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August 13th and the Tradition of Lovefeasts August 13th is considered the "birthday" of the modern-day Moravian Church. Refugees from Moravia had joined with others in Saxony (now in Germany) on the estate of Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf, and a settlement called Herrnhut had developed. On August 13, 1727, the people of Herrnhut celebrated their religious unification with the Lord's Supper. Afterward, the group remained for Christian fellowship and a meal-the first Moravian "lovefeast." Lovefeasts are held during worship services on a Sunday close to August 13th and several other occasions throughout the year. We share a beverage and a bite to eat—usually a cup of special coffee and a bun—in a simple meal that reminds us of the importance of fellowship in our spiritual lives. Advent and Christmas In 18th century Germany, some of the Moravian traditions began that continue to this day. Many of those traditions are carried out during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Church members begin months before Advent to hand-make and prepare the small beeswax candles that are used in another Moravian tradition—the Christmas Eve Candlelight Lovefeast. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Lovefeast dates back to 1747, when children were first given candles that were lit during the Christmas Eve service. The innovation of allowing adults also to receive candles began in the late nineteenth century and now is practiced in most churches. Beeswax, considered the purest of all animal or vegetable waxes, suggests the purity of Christ, and the candle itself represents Christ's light in the world. The 14-pointed Moravian Advent Star was created in the 19th century by a teacher who assigned the project to his students as a geometry lesson. The star is a centerpiece of Advent and Christmas decorations in many churches, along with garland ropes of greenery, blooming narcissi, and a putz—either a nativity scene or a miniature village under a blanket of snow. Easter At Easter, many congregations celebrate the Easter Sunrise Service, or Resurrection Service. For example, members of the 13 churches of the Salem Congregation—along with several thousand visitors—gather just before dawn in front of Home Moravian Church on Salem Square. The presiding minister declares, "The Lord is risen!" The congregation responds, "The Lord is risen indeed!" The Resurrection Service began with Moravians in the hills of Germany in 1732. Similar to our Moravian funeral service, it celebrates our joy in the belief in eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Sunrise Service, like all Moravian worship, is liturgical, filled with responsive reading and, of course, music. Actually the music begins much earlier in the day, in the wee hours, as Moravian bands begin by playing outside their own churches, then circle throughout the community calling worshippers to awaken. Moravian graveyards are called "God's Acre," and they are notable for their unadorned appearance. Entranceways may bear an inscription attesting to the power over death of the risen Christ. But the gravestones themselves are most often simple marble squares, the same for each member of the congregation, with members buried in the order in which they pass "into the more immediate presence of our Lord." An Easter tradition for young and old alike is to gather in God's Acre for the annual cleaning of the gravestones. Music in Moravian Life Music pervades Moravian religion, daily life and traditions. Moravians are known worldwide for their music. The Salem Band is the oldest continuing performing wind ensemble in the United States. The first symphonies in America were organized by Moravians. A Moravian brass ensemble performed a concert during the opening gala at Washington's Kennedy Center in 1971. Nearly every Moravian church in America has a brass band. Moravians have been enthusiastic composers as well as musicians. Names such as Christian Gregor, Johann Christian Bechler and Johannes Herbst are well known in American musical history. Modern-day Moravians continue to compose for the church repertoire, and hymn-writing workshops held in the Southern Province are quite popular. Music for Moravians has always ranged from quiet melodies for intimate family occasions to grand, fully accompanied performances of intricate choral compositions during worship services. In the early church, musical talent was to be found in every family, where music was a source of entertainment as well as inspiration. Today music continues to be a popular concentration, with band lessons available in many churches for beginners and novices of all ages. It is not unusual to find church members who have been playing with the band for almost 70 years! Music sets the tone for all seasons of the church. For example, the joyous, antiphonally sung Hosanna! is sung on both the first Sunday of Advent and on Palm Sunday. The lead parts of Morning Star, also antiphonal, are usually sung by children, who lead the congregation in the popular hymn celebrating the birth of the Savior at Christmas. The popular hymn, Jesus Makes My Heart Rejoice, is a favorite throughout the year. Moravians love to sing, and in any group you can hear an enthusiastic, intergenerational mixture of melody and harmonious parts. Even the Moravian Blessing before a meal is often sung. One of the happiest occasions in a Moravian church is a "singstunde," or hymnfest. The singstunde can be planned around a particular message, sermon, or theme or held as a general time of musical fellowship and song. |
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