SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
AND PROGRAMS
The 8:45 service is similar to the 11:00 worship service although it is
slightly shorter in duration. Please see the 11:00 service for more information.
Sunday School classes are offered
for all age levels from infants through high school. There are several class options for adults.
Our 11:00 and 8:45 services consist of congregational singing, the liturgy,
Scripture readings and a sermon. The services also include anthems and/or hymns presented
by the choir. The sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion are also observed during these
services. Services held on special occasions may include a Lovefeast. Visitors are invited
to attend any of our services. The 11:00 service is broadcast on radio station WTOB 1380 AM.
Sunday nights will be a time for families and everyone to come together
for good food, fellowship and programs for all ages from 6:15 until 7:15. We have a new food
service, California Fresh Buffet, and we are ready to bring all ages and everyone together
for exciting times on Sunday evenings with suppers starting at 5:30.
We are offering four ways for you to explore your faith and to grow in
your faith. All four ways give you the chance to grow and to move on in your faith journey.
The four options are:
Gemeinschaft 1, 2, or 3 Stephen Ministry Training
The Bethel Bible Series Servant Leadership
The Sacrament of Holy Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper, is offered
at set times during our 8:45 and 11:00 services. Our Communion services are open to all members
of other Christian churches. Our Communion services are held on the following occasions:
- The first Sunday after Epiphany
- The first Sunday in Lent
- Each Wednesday evening in Lent, prior to Holy Week
- Maundy Thursday
- Pentecost
- In memory of John Hus (July)
- The August 13th celebration
- The Worldwide Communion (September)
- The November 13th celebration
The Lovefeast is mainly a song service during which a simple meal consisting
of a sweetened bun and coffee are served. The Lovefeast is a continuation of the Agape meals
that were held by the early Christians. Home Church holds the Lovefeast on the following occasions:
- The Mission Band Lovefeast (January)
- Good Friday and Great Sabbath
- The August 13th celebration
- The November 13th anniversary Lovefeast
- Christmas Eve Lovefeast (4 services)
- Watch Night Lovefeast (December 31)
The Ash Wednesday Day of Prayer Service is one of the Lenten Day Prayer
Services that are held at several Moravian Churches in the city. The service consists of hymns,
anthems, scripture readings and a sermon. The service is sponsored by the Women's Fellowship
of Home Moravian Church.
Home Church observes Ash Wednesday with a service of song, liturgy and
scripture reading. The purpose of this service is to prepare the congregation for Lent, Holy
Week and Easter.
Our Holy Week observance begins on the evening of Palm Sunday and continues
daily until Easter Sunday. Our services consist of readings from the Readings for Holy
Week book published by the Moravian Church in America. These readings are a harmony of
the four gospels of the New Testament and are an account of the sufferings, death, resurrection
and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Appropriate hymn stanzas are included in the readings.
All services begin at 7:30 PM unless otherwise noted.
Our Holy Week schedule is as follows:
- Sunday The Triumphal Entry
- Monday Jesus Final Parables, Rebukes of Hypocrisy
- Tuesday Signs of the End and His Coming Again
- Wednesday The Upper Room
- Thursday The Garden of Sorrows The Holy Communion
- Friday
- 2:15 PM The Crucifixion
- 7:30 PM Good Friday Lovefeast
- Saturday - 7:00 PM - Great Sabbath Service of Music
(Sponsored by the Salem Congregation)
The Easter Sunrise Service, which is sponsored by the Salem Congregation,
begins before sunrise in front of the church as the presiding minister proclaims “The Lord
is risen.” The worshipers assembled respond “The Lord is risen indeed.” The service continues
with the first half of the Liturgy for Easter Morning. As dawn begins to fill the sky the
bands begin to take their places on the street leading to, and the areas within, God's Acre.
The worshipers then walk towards God's Acre as the bands begin to play chorales antiphonally.
Once the worshipers have gathered together the bands begin to assemble in the meadow between
the old and the new sections of God's Acre. The liturgy then resumes as the band plays the
“Creation Hymn.”
On July 4, 1783 the citizens of Salem became the first Americans known
to have observed Independence Day. This tradition is continued today by the church. Our Independence
Day service begins at 8:30 AM in front of the Main Hall of Salem College. (The former site
of the Gemein Haus.) The service consists of hymns, scripture readings and the reading of
the Declaration of Independence. A prelude of hymns is presented by the Salem Congregation
Band.
The Thanksgiving Service, held on the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving,
provides an opportunity to gather and give thanks to God for all the blessings He has bestowed
upon our land. The service includes the Thanksgiving Liturgy, a message for the children,
a sermon, and the reading of the official Thanksgiving Proclamations from our governor and
the president.
In late November and early December the Women's Fellowship of Home Church
presents the Candle Tea in the historic 1769/1786 Single Brothers House. The Candle Tea is
an opportunity for the people of the community, both Moravian and non-Moravian, to get into
the spirit of the Christmas season. The Candle Tea is organized so that the visitors are moved
through the different parts of the presentation in small groups. After entering the hallway
of the Brothers house the Candle Tea is organized as follows:
- Anteroom- Greetings and a brief history of the Brothers house and the Candle Tea.
- Saal- Christmas carols sung by the visitors accompanied by the 1797/98 Tannenberg
organ.
- Dining Hall- The visitors are shown how the beeswax candles are made for the Christmas
Eve Candlelight Service, using replicas of the original tin candle molds. Candles are
available for purchase.
- The Kitchen- The visitors are given a mug of Moravian Lovefeast coffee and a piece
of Sugar Cake to enjoy while they get an opportunity to sit and rest.
- The Sub-basement
- In the first section of the sub-basement is the Salem Putz. The Putz (Pronounced
“puts”, it is a German word which means “adornment”.) is a scale model of Salem as
it would have appeared in the early 1900's. Normally a new structure is added to the
Putz each year.
- In the second section of the sub-basement is the Nativity Putz. Using a series
of lighting effects the hostess tells the story of the birth of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
- The visitors then exit through the rear entrance.
An admission fee is charged. All proceeds are donated to worthy causes.
For more information, visit the Candle Tea web site at
http://www.candletea.org
Four
services of the Christmas Eve Candlelight Lovefeast are held at Home Church. Two of the services,
which are held at 11:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M.,
are primarily for children and their families. Our two evening services, which are held at
5:00 P.M. and 7:45 P.M., are for
the adults. The Candlelight Lovefeast is a celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ
through the singing of the Christmas hymns and the reading of the birth narrative in the Gospel.
Near the end of the service each of the worshipers is given a lighted beeswax candle which
is held high as the last verse of the final hymn, “Christ The
Lord, The Lord Most Glorious,” is sung. This is to remind us that Jesus is the Light of
the world.
On December 31st at 11:00 PM the Salem Congregation sponsors
the Watch Night Lovefeast Service in the Sanctuary of Home Moravian Church. This service gives
those present a chance to thank God for His blessings during the previous year and to ask
His protection for the coming year. At the stroke of midnight the band begins to play the
hymn “Now Thank We All Our God” to announce the new year.
This page was last updated on:
Sunday, December 11, 2005 12:54:47 AM -0500
Four
services of the Christmas Eve Candlelight Lovefeast are held at Home Church. Two of the services,
which are held at 11:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M.,
are primarily for children and their families. Our two evening services, which are held at
5:00 P.M. and 7:45 P.M., are for
the adults. The Candlelight Lovefeast is a celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ
through the singing of the Christmas hymns and the reading of the birth narrative in the Gospel.
Near the end of the service each of the worshipers is given a lighted beeswax candle which
is held high as the last verse of the final hymn, “Christ The
Lord, The Lord Most Glorious,” is sung. This is to remind us that Jesus is the Light of
the world.