LOVEFEAST

The lovefeast became a cherished part of Moravian worship because of the spiritual renewal of August 13, 1727. On that day in Berthelsdorf, Germany, in the context of shared worship and meals, Moravians rediscovered a sense of Christian unity and fellowship, which had been threatened by personal hostilities and doctrinal disputes.
    
Though the meal has been simplified, Moravians and their guests still experience the blessings of Christian fellowship as they share hymns of praise over coffee and sweetened buns. The lovefeast is not the sacrament of communion, but styled after the common meal partaken in love and fellowship by the early Church as described in the book of Acts. Bishop Herbert Spaugh suggests “In Holy Communion the symbolism is that God shares with us. In the lovefeast the symbolism is that the Christian shares with his fellow-Christians.” In the lovefeast there is a sense of unity, a fellowship of sharing with family and friends, a prayerful concern for others. The lovefeast provides an ideal forum for celebrating Christian unity in a world where doctrinal disputes still fracture Christ’s church.

The traditional lovefeast consists of a sweetened bun and coffee or chocolate. It is served in the pews by dieners (servers), the women serve the baskets of sweetened buns and the men serve the coffee and chocolate. After all have been served, a Moravian grace is spoken, and then all partake together. During the meal, music is usually offered while the congregation quietly visits with neighbors and prays for one another.

Other than a common meal, the lovefeast is a service largely of music in the form of Singstunde, a service that includes hymns, anthems and chorales that relate to a theme of faith, usually to God’s grace and the Christian’s response to love as they are loved.