Moravian Church in North America

Third Sunday in Lent Look For the Helpers Sometime our suffering is the result of sin, our own and/or that of others. However, sometimes suffering just happens. Last fall two major hurricanes ravaged parts of the eastern United States: Hurricane Helene caused damage and destruction from the Gulf Coast of Florida through the Appalachian Mountains, […]

The watchword for the week: Seek the Lord while he may be found,  call upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6 Christ invites us to come and worship To rest from the things that are troubling us; To pray for the needs of those close to us as well as for the needs of […]

The Watchword for the Week:  The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1 Incline your ear to the Lord. Listen that you may live. Today let us seek after the Lord. Let us put aside our busy lives for just this moment, May we accept God’s grace in sufficient measure […]

Second Sunday in Lent Jesus’ Grieving and Ours Even Jesus did not have a life free from grief or sadness. Along with the Old Testament prophets, in whose footsteps he walked, his wisdom in evaluating the current state of affairs brought him sadness, and his knowledge of the consequences of human actions caused him grief. […]

March 10, 2025 Dear Moravian Friends: We, the bishops serving in the Northern and Southern Provinces, greet you with the grace, mercy, peace, and love of Jesus Christ, our Chief Elder. We send you this letter as we find ourselves in a divided world that needs God’s love. In his first letter to the Corinthians, […]

First Sunday in Lent Jesus’ Temptation and Ours  “When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). One of the more disquieting concepts of this story of Jesus’ time in the wilderness is the last line, which reminds us that conquering temptation once doesn’t mean it will […]

Watchword for the Week: No one who believes in Christ will be put to shame. Romans 10:11 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 consider who we […]

The Provincial Elders’ Conferences of the Moravian Church in America, Northern and Southern Provinces, have signed on to the Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge from Church World Service (CWS). This declaration represents a commitment by religious leaders and organizations to stand against policies that endanger refugees and immigrants. At a time when the United […]

Watchword for the Week: And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus alone. Matthew 17:8 From the distractions of our lives, we gather to see Jesus. From the busyness of business we pause to adjust our focus. We come into the presence of God, Knowing our need for God’s leading in our […]

Transfiguration Sunday Mountains to Valleys There’s something about the mountains that stirs the soul. For the Israelites, mountaintop experiences often reflected an encounter with God. This seems the case for Jesus as his clothes become dazzling white and, as at his baptism, a voice from the clouds calls him “Son,” “Chosen.” There is broader meaning […]

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany In a Word, It’s All About Love At the center of the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the instructions on how to make this happen, and the key word is “love.” In biblical Greek, […]

BETHLEHEM, PA, February 21, 2025: Today, Moravian University announced that it has named Christian Rice its new Vice President and Dean of the School of Theology. Rice brings more than two decades of experience in higher education and theological education to this role. Prior to joining Moravian University, Rice worked at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. Rice […]

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany Blessings and Woes Today’s lesson comes from the Sermon on the Plain—similar to, yet different from, the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5–7. In Luke’s version there are those who are Blessed and those who are faced with Woe. The Blessings and Woes show an understanding of circumstances […]

(The attached artwork depicts Christian David felling the first tree for the construction of the village of Herrnhut 300 years ago.  He and his fellow Czech refugees trusted in God’s guidance as they began this new chapter in our Moravian history. Courtesy of the Herrnhut Moravian Congregation) The watchword for the week: Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. Jeremiah 17:7 How wonderful it […]

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany The Call to Catch People In Luke 5, we find the starting point for the incredible ministry of Simon Peter. What a great story! Jesus got into Peter’s boat and told him to put the boat out into the water so he could teach the crowd. After teaching, Jesus told […]

The watchword for the week: The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.  Psalm 138:8 During this busy day, we pause to place God at the center of our lives. We lay aside the menial tasks and the important decisions for a moment as we focus on God’s grace. […]