Moravian Church in North America

Fifth Sunday in Lent Challenging Words The only preaching, the only emphasis, I’ve heard on this particular passage is lifted from the first few verses: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” This slogan is emblazoned on plaques. It is quoted as a reminder that our words (from preachers especially!) should point people to Jesus. I […]

Watchword for the Week: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 Gracious Lord, hear our prayers. Loving God, open our ears so we may hear your call. This Lenten journey has challenged us to look deep within ourselves. We are thankful for the grace […]

Fourth Sunday in Lent Object of Terror, Beacon of Hope As I was growing up in New York City, my interactions with the natural world were limited to trips to my dad’s childhood home in the Tennessee mountains. One day, on a hike through the mountain trails, with its crystal-clear streams and spectacular views, the […]

(Pastor John Jackman, of the Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC, celebrating the forgiveness of the medical dept they were able to purchase on behalf of families who could have otherwise not been able to pay) Watchword for the Week: By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; […]

Third Sunday in Lent Holy House-Clearing There is something very cathartic in pitching things out. I’m not talking about boxing treasures up or giving a few precious items away. I’m talking about the satisfaction one derives when seeing stuff sail into the dumpster. I remember assisting a family member in sorting through years of accumulated […]

Watchword for the Week: For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 To the One who created all that is, We give thanks and praise. To the One who wove together the pattern of the […]

Pastor Tim Wagner of the Croton Falls, N.Y. Community Church, celebrated a year of Moravian traditions with his congregation throughout 2023. You can read the story here. Watchword for the Week: God says, “I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations.” Genesis 17:7 Portions of the Prayer […]

The Watchword for the Week: Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. Psalm 25:8 In this Lenten season, loving God, you call us to a time of reflection and contemplation. This is a time to ponder where our wandering steps have separated us from you. This is a time to […]

Second Sunday in Lent Not the End of the Story We know that we need to savor “mountaintop” experiences (promotions, graduations, awards, etc.) because in due time we will descend from the mountain. Usually, we get time to celebrate before reality hits, but Peter didn’t get that luxury. A few minutes after his epiphany that […]

First Sunday in Lent God Does Not Leave Us In the place where I live, this time of year is aptly named “the dead of winter.” Many residents have relocated to warmer climates. The trees are barren, shops are closed, darkness descends in late afternoon. We delighted in the early snow, but now it is […]

Last Sunday after the Epiphany | Transfiguration Sunday Thin Places Today is Transfiguration Sunday. Pastors are struggling to come up with sermons trying to explain what this unusual experience means. But what if the meaning is simply the experience itself? The experience of being in the presence of holiness? Peter, James, and John accompany Jesus […]

(Provincial leaders from our Spanish-speaking Moravian Provinces gathered for worship, fellowship, and sharing resources) Watchword for the Week For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as servants for Jesus’ sake. 2 Corinthians 4:5 We praise you, O God; we acknowledge you to be the Lord. All the earth […]

Mark your calendars for the fourth annual Moravian Day of Giving, Tuesday, February 13, 2024. This special day is not just about financial contributions; it’s about the collective strength of our Moravian community, driven by shared values and a commitment to make a lasting impact. The Moravian Day of Giving is your opportunity to contribute […]

(Participants of the 2023 Young Adult Convo singing songs of praise outside the Moravian Church in Herrnhut, Germany) Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:5 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth. To you, we give thanks, for your mercy endures forever. […]

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Choosing What We Hear In the Gospel lesson, Jesus healed many people and cast out many demons. How curious it is that Mark notes in this process of removing demons, Jesus didn’t allow the demons to speak. Why? What did they intend to say? Would they out Jesus as the […]

Watchword for the Week: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. Psalm 111:10 Come, let us worship and lift our hearts high and adore our God, our Creator. For you indeed are God, and we are your people, crafted by the skill of your hands. Psalm […]

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Amazement In life there are many things that cause us to be amazed, from the birth of a child to the changing of the seasons. I am a firm believer that God never ceases to amaze us; however, sometimes we fail to be amazed. We as a culture are also […]

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