Groups at Central
Many members volunteer and get involved in a variety of committees, boards, fellowship groups, and social action organizations at Central Church.
Wherever you are in your faith journey - there is a place for you in a group at Central!
In picture on left, a group of able-bodied Central members help make beeswax candles in preparation for our Christmas Eve services.
Look through the list below and click on groups that you are interested in learning more about.
Putz Committee and Putz Construction
BUSY WORKERS' SOCIETY
To quote from the Busy Workers' By-Laws: "the purpose of this organization shall be to encourage fellowship and give financial support to the Moravian Theological Seminary and Central Moravian Church. Membership shall be open to anyone interested in furthering the purpose of the Busy Workers' Society."
The Society was founded in 1884. It currently consists of 44 active members who meet weekly, on Wednesday
mornings, throughout the year. Busy Workers meet to prepare crafts which will be
sold at their semi-annual sales. Profits from the sales go to Moravian causes.
Although some members are talented craftspeople, not all are so gifted.
If one can cut and paste and enjoy a good time while working for the church, there is a place for you with this group. Fellowship is high on the agenda, as is outreach; the latter is accomplished primarily during our sales. For more information, please contact the church office.
CANDLEMAKERS
The Candlemakers meet each Tuesday in September to make the thousands of beeswax candles required for the Christmas Eve services and other services during the season of Advent.
The group is composed of members (male and female) from Central, West Side and College Hill Moravian Churches. Experience is not required, we will train you! For more information, please contact the church office.
CANDLETRIMMERS
This group gathers each Monday evening in October to trim (decorate) the beeswax candles with red paper frills for the Christmas Eve services. No experience is necessary; on the job training will be provided. All ages are welcome, and group members come from several area Moravian Churches. Time and place for candle trimming is announced in the Sunday Times. For more information, please contact the church office.
COFFEE CLASS
The Coffee Class, one of the options for adult Church School, meets each Sunday morning during 10 a.m. Church School hour in the CE Building and they invite you join them for coffee and conversation? Discussions are often based on current events and, occasionally, guest speakers are invited to address the group. You may join the group by attending a session on a Sunday morning, or you may contact the church office.
FRIENDSHIP BIBLE CLASS
The Friendship Bible Class has been pursuing Bible study and discussion on Sunday mornings since January 6, 1936! There are approximately 10 members who meet at 10 a.m., on Sunday morning from September -- June, in the church office conference room (73 W. Church St.) for Bible study. You are welcome to join them any Sunday morning. For more information, please contact the church office.
HISTORY COMMITTEE
The Moravian Archives of the Moravian Church, Northern Province, located in Bethlehem; the Moravian Historical Society in Nazareth; and the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem each trace their founding to Central Moravian Church.Many of our members continue to be intimately involved through their personal and financial support with these worthy historical enterprises.As many historical paintings, furnishings and documents from our congregation are housed and preserved in one of these three institutions, we continue to be the recipient of many other rare and unique documents and artifacts at Central Moravian Church. Following the monumental celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Christian Education Building; the 250th anniversary of the Old Chapel; and the 200th anniversary of the construction of Central Moravian Church, under the strong and able leadership of Barry Pell, the Celebration Committee recommended that a permanent “History Committee” be formed at our church. Such a committee, under the official endorsement of the Board of Elders, has been established.Diane Shaw has been appointed chair of the committee.An extraordinary History Committee has been formed and she has developed the following “working groups”:Archives, Collections, Historic Preservation, Outreach
LADIES' SEWING SOCIETY
Ladies' Sewing Society consists of 21 women representing 8 Moravian Churches; they meet Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. in the church office building (73 W. Church St.) to sew, stuff, paint faces, and clothe the Polly Heckewelder doll.
The Polly Doll was first made in 1872 and thousands have been made since that time. The doll has become very popular after being featured in several national magazines.
Funds received from sales of the Polly Doll have been contributed to Moravian Churches and to a number of other Moravian causes. New members to the group are always welcome. For more information, please contact the church office.
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY
Men's Bible Study is a free-spirited, discussion-oriented Bible Study group that meets every Wednesday at 6:45 a.m. and is open to men of all ages. The group, which began in 1978 under the tutelage of Rev. Mervin Weidner, includes among its past and present members: ministers, seminarians, businessmen, teachers, doctors, house painters, a nurse, a bridge builder and a chauffeur. (No lawyers, at present, but you wouldn't know it, listening to the discussions!) Membership is not restricted to Central, or to Moravians; some of our best members are Episcopalian!
The group has worked its way through such heavy reading as Genesis and Revelation, taking over a year on one book, if necessary. They have studied every book in the New Testament, some twice, and half the Old Testament. Recent studies have included the Apocrypha, the Nicene Creed and occasional books. The group has experienced moments of great clarity and deep confusion, personal revelation, joyful fellowship, and sublime foolishness.
The worst thing about the Men's Bible Study is the pre-dawn appointed hour; the best thing is you get a free glass of juice, a donut, and a blessed cup of coffee! How to join? Just come!
MORAVIAN WOMEN
The purpose of Moravian Women is "to promote Christian fellowship among the women of the Church, and to aid in the spiritual, missionary, social and financial work of the church at home and throughout the world." A planned program of Bible and mission study, prayer, fellowship and service helps Moravian Women grow in Christ and share in fellowship with other women in their faith community. Membership is open to all women (non-members of Central Church may join, as well;) the membership is divided into seven small groups (circles) which meet once/month from September through June. Meeting times vary so that a member may choose a group appropriate to her schedule. The groups unite for educational and entertaining meetings and events, and for fund raising efforts to finance benevolent giving. For more information, please contact the church office.
MUSIC PROGRAM
There are many opportunities to share your musical gifts at Central. Below is a list of the choirs and ensembles, or click here for more information on each choir. All choirs and ensembles welcome new members at any time. Please contact Becky Owens, the director of music, for more information.
- The Central Moravian Church Choir
- The Chapel Choir
- The Handbell Choir
- The Central Brass Choir
- The Central String Ensemble
- The Central Youth Choir
PEANUT MAKERS
The Peanut Makers meet once a month from September through November, and January through April to cook peanuts and cashews. The nuts are sold to raise money for church projects. There are currently 10 members in the group. For more information, please contact the church office.
PUTZ COMMITTEE & PUTZ SET-UP/OPERATIONS
Started in 1937 at Central Moravian Church, our Putz has been an Advent and Christmas tradition. Click here to read more about the putz and see its hours of operation. Our putz, located in Nitschmann Hall of the Christian Education building, continues to attract thousands of visitors each year. To many, the putz just 'appears' each year at Advent. What goes on behind the scenes is a true labor of love involving many unseen heroes...the Putz Committee, the men, women and children who travel to the Poconos to gather moss, and the many volunteers who give their time and energy to construct and present the putz to our visitors.
The Putz Committee is responsible not only for the putz itself -- its construction, set-up and clean-up -- but also for its operation during the Christmas season, scheduling hours of operations, signing up helpers to serve as host and to present the putz, and helping with any scheduled bus tours. Many groups and individuals are Central are responsible to helping to keep this holiday tradition alive. This important ministry to the community requires much cooperation and many helpers. If you would like to assist in any way, please contact the church office.
SACRISTANS
The Sacristans, a corps of men and women, assist in maintaining the usages, customs and practices of the Moravian Church. After its reorganization in 1727 as the Moravian Church, the duties of a Acolytes (such as opening the churches, lighting the candles, preparing the sanctuary for worship, and caring for the sacred vessels of the church) were entrusted to Sacristans chosen from the members of the congregations.
Our sacristans include men and women, members of Central Church, who are nominated by the Head Male and Head Female Sacristans with approval by the Board of Elders. Sacristans serve 5 year terms; they continue to perform the functions described above: preparing the sanctuary for worship; assisting members and visitors as they enter and exit the church; and helping with administration of the sacraments.
At major church holidays (Easter and Christmas,) they help with special decorations, ticket distribution, candle preparation; at Lovefeasts they help to distribute the Lovefeast meal; they also assist at musical concerts, College and Academy vespers, and other special occasions. In addition to performing many of the same functions as the men, female sacristans also assist with any baptisms and weddings which occur in the Church or Chapel. There are approximately 30 men and 30 women who are Sacristans; for more information, you may contact the church office
SADIE'S BOUTIQUE
Visit Our New Gift Shop at Moravian Village
Fri., February 22 and Sat., February 23 mark the Grand Opening dates of a new gift shop at Moravian Village Apartments on Wood St . “Sadie’s Boutique” will be open for residents and visitors on that Friday from 1 – 4 pm and Saturday, 11:30 am to 4 pm. (special hours) Be sure to pick up a delicious free gift with purchase!
Regular hours will be Mon. – Sat., 1 – 4 pm; Thurs., 6-8 pm.
Sadie’s will feature handcrafted items, such as the popular jewelry made by Glyn Moses, notecards and greeting cards by Linda Wickmann, metal craft by Tim Naisby, a sampling of unique merchandise from the World Import Shop and much more.
Staffed by volunteers, this new gift shop is an enterprise of Central Moravian Church . Stop by on the 23rd at 2 pm to say hello to Pastors Doug and Carol at a signing of their book, “Let Us Go Over to Bethlehem.”
SOJOURNERS
Sojourners is one of the options for adult Church School hour from September -- June. The group meets each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in the CE Building to study and discuss the Scriptures and faith issues. Members of Sojourners make the group a safe place, where a person's viewpoint, experience or understanding is not to be debated, but rather allowed to stand. Sojourners honor where each individual may be at that moment in his/her faith journey. Conversation is always to the whole group; they try to avoid dialogue with another person one on one. The class often plans gatherings over the summer and special projects throughout the Church School year. New members are always welcome. For more information, please contact the church office.
STAR MAKERS
This group's purpose is to make paper and fabric Moravian star ornaments to be sold at the Star and Candle Shoppe, which is open during the Advent/Christmas season in the Christian Education Building. Proceeds of the sales benefit the Christopher Seifert Christian Education Fund as well as other charitable causes. The Star Makers meet occasionally as a group ("star parties") to learn how to make stars; materials are also distributed for star-making at home. Anyone may join the group, but adeptness at star-making is critical! Volunteers are also needed for selling stars at the Star and Candle Shoppe. For more information, please contact Pastor Carol Reifinger.
USHERS
The ushers are men and women who assist with taking the collection during Church and Chapel services. There are approximately 30 ushers on the regular schedule; there are also a number of people who serve as substitute ushers when regulars cannot attend, or serve during the holiday season for special services.
Senior high-aged young people may serve as ushers in the Church and Chapel; younger students are sometimes asked to assist during Chapel services. During the Christmas season, some of the ushers act as fire watchers for candle services. This is a volunteer group, so if you are interested in serving as an usher, please contact the church office.
YOUNG ADULTS AT CENTRAL
All young adults, ages 21 - 40+, are welcome to join for monthly dinner or fellowship outings. We gather for casual conversation and welcome you to join us and discover how you can be involved in the expanding life of Central Moravian Church! Contact Pastor Janel Rice for more information or to be on an email list for meeting notices.
YOUTH GROUPS AT CENTRAL CHURCH
All our groups are open to members and friends and meet in addition to regular Sunday Church School classes at 10 a.m.
Central Stars: 4th - 5th grade fellowship group which gathers for occasional activities.
Middle School Youth: 6th - 8th grade fellowship group involved in various service and social outings as well as occasional hang-out nights at Central!
Senior High Youth Group: 9th - 12th grade fellowship group enjoys getting together occasionally for a dinner out or to make a meal for our congregation. Look for our annual summer trip together and join us!