Moravian Traditions
Lovefeast
A Lovefeast is a service dedicated to agape, or Christian love,
considered the greatest of virtues. A Lovefeast seeks to remove social
barriers and strengthen the spirit of unity and goodwill among all
people. The first Lovefeast was served in Germany on August 13, 1727,
following the Renewal of the Moravian Church. The Lovefeast is not
the sacrament of Communion. It is styled after the common meal
partaken in love and fellowship by the early Church (described in the
Book of Acts) prior to their celebration of the Lord's Supper
(Communion).
The traditional American Lovefeast consists of a sweetened bun and
coffee, but the food and drink may vary considerably. It is served to the
participants in the pews by Dieners (German for servers). After all have
been served, a table grace is said, and then all partake together.
During the meal, music may be offered by the choir, the organist or
others, or participants may be asked to pray in love for one another, or
people may speak quietly with their neighbors about their spiritual
journey. Other than the common meal, the Lovefeast is a service
largely of music, chiefly the singing of hymns of love and fellowship. It
is a Singstunde which incorporates a simple meal.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
This beautiful service, now adopted in one form or another by many
Christian denominations, originated in a Moravian children's service.
During this service of song and scripture readings, handmade beeswax
candles decorated with a red paper frill are distributed to each
worshiper. The beeswax candles have been variously described as
symbolizing the purity of Christ, the sacrifice of Christ as the light of the
world. The candles are lit while the worship space is darkened except
for a large illuminated Moravian Advent Star. Led by a child, we sing the
antiphonal hymn, "Morning Star, O Cheering Sight". In some
congregations, after the last hymn, the worshipers carry their lighted
candles out into the dark world.
The tradition of having dozens or hundreds of congregants, young and
old, often in an old building, holding lit candles while managing a
hymnbook entails another tradition in some localities - the annual battle
with the community fire marshal. Nevertheless, this cherished
traditional service will likely continue for another several hundred
years.
Moravian Star
The 26-pointed Moravian Advent Star, lit from within by an electric bulb,
is beloved by Moravians all over the world. The Star stands as both a
symbol of awaiting the promised coming of Christ during the Advent
season, and of Christ himself, the light of the world and dispeller of
darkness, at Christmastime.
Thought to have originated as an exercise in geometry in the German
Moravian boarding schools, the stars were first offered for sale at Peter
Verbeek's bookstore in Herrnhut, Germany around 1880. These original
stars were paper, and were assembled and disassembled each year in a
sometimes vexing Moravian Christmas tradition. Now there are
Moravian Stars available in many different materials and sizes, made
both in Herrnhut and in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Illumination
The Illumination is another Moravian Christmas decorating custom. A
lighted candle (or a modern day facsimile thereof) is placed in each
window of the Moravian home after dark. Historical sources indicate
that Moravian settlements on Christmas Eve looked to neighboring
villages in Germany almost as if they were ablaze.
A Lovefeast is a service dedicated to agape, or Christian love,
considered the greatest of virtues. A Lovefeast seeks to remove social
barriers and strengthen the spirit of unity and goodwill among all
people. The first Lovefeast was served in Germany on August 13, 1727,
following the Renewal of the Moravian Church. The Lovefeast is not
the sacrament of Communion. It is styled after the common meal
partaken in love and fellowship by the early Church (described in the
Book of Acts) prior to their celebration of the Lord's Supper
(Communion).
The traditional American Lovefeast consists of a sweetened bun and
coffee, but the food and drink may vary considerably. It is served to the
participants in the pews by Dieners (German for servers). After all have
been served, a table grace is said, and then all partake together.
During the meal, music may be offered by the choir, the organist or
others, or participants may be asked to pray in love for one another, or
people may speak quietly with their neighbors about their spiritual
journey. Other than the common meal, the Lovefeast is a service
largely of music, chiefly the singing of hymns of love and fellowship. It
is a Singstunde which incorporates a simple meal.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
This beautiful service, now adopted in one form or another by many
Christian denominations, originated in a Moravian children's service.
During this service of song and scripture readings, handmade beeswax
candles decorated with a red paper frill are distributed to each
worshiper. The beeswax candles have been variously described as
symbolizing the purity of Christ, the sacrifice of Christ as the light of the
world. The candles are lit while the worship space is darkened except
for a large illuminated Moravian Advent Star. Led by a child, we sing the
antiphonal hymn, "Morning Star, O Cheering Sight". In some
congregations, after the last hymn, the worshipers carry their lighted
candles out into the dark world.
The tradition of having dozens or hundreds of congregants, young and
old, often in an old building, holding lit candles while managing a
hymnbook entails another tradition in some localities - the annual battle
with the community fire marshal. Nevertheless, this cherished
traditional service will likely continue for another several hundred
years.
Moravian Star
The 26-pointed Moravian Advent Star, lit from within by an electric bulb,
is beloved by Moravians all over the world. The Star stands as both a
symbol of awaiting the promised coming of Christ during the Advent
season, and of Christ himself, the light of the world and dispeller of
darkness, at Christmastime.
Thought to have originated as an exercise in geometry in the German
Moravian boarding schools, the stars were first offered for sale at Peter
Verbeek's bookstore in Herrnhut, Germany around 1880. These original
stars were paper, and were assembled and disassembled each year in a
sometimes vexing Moravian Christmas tradition. Now there are
Moravian Stars available in many different materials and sizes, made
both in Herrnhut and in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
Illumination
The Illumination is another Moravian Christmas decorating custom. A
lighted candle (or a modern day facsimile thereof) is placed in each
window of the Moravian home after dark. Historical sources indicate
that Moravian settlements on Christmas Eve looked to neighboring
villages in Germany almost as if they were ablaze.
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