Day Of Remembrance
Our 293rd Day of Remembrance Service (Gedächtnistag) will be held at Schwenkfelder Missionary Church on Sunday, September 26 at 3 PM. The Address is: 29 West Tulpehocken Street Philadelphia, PA 19144. See website: https://www.smcallaboutchrist.org/
The Schwenkfelder Missionary Church meets in the Aulenbach House on 29 West Tulpehocken Street in Philadelphia
We welcome all to this, the longest standing, continuous thanksgiving service in the nation! Those who may be especially interested are those who appreciate early American Christianity, are Schwenkfelder descendants, value Christianity that endures persecution, or are interested in offering thanks to a God who is most gracious.
Listen to several of our ministers (Rev. Nick Pence, Palm Schwenkfelder and Rev. Leslie Mamas, Olivet Schwenkfelder United Church of Christ) reflect on the Day of Remembrance:
How did this service begin?
Our Day of Remembrance Service (Gedächtnistag) is a special day for Schwenkfelders. It is a memory day to pay tribute to the exiled followers of Caspar Schwenckfeld who came to Pennsylvania between 1731 to 1737. Although some died on the voyage, just under 200 immigrants survived the Atlantic Ocean crossing, arriving September 22, 1734. Two days later, on September 24th, they gathered in Philadelphia to give thanks to Almighty God for their safe deliverance with a meal of bread, butter, apple butter and cider.
Every year since that day, Schwenkfelders have gathered together, first on the actual anniversary day and now on Sunday closest to September 24 to honor those pioneers. Changes have taken place over the years. Water has been substituted for cider, and it has been reduced from an all-day event to an afternoon gathering for maintaining tradition with a devotional service and a retelling of the voyage and first Gedächtnistag. It is thought to be the longest continuous thanksgiving service held in the United States.
Our Day of Remembrance service for 2027 will be held at Olivet Schwenkfelder United Church of Christ on Sunday September 26, 2027 at 3:00. The church address is: 619 Township Line Road in East Norriton, PA 19403. Website: https://osuccpa.org/
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Bread, butter and apple-butter play an unusual role in Schwenkfelder culture.
The only fare provided at the traditional meal consists of water, bread, butter and apple-butter. The simple fare served at these thanksgiving services stands in stark contrast to the bountiful meals generally associated with giving of thanks. This intriguing question posed by all of this is: why bread, butter and apple-butter?
Unfortunately, we have no certain knowledge of the circumstances nor do we know that this traditional fare was the one that was served the first year. It may well be, as has been suggested that this was all that the immigrants could afford only two days after their arrival in Philadelphia.
When the Services are held at the Palm Schwenkfelder Church, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew G. Kriebel, Hereford, Pa., have, in recent years, been making apple-butter, and have kindly given us their recipe which is below.
Apple Butter
5 pails (12 qts.) sour apples
4 pails water
30 lbs. sugar
1 and 1/2 tbsp. ground allspice
1 and 1/2 tbsp. ground cloves
1 and 1/2 tbsp. ground cinnamon
Peel, core, quarter and cut apples crosswise. Cook in water till fine and mushy, stirring at intervals. Add sugar and cook approx. 3 and 1/2 hrs., stirring constantly till desired thickness is obtained. Spices should be added (mixed with a little of the butter first) about 1/2 hour before butter is supposedly done. Butter is thick enough when a small amount is dipped on the saucer and liquid does not run around or away from it. Makes 10 to 11 gallons. May be put in jars and sealed.
Watch a recent Day of Remembrance Service, hosted by the Schwenkfelder Missionary Church: