Action & Advocacy
We believe an engaged faith is an important piece of spiritual development. The Social Action Commitee and other members of CEntral work hard to find a multitude of ways of action and advocacy.
Recently we celebrated Earth Day with an environmental focus in our worship service and Sunday school program. Our congregation is working together to become more environmentally focused and we look forward to presenting ways that can affect personal, political and community environmental change!! Contact Pastor Janel for more information.
ADVOCACY ALERT: Contact your state senator and ask them to vote for a bill supporting "Green-Collar" jobs, jobs in the green industrial sector such as wind, solar and geothermal. Click here for more info.
Click here to learn more about climate change in PA.
Also, contact Senator Spector and ask him to support S.2191 Global Emission Act to lower carbon dioxide emmissions by 80% by 2050!
Concerned about the Environment? check out the attached link! Or look to ways the you can reduce your energy output and become more efficient (and save money too!) by clicking here.
Gulf Coast Mission Trip Report and Trip being planned for Future:
Last October and November two groups from Central and Coopersburg Moravian Churches traveled to Gulf Coast to take part in a life-changing week for both themselves and the inhabitants of Ocean Springs, MS. Two more trips are planned for 2008: Oct. 5-12, Nov. 9 -16. If you are interested in learning more please talk with Pastor Janel (janel_rice@yahoo.com) for more information, dates, etc. Costs will be minimal.
Peace and Justice Task Force is Beginning:
Interested in exploring opportunities of peace and justice education and advocacy? Please contact David Henkelmann through the church office 866-5661 for more information.
Offering of Letters: Advocacy to our Congress for Hunger Relief
Join us in our Bread for the World Offering of Letters on Sunday, June 1st. after the 10 a.m. worship service. Stay tuned for more info.
Building relationships between our members, visitors and community is an important piece of the ministry of Central Moravian Church. Various committees and groups, including the Social Action Committee and the Sikonge Committee as well as individuals share the responsibility of bringing opportunities for service, education, and advocacy to the congregation.
The Social Action Committee is committed to:
- the annual October Crop Walk for Church World Service hunger relief
- the November drive for Christmas gifts/clothes for children of Head Start
- participation in The Institute for Jewish/Christian Understanding
- occasional presentations or discussion groups on different religious faiths and issues of social concern
- Environmental Awareness and Peace and Justice Awareness
- Bread for the World Offering of Letter for Hunger Relief!
- Yearly Study Group looking at Social Justice issues called Traveler's Together
- trips to places of social significance like the Holocaust Museum and Ellis Island.
Below are various ways to get involved in the service to our community:
Cynthia's Boutique of Central Church
Central Moravian Church Food Bank
Historic Bethlehem Partnership
New Bethany Ministries (meal preparation)
South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center (various volunteering and donation needs)
Victory House Homeless Shelter (meal preparation)
World Import Shop of Central Church
Join with us in various outreach efforts in our community. Below is a list of organizations that we run at Central or that we have developed connections with in our community.
BLOOD BANK
Membership is open to all Central members and there are NO MEETINGS! But every one who joins is a life-saver! Craig Mosebach is the coordinator for our program with the Miller Memorial Blood Center and is always looking for people who would be willing to donate blood. For more information, please contact the church office.
CYNTHIA'S BOUTIQUE
In the early 1970's, Cynthia Couillard, wife of the Rev. Vernon Couillard who was Dean of the Theological Seminary, began collecting used clothing in her basement to supply to Moravian missionaries and others in need. This 'clothing bank' gradually outgrew Cynthia's house and today is an on-going church project out of the basement of the church office building (73 W. Church St.).
Most Wednesdays mornings, volunteers gather to accept donations of clothing, towels and bed linens. They evaluate, sort, fold and pack the donated items and arrange for distribution to local charitable organizations. These include VIA, Nativity Church Better Buy Shop, Allentown Rescue Mission, Victory House, New Bethany Ministries, Children's Home of Easton, Good Shepherd and YMCA Adult Day Care. For more information about the Boutique or to inquire about what items are needed, please contact the church office.
FOOD BANK
Central Moravian's Food Bank is located in the basement (rear door) of the Church Office (73 W. Church St.). Its purpose is to assist individuals or families in the Bethlehem area who are in need of food; we supply canned and packaged products, sufficient for 2-3 days, on a once-a-month basis (the third Thursday of each month).
Members of Central Church support this operation through their financial contributions and food donations. Second Harvest Food Bank, located in Allentown, provides the bulk of our food supplies and we also receive food donations from Moravian Academy. Diane Kolessar-Bierl is in charge of our food bank; she and approximately 4 volunteers meet once a month, on the 3rd Thursday from 10 a.m. until noon, to pack bags of food.
The First Sunday of each month is FOOD BANK SUNDAY, when baskets are available after each worship service for you to donate to our food bank. We are currently asking for canned chili, meats (tuna, chicken, etc.), and cereal.
WORLD IMPORTS SHOP
The World Imports Shop, located in the lower level of the church office (73 W. Church St.), opened for business in June, 1999. It is open every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., April - December. Hours and days of operation during the Christmas season and Musikfest are often extended. Parking is available in the church lot behind the office.
This shop offers a unique selection of gifts imported from many countries: baskets, carpets, furniture, jewelry, clothing, pottery, toys, and ornaments. All of the profits from the sale of items benefit Moravian missions worldwide. For more information, please contact the church office.
Central Moravian Church is proud to have relationships with several community organizations and we encourage you to contact a pastor to learn about how you can volunteer at these locations.
VICTORY HOUSE
Victory House is the shelter for the homeless in South Bethlehem and was originally established by Center City Ministries, of which Central Church was a partner congregation.
The Social Action committee coordinates Central's volunteers who prepare meals at Victory House several times a month. Volunteers work in teams of 2, and each team is on duty one evening per month, according to your schedule. If you would like to volunteer, or need more information, please contact the church office.
NEW BETHANY MINISTRIES AND MEAL CENTER
Since 1983, Central member Ruth Hailperin has helped to coordinate volunteers for the New Bethany Ministries Meal Center on 4th Street in Bethlehem. 24 area churches participate in this project, providing teams (usually 4 or 5 people) of volunteers to prepare lunch (a dinner meal at noon) 5 days a week for people of very limited income. Central Church members make up 2 of the teams, and participate in several others. Each team serves approximately once a month. Food is provided by the Second Harvest Food Bank and through donations; volunteers prepare, serve and clean up after the meal. Attendance at meals varies from 55 to 120 people, and includes men and women, from small children to the elderly. There are usually more people during the summer, and toward the end of each month. If you would like to help with this ministry to the community, please contact the church office.
sOUTH bETHLEHEM nEIGHBORHOOD cENTER
Founded in 1966, the SBNC provides employment and housing services, a food and clothing bank, children's after-school and bowling groups, a summer camp, and many more opportunities for residents of South Bethlehem. To find out more about them, go to their website at www.sbnc.org. They have various volunteering and donation needs; if interested please call (610) 865-2791.
HISTORIC BETHLEHEM PARTNERSHIP
Many of the original Moravian buildings still stand as a link between the cultural and religious heritage of old Bethlehem and the vigor of modern city life. Historic Bethlehem Partnership has the responsibility and the mission to preserve this significant collection of Germanic-style structures and museums and invites you to their website to access more information about tours, volunteer opportunities, and special programs and events