Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries

04/30/2025

Welcome Zigmas!

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas!

11/22/2024

It was great to welcome pastors today from our English district sister congregations for a time of worship and study.

04/24/2024

Welcome to our new vicar. We are looking forward to Adam joining us this summer.

03/31/2024

“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.’

So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.’

So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

- Mark 16:1-8

Alleluia! He has risen!

03/30/2024

Holy Saturday often gets over looked, however it’s an important part of Holy Week. While others have used the events of Holy Saturday to discuss the harrowing of hell and try it with other ideas, perhaps, Luther puts it best when He says:

We of course, have to grasp all things which we cannot really know through images… Therefore, I believe… in this case that Christ personally destroyed hell and bound the devil whether with banners, portals, doors, and chains were made of wood or iron or did not exist at all. It doesn’t depend on whether I hang on to what is depicted with the image but rather that I believe these things of Christ. Believing in him is the chief thing. It is useful and gives the power that we have from this: that neither hell nor the devil can take us and all others who believe on him captive nor can they do us harm.”

Remember today and find an Easter Vigil service if you can.

03/29/2024

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”

- John 19:28-42

Photos by Vicar Alexander Ogden
‘The Dead Christ Supported by Two Putti’,
by Carlo Crivelli, 1470s

03/29/2024

On Good Friday we remember our Lord’s crucifixion. On the cross we behold the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. And there in agony, He heals as He is wounded.

O’ come let us worship Him.

03/28/2024

So much happens on Maundy Thursday. From the washing of the disciples feet, to the upper room discourse, to the institution of the Lord’s Supper, to the garden and betrayal of Judas.

But perhaps, it is fitting for us to remember why today is called Maundy Thursday. Maundy means “mandate”, which is a reference to the new commandment Jesus gives to His disciples – to love one another. We would do well to remember that mandate in our own lives as we interact with our neighbors and strangers alike. We learn how to love from the actions of Christ Himself. For He demonstrates what it means to “have no greater love than this, that one lay down his life for his friends… I call you friends.”

03/24/2024

Today is Palm Sunday and also marks the beginning of Holy Week.

As we enter Holy Week we remember the Passion of our Lord. During this week we meditate on and anticipate the events that will transpire. While we march towards Golgotha today takes a somewhat joyous tone as the church cries out, “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

02/23/2024

02/14/2024

While today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, it also happens to be St. Valentine’s Day.

But did you know that there are actually two St. Valentines commemorated on this day? One is from Terni and the other from Rome. Both have become, despite secularization, icons of love because of their actions.

One of the Valentines would perform marriages of soldiers (which was illegal in the Roman Empire at the time), and has since become associated with romantic love. However, we would do well to reflect on the love of the Divine. as Lent begins. Perhaps, it is fitting that this year Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day as well. Though Lent is a penitential season, we would do well to “rend our hearts” (as Joel 2:13 says) and recognize that “my soul has found the One whom it loves” (Song of Songs 3:4).

Let us then begin our Lenten journey with love, the love of God, who sent His only Son into this world because of His love for humanity. Remember that you are but dust and yet God loves you. So begin your Lent with a meditation in the divine love that God has for you, and respond in a proper way. Remember that it is “God who so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son…”