The early Christians met and broke bread together to signify their union, fellowship and love. In 1727, the Moravian Church revived this practice and has established the custom of celebrating the great church festivals by partaking together of a simple meal knowns as a “Love Feast”.
The Methodists have strong historical and spiritual ties with the Moravians. John Wesley became better acquainted with them while sailing to Georgia in 1735. He was deeply impressed with their fearlessness in the times of extremely violent storms at sea. Moravian leaders helped lead Wesley into the experience of “Salvation by faith, faith alone”. After Wesley’s Aldersgate experience in 1738, he visited Moravian settlements in Germany where the Methodist and Moravians held joint love feasts. For over 200 years the love feast has been a part of the Methodist Tradition.
Since 1978, Myers Memorial UMC has been hosting a traditional Moravian Love Feast, a service of singing hymns and music that center on the themes of love and harmony. We will enjoy Moravian Spice Cake and sweet Coffee and light traditional beeswax candles as we gather together in the celebration of the season. We hope you’ll join us on Sunday, December 8 at 5pm in the Sanctuary as we gather for this Christian Fellowship meal recalling the meals Jesus shared with disciples during his ministry and expressing the koinonia (community, sharing, fellowship) enjoyed by the family of Christ.
The Moravian Love Feast
The early Christians met and broke bread together to signify their union, fellowship and love. In 1727, the Moravian Church revived this practice, and it has established the custom of celebrating the great church festivals by partaking together of a simple meal known as a “Love Feast”. The first love feasts of the Moravian Church in North America were held in Savannah, Georgia, during the years 1735 to 1740. The traditional first love feast in Wachovia was held on the evening of the arrival of the first Moravian colonists in North Carolina, November 17, 1753, at Bethabara.
The Christmas Eve Love Feast, with its lighted candles, is one of the most beautiful services of the Moravian Church. The custom originated on the European continent at Marien born in the year 1747, and spread throughout the Moravian World. The first Christmas Eve Love feast held at Bethabara was in 1753, and at Salem in 1771. In North Carolina, the candles were used for the first time in the children’s love feast at Bethabara and Bethania in 1762.
The Methodists and The Moravians
The Methodists have strong historical and spiritual ties with the Moravians. John Wesley became better acquainted with them while sailing to Georgia in 1735. He was deeply impressed with their fearlessness in the times of extremely violent storms. Peter Bohler, August Spandenburg, David Nitschman, Count Zinzendorf and other Moravian leaders helped lead him into the experience of “salvation by faith, faith alone”. After his Aldersgate experience in 1738, he visited Moravian settlements in Germany. The Methodists and Moravians held joint love feasts. For over 200 years the love feast has been a part of the Methodist tradition.
Moravian Sugar Cake is available for purchase at www.deweys.com