Worship at Bethabara

Our Service of Worship is Held on

Sunday at 11:00am

Streaming option available on YouTube: 

@BethabaraMoravian

All Are Welcome!

Bethabara uses an organ as its primary instrument for accompanying congregational singing. Pictured above is Bethabara's organ, built in 1923.

Sundays at Bethabara 

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Our weekly services are a prayerful, musically-minded time of worship, seeking to bring all attendees closer to Christ and His Word, while preparing us for a week of discipleship.

While no Sunday is ever alike, our time of worship tends to follow a liturgical style: consisting of a liturgy, hymns, Scripture readings, a sermon, and abundant prayer.  

"Moravian Worship"

We at Bethabara believe Moravians have a unique and effective history when it comes to praising our Savior. Thus, our worship is steeped in the tradition of the Moravians, drawing our hymns and liturgies from The Moravian Book of Worship (1995) and The Hymnal and Liturgies of The Moravian Church (1969).

We frequently include various unique Moravian practices in our worship. See below for "special services" associated with Moravian worship that are common at Bethabara.

Special Services

Holy Communion

     The Moravian Church practices Open Communion. All who profess faith in Jesus Christ and understand the meaning behind this Holy meal are welcome to receive the symbols of Jesus' body and blood given for our sins. The service of Holy Communion is different in the Moravian Church from other denominations. In these services in the Moravian Church the servers of the elements, usually ordained ministers or acolytes will bring the elements to you after the ordained minister consecrates the elements. The Services of Holy Communion, coupled with prayer and hymns are beautiful and meaningful acts of worship done "In Remembrance of Jesus" and held at different times of the year.

Lovefeast & Candle Service

     The Lovefeast, used on many special occasions including Christmas (Click here), is a worship service signifying brotherly love while sharing a simple meal of coffee and a slightly sweetened bun. It is celebrated in the spirit of the agape meal of early Christians as they gathered to express their love for the Savior and for one another. While an impactful service, the Lovefeast is not a sacrament of the Church.

We hold Lovefeasts throughout the year to mark special occasions in the life of the Church. Such occasions include the Anniversary  of Bethabara, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, as well as our friends at Brookridge Retirement Home! 

      At Christmas, a Candle Service accompanies the Lovefeast. Each worshiper receives a red trimmed beeswax candle, which has been made by members of our congregation. The red trim on the candle and its flame represent the sacrifice of Christ for humanity. The flame also represents the flame of love that He came to kindle in our hearts. At the end of the candle service, as is tradition all worshipers are invited to hold their lit candles high expressing their willingness to let the light of Christ shine in their lives and help illuminate the world with His Love. 

Singstunde

    German for "Hour of singing." The Singstunde is a music-filled service where the congregation sings together a series of hymns or stanzas of hymns. These hymns are carefully chosen and combined with Scripture in order to convey a specific devotional theme. In essence, the music becomes the sermon, and thus there is usually no spoken sermon during this ancient tradition of the Moravian Church. The Singstunde is a service of song and prayer that is conducted at different times throughout the year.