Customs and Practices
Christmas Traditions:
Beeswax Candles: At our Christmas Eve services at Central our sanctuary is illumined by the beautiful glow and sweet smell of hand-trimmed beeswax candles (see Candletrimmers and Candlemakers).
Lighted Candles or Illumination: Journey through our community during Advent and Christmas seasons and you will see the many Moravian (and non-Moravian) building illumined by a single candle in the window. Since Bethlehem was founded, we have put these candles in our windows, and records show that in the historic Moravian community of Herrnhaag (Germany) settlement there were so many candles in the windows that "it appeared from Budingen as though the whole hilltop were a single sea of flames."
Moravian Star: Our 26 pointed star is a classic symbol of the Moravian Church and present throughout our downtown community, mostly around Christmas time. You will also witness the moving Moravian Star that fills our sanctuary during the Advent season.
Putz: Please see our Putz page for a historical description as well as a listing of times to view our putz.
Lent and Easter
Lent and Easter are an important time in the life of the Moravian Church. Please see our Lent and Easter page for more information about the services, customs and traditions. During our Easter Sunrise service as well as at many other times of the church year, you will be treated to hearing the Bethlehem Area Trombone Choir at Central Church. Founded in 1754, the Bethlehem Area Trombone Choir is made up of musicians throughout the Bethlehem Moravian Churches and continues to play occasionally from Central’s Belfry as well as for funerals and other occasions.
Other Moravian Traditions, Customs, and Important Terms:
The Moravian Daily Texts: Our daily texts have nurtured our personal and communal spiritual lives since 1741 with a verse from the Old and New Testaments, a corresponding hymn and a prayer. Simple in structure, the Daily Texts reveal the importance Moravians place on Scripture to guide each day of our life.
Go to http://www.moravian.org/daily_texts/ to sign up for a "daily" Daily Texts via your email.
Ground of the Unity: The Moravian Church's theological statement that unifies the Unitas Fratrum of our worldwide congregations.
Lovefeast – A delicious Moravian tradition with its roots in the ancient apostolic church and reviewed by the 18th century Moravians and Count Nicholas Von Zinzendorf. Through the sharing of a light meal and drink in church, a lovefeast encourages community building and fellowship in our worship.
Moravian Covenant for Christian Living: The church has often put into written form the precepts of its faith and practice, essentially how we as Moravian Christians, ought to live.
Moravian Seal and Motto: Our Moravian Seal is the picture of a lamb representing Jesus Christ or Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) carrying a flag with a cross. The Latin Words “Vicit Agnus NosterM Eum Sequamur” (Our Lamb has Conquered; Let Us Follow Him) encircle the image. In accepting other creeds of the Christian Church (such as the Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, the Augsburg Confession) and in its practice, the Moravian Church has always stood by its motto: "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love."
Sacraments: The Moravian Church recognized the sacraments of baptism and of Holy Communion, yet we are open (non-essential) about the forms of these sacraments. Consult a pastor if you would like more information about getting your child baptized at Central Moravian Church.
The Moravian Church has many other important customs, traditions, and historical observances as well as special dates in their church year.
Adelaide Fries’ Customs and Practices of the Moravian Church is our recommendation for future reading in this area. We also recommend John Groenfeldt’s Becoming a Member of the Moravian Church for information on the story, governance structure, mission, and beliefs of the Moravian Church.
One of our favorite Moravian theological resources is the pamphlet This We Most Certainly Believe: Thoughts on Moravian Theology (by C. Daniel Crews).
These books are available from the Interprovincial Office of Communications which offers a good selection of important Moravian theology, history, and other books.