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 First Presbyterian Church celebrates the Advent season with
a special worship service based on the Moravian traditions. Scripture readings, music, hot yeast rolls,
coffee and beeswax candles with red paper trimming are the hallmarks of this feast. Special thanks go to Marie Melton and her family for
bringing this tradition to our church and community over 30 years ago.
What is a Moravian Love Feast? In the life of the early Christian Church, the
"Agape meal" was looked upon as a witness and bond of Christian unity. Rich and
poor, widows and orphans, ordinary people, master and slaves met together as
equals, sharing a common meal. It was a time of rich blessing.
The town of Old Salem, N.C., was founded in 1766. Its roots stretch back to
15th century Czechoslovakia and a reformer by the name of John Hus. In 1457, Hus
and a group of his followers founded the Unitas Fratrum, the Union of Brethren,
and became the earliest Protestant reformers. They believed in the sole
authority of scripture, sent missionaries to many places in the world and
stressed unity among Christians and joyous worship.
The Moravians sailed to America with three clear purposes. First,
they were devoted to mission work among the Indians. Secondly, they sought to
spread their faith in Jesus Christ to other settlers in the colony. Their third
purpose was a a practical one: the Moravians were devoted to a system of common
work for the common goal of supporting their missionary interests.
The Moravian way of life in Salem was structured and disciplined, but also
peaceful and content. While some settlers were farmers, Salem was from the
beginning a center of crafts and trades. The purpose of their community was to
support the church's mission program.
This focus on community provided Salem's craftspeople with a constant and
shared motivation. They flourished, transforming their simple missionary
settlement into a center for crafts, from woodworking to carriage making and
bookbinding.
Salem also produced America's first symphony orchestras and her first
composers. Music was seen as pointing worshipers to the Word of God and to
missionary endeavors.
This special service is a festival of worship during Advent and a tribute
to the group of early Americans who devoted their lives to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ
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