Connecting With Our Community
We believe we are called to live a life of loving service and ongoing spiritual renewal. You are invited to join any of our committees, ministries, and groups dedicated to education, fellowship, and service.
We also treasure community gatherings like our late-spring Birthday Socials and our pre-school year Blessings of the Backpacks and Ice Cream Truck event. We frequently gather to share a meal after worship and at other special events.
Check the upcoming events on our homepage. All are welcome!
Below is a sampling of Central Church’s offerings. For a full list, we would love to connect with you. Please call the church office to speak with a pastor, or join us for an inquirers’ class to learn more.
Service & Outreach
Social Action Committee
The Social Action Committee oversees our efforts to serve others through direct assistance and justice advocacy. This includes participating in hunger relief advocacy through Bread for the World and the annual CROP Hunger Walk.
We also sell and support Fair Trade products, collect books and funds for local children through Central Santas each Advent, and serve at local shelters like Victory House and New Bethany Ministries.
Food Pantry and Cynthia’s Boutique
Open the first and fourth Fridays from 8:30-11:30 am. And on the second and third Saturdays from 8:30-11:30 a.m., our Food Pantry and Cynthia’s Boutique is located on the lower level of the church office at 73 W. Church Street, we provide a direct connection to neighbors in need.
Our volunteers sort and distribute seasonal clothing donations at Cynthia’s Boutique during our bimonthly food pantry hours. The Food Pantry at Central serves more than 200 households each month, offering choice-model selections of meats, eggs, seasonal fresh vegetables, and nonperishable goods.
Volunteers are always welcome; please see our volunteer page. If you or someone you know is experiencing an emergency food need, please contact a pastor or visit during the pantry hours listed below.
Care for Creation
Our Care for Creation committee reminds us of our call to stewardship. One ongoing project is our monthly plastic bag collection. These bags are recycled into beautiful park benches. On the first Sunday of the month, we welcome donations of both plastic bags and food for the pantry before and after worship.
Racial Justice and Mental Health
The Racial Justice and Mental Health teams are among our newest ministries, connecting our congregation to vital contemporary conversations as we bring God’s love and compassion to the world. Upcoming pilgrimages, speakers, and action events are highlighted on our upcoming events page [link here].
Global Partnerships
Central is proud of its long-standing connections to the international Moravian Church, including partnerships with Nepali Moravian Ministries and Sikonge, Tanzania. For nearly 40 years, we have supported orphans and community members in Tanzania with funding for education, healthcare, and food assistance. Tanzania is home to the largest Moravian population in the world.
Community Partners
We participate at least once a month alongside other organizations in the Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering system, which provides dinner, overnight shelter, and breakfast for unhoused neighbors from December through April.
We also host AA groups every Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Christian Education building. Additionally, we team up with the Freezer Ministry and Garden Gatherers ministry to cook and pack food for those facing food insecurity or life transitions, aiding numerous local agencies.
Fellowship and Craft Ministries
Central is home to treasured traditions like our seasonal Candlemakers and Candletrimmers, alongside other groups that gather to craft, knit, and sew. Most importantly, these groups build deep community roots.
Ladies’ Sewing Society
- Polly Heckewelder started this historic sewing group in 1861 to assist with Civil War relief efforts. Soon after, the group began making its signature “Polly Dolls,” which are still sold today to benefit church causes and ministries.
- Enjoy sewing and fellowship every Tuesday morning. Contact the church office to get involved.
Knitting Group
- Meditate and pray while crafting prayer shawls for church and community members facing illness or stress. Experienced and novice knitters alike enjoy this time for quiet reflection and conversation.
- Completed shawls are donated to the Busy Workers’ Prayer Shawl Ministry. “Knitting into the Mystery” meets third Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m.
Busy Worker’s Society
- Craft your way into a delightful circle of women who support one another while making Anna Nitschmann dolls. The society hosts Advent and Mother’s Day sales that benefit church ministries.
- By joining the group or shopping their sales, you help support vital community outreach programs such as [insert examples].
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