Featuring interactive maps and over 65 biographical sketches, you will learn something new every time you visit Old Swedes’ Church. 

Plus, throughout the year, enjoy limited edition tours on special topics such as Women’s History Month, World Art Day, National Author’s Day and World Maritime Day.

There’s more. We’re also celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary as a non-profit organization. For $20, join us for a fun evening featuring graveyard tours, gourmet food, a silent auction and a wine tasting contest.

100% of the proceeds from ticket sales support the preservation and restoration of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church and its graveyard.

So come out, celebrate our anniversary, and learn how to use our new free app.

This app project was made possible thanks to the support of QVNA and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. We are also grateful to our volunteer board members who worked tirelessly on research, writing, designing and programming the app.

Please plan to attend this year's annual meeting! Elections for new Vestry members will be held, and the annual report will be made available. There will also be a time for questions and discussion about the annual report and about the life of the Gloria Dei community. 

If you have any items that you would like to see included or addressed in the Annual Report, please contact Rev. Chris (rector@old-swedes.org) or our Parish Administrator, Christine McBride (info@old-swedes.org), as soon as possible. 

The Spring Flea Market is approaching! Come on out and check out all of the goodies, rain or shine. Runs 8:00am- 3:00pm, on the sidewalk surrounding Old Swedes'.

VENDORS: Set-up is between 6:00am - 8:00am. No reservations, spots are first come, first served. 6 foot spaces are marked off in chalk. When you arrive, pick out an empty spot and set yourself up. Someone from the parish will come around to collect your $25 fee and give you a receipt. You may park underneath 95 for the duration of the flea market, enter at the Washington Avenue gate. (Any cars left after 5:00pm will be ticketed). There will be volunteers to lend a hand. This event will be held rain or shine - if it rains we move everything underneath 95. 

For the past nine years, Bishop Michael Curry has served as the Presiding Bishop for the Episcopal Church - a nationwide position of leadership for the church. If you haven't encountered Bishop Curry, it's well worth looking up some of his sermons and videos online - he is a fantastic communicator and is incredibly passionate about Jesus. However, Bishop Curry's term as Presiding Bishop is coming to an end this fall, and the church will elect the next Presiding Bishop at our General Convention in June. 

This week, it was announced that our Bishop, Daniel Gutiérrez, is one of the four candidates who have been nominated to run for the role of Presiding Bishop. You can read more about it on the diocesan website here. In the coming months, please pray for the church and for Bishop Gutiérrez as we seek to discern who God is calling to next fill this important role. 

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.

April 7 - Second Sunday of Easter

• Acts 4:32-35
• 1 John 1:1-2:2
• John 20:19-31
• Psalm 133

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 14 - Third Sunday of Easter

• Acts 3:12-19
• 1 John 3:1-7
• Luke 24:36b-48
• Psalm 4

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 21 - Fourth Sunday of Easter

• Acts 4:5-12
• 1 John 3:16-24
• John 10:11-18
• 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.

April 28 - Fifth Sunday of Easter

• Acts 8:26-40
• 1 John 4:7-21
• John 15:1-8
• Psalm 22:24-30

Collect: Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.