Moravian Lovefeast
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The Moravian Lovefeast is a “simple meal” shared together during worship which celebrates
our fellowship as a faith family. The food served differs from region to region of the world-
wide Moravian Church, or even congregation to congregation. Quite often here we serve a
cookie and juice. Sometimes we have served Moravian sugarcake. In many places a
“Lovefeast bun” is the preferred menu. Beverages vary as well. Some congregations serve
“Lovefeast coffee” which is coffee with lots of milk/cream and sugar. Some serve black
coffee. Some, like ours, usually serve juice.
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Easter
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The early Easter service is held at sunrise in a graveyard originated among the Moravians of
Herrnhut in 1732. A group of young men meeting for prayer on the preceding evening
decided as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, they, like the disciples, would
go to the place of burial. Unlike the disciples, they knew the Lord had risen and planned to
sing their hymns of praise to him.
The sunrise service soon became a custom and was brought to America by the early
Moravian settlers.
God's Acre means where the bodies of Christians are laid awaiting the resurrection. In the
old diaries the Moravians never said a member had died. In the old church registers, the
column for the date of death was headed "Fell Asleep." The general heading for the death
records was "Went home and was laid in the grave."
Excerpted from the Watertown Daily Times
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Click here to read about the Christmas traditions of the Moravian church.
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