Lenten Dinner and Program

2019 Lenten Series: Mission and Tradition

Please join us as we commemorate Lent in 2019 with a series devoted to “Mission and Tradition” in the Moravian Church. We will look at Moravian congregations around the world and the ways in which their identities have been shaped by their mission stories and their special traditions. We will hear from speakers who know these areas well and can share insights into the history, customs, and traditions of Moravians there. The series has been put together by Central’s History Committee.

On each of the six Wednesday evenings, we will begin with supper in Nitschmann Hall at 6pm, followed by the program at 7pm.

March 6: Ash Wednesday Service, Gemeinhaus Saal (Moravian Museum)

Paul Peucker, Archivist of the Moravian Church Northern Province and Central member, will provide historical background for the series through a discussion of the role traditions play in our Moravian identity.

Supper provided by the Sacristan Corps

March 13: Europe

A slide presentation by the Central Travelers from their July 2018 historical tour of Moravian settlement communities in Western Europe. Coordinated by Central member Mary Brown, this program will offer glimpses of what was seen and learned about church history and traditions in the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

Supper provided by the Central Choirs

March 20: Alaska

Central member Lyn Chynoweth, who grew up in Kwethluk, Alaska, the daughter (and granddaughter) of Moravian missionaries, will reflect on the history and traditions of Moravians in Alaska, from her personal experience as well as the stories learned from her parents and grandparents.

Supper provided by the Men’s Bible Study & Church Family Life

March 27: Zambia / Caribbean / Jamaica

Paul Silwamba, pastor of the Moravian Church in Zambia (southern Africa) and a first-year seminary student at Moravian, will talk about traditions of the church in his country. He will be followed by Central’s own senior pastor Hopeton Clennon, who will talk about church customs in his native Jamaica and in the Caribbean more broadly.

Supper provided by Central’s Youth Group

April 3: Nepal

Central member Craig Mosebach, who has been involved in building support for the Moravian Church in Nepal and the ministry of Vani and Shanti Pradhan, will share information and impressions about this unique place in the history of the church. He may be joined by some special visitors for the presentation.

Supper provided by the Joint Board

April 10: Peru

Betsy Miller, president of the Provincial Elders’ Conference of the Moravian Church Northern Province, will join us to reflect on two remarkable journeys she made in 2018—to the newest Moravian congregation in the world at Bajo Canampa in the Amazon region of Peru and to the first ever African Moravian Women’s Conference in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Supper provided by the Busy Workers