Breaking bread together as an expression of fellowship in Christ and equality of people before him was common practice in the early church.  The term for this meal was “Lovefeast” stemming from the Greek word “agape”, and showcased table fellowship as a way of demonstrating one’s love for Christ and each another. However, over time this devotional service disappeared.

The Moravian Church’s celebration and renewal of the Lovefeast tradition recalls a special event. Early Moravians lived in a communal society, but the church was facing difficulties and tensions among the members. After a moving service on August 12, 1727, members felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and wanted to continue their time together. Seeing this, Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf, one of the 18^th century leaders of the church, sent food from his kitchen to the small groups meeting outside the church.  This experience is known today as the renewal of the Moravian Church and the first modern-day Lovefeast experience.

Today’s lovefeasts are not sacraments of our church, but rather an opportunity to experience through a shared meal the gift of God’s love. All are welcome to participate, waiting until everyone is served the sugarcake (or bun) and a drink to partake together.  Lovefeasts are usually celebrated on special days of celebration for the church and consists primarily of a song service.

Here at Calvary, we always host Lovefeasts on the following days:

• Our Anniversary (First Sunday in March)
• Mother’s Day
• Celebration Sunday (Second Sunday in September)
• First Sunday in Advent
• Christmas Eve

A Note On Dietary Restrictions:

Our Moravian Sugarcake is some of the very best in the Lehigh Valley, but to make it taste so good it is full of gluten, dairy, and sugar. Because we know this is not always a treat that everyone can enjoy, we typically have some cookies available that are just as delicious, but without all the common allergens. If you plan to attend one of our Lovefeasts and just want to confirm we will have a treat you can enjoy, please contact our church office and we would be happy to assist you!