In “A Moravian Christmas,” episode #245, Meredith Curtis introduces listeners to the passionate and joyful Moravians who traveled to the New World to save souls. Their missionary zeal was only matched by their joyful Christmas celebrations. Travel with me back to Colonial Times and meet these amazing people who led Charles and John Wesley to Christ and continue to send missionaries around the world.

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The Moravians are a group of Christians filled with missionary zeal, joyful singing, and festive celebrations. Christmastime is the perfect time to meet the Moravians who named Bethlehem, PA because of Jesus’ birthday. So, travel with me back to Colonial Times and meet these amazing people who led Charles & John Wesley to Christ.

Where did the Moravians come from?

Let’s travel back in time to the Middle Ages. While studying at Oxford University, John Wycliffe (1331-1427) discovered that the “True Church” had nothing to do with church membership roles and everything to do with a man’s relationship with the Lord. John began the first translation of the Scriptures into English.

John died peacefully but his writings were discovered in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) by Jan Hus.

Jan Huss (1369-1415) was ordained a priest in 1401 and discovered John Wycliffe’s writings about the truth taught in the Holy Scriptures. He meticulously copied his books and passed them out. Called to a church council to defend his teachings, he was sentenced to death because he would not recant. He died singing praises to God. Though he died, his teachings lived on.

His followers found refuge in Count Zinzendorf’s castle in Saxony, now part of Germany.

Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf (1700-1760) was sent to live with his grandmother, who homeschooled him. As part of the nobility of Saxony, he had to attend a ritzy school called Halle Academy, where he helped form a secret society: the Order of the Grain of Mustard Seed. They committed to use their money, nobility, and influence to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Nicolaus owned a castle with a village inside. One day refugees who were being persecuted for their faith showed up, wanting to live inside his castle in the village. More refugees followed. Nicolaus was able to leave the king’s court and devote himself to his little congregation. He led Bible studies, prayer meetings, worship, and times of accountability. The Moravians were always singing and encouraging one another.

One day, they held a 24-hour prayer meeting. They decided to keep it up. Twenty-four hours a day, there was someone praying for the church and lost souls around the world for over 200 years! The Gospel went from Count Zinendorf’s little village all over the world. He traveled to visit daughter churches and build up the brothers and sisters.

The Moravians came to Colonial America in obedience to the Great Commission. After an unsuccessful attempt to establish a Moravian settlement in Georgia, some of these missionaries went to Pennsylvania. The new Moravian settlers finished their first building on Christmas Eve. One half was a stable and the other side was used for church services. While the settlers sang in one room, cows mooed in the other, reminding them of Jesus birthplace, so they named the settlement “Bethlehem.”

Their Christmas Eve candle service included a “love feast” where coffee and buns were shared in fellowship. At the end of the service, Christians passed around lighted candles while they sang hymns to celebrate the birth of the true Light of the World.

The Love Feast was first celebrated in Germany in 1727. Not communion, it is an attempt to model the “common meal” that is mentioned in the book of Acts, where the early Christians shared a meal together before sharing communion.

John Wesley, and his brother, Charles Wesley, met the Moravians on a ship as they were all heading over to help start the new colony/ministry of Georgia. The Wesley brothers were impressed with the strong faith and bubbling joy of the Moravians and had many deep discussions on the ship and later on visits to their settlement.

Moravian traditions include singing, feasting, candles, special stars, and putz.

• Love Feast (already mentioned) – a meal and love offering symbolizes the love of Christ.
• Advent Candlelight Services – lighting candles as part of the worship service.
• Music – beautiful music is part of every service. Carols. Vespers.
• Christmas Eve Vigil – worshippers receive a lighted beeswax candle representing Jesus as the Light of the World. Beeswax is used because it represents the purity of Christ.
• Putz – elaborately decorated nativity scene telling the story of Jesus’ birth from Annunciation to Wise Men’s visit.
• Moravian Stars – created originally as a geometry lesson at a Moravian school, they became a symbol of Advent.
• Garlands & Wreaths – popular for decorating
• Spiced Christmas Cookies – cut into shapes to eat and hang on the tree
• Handmade Gifts – knitted socks, hand-sewn shirts, woolen petticoats
• Candies and Treats

• Check out the Moravian’s Christmas website: https://moravianchristmas.org/
• Google “How to Make a Moravian Star” for videos and make your own!
• You can visit Old Salem, NC https://www.visitwinstonsalem.com/attractions/old-salem-museums-gardens
• Learn about the Moravian’s Historic Bethlehem PA here: https://www.historicbethlehem.org/world-heritage/historic-moravian-bethlehem-story/
• Historic Moravian Bethlehem PA https://www.discoverlehighvalley.com/cities-towns/bethlehem/the-living-history-of-bethlehem/
• Moravian Church Settlements (around the world) https://moravianchurchsettlements.org/

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