Moravian Church in North America

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost What’s Important I used to put a lot of effort into smoking cigars. And I mean a lot! Each week I would shop online for bundles of cigars, and wait for them to ship. When I ran short, I’d make trips to cigar stores—some almost an hour from where I lived. […]

The watchword for the week: The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:8 From the busyness that fills our lives, We gather to fix our attention on God’s way. From the distractions that re-order our life’s priorities, We gather to fix our […]

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost Caring for the Children Jesus had a great deal to say. Sometimes it was simple, and direct. At other times even the disciples did not understand what he was telling them. The Scripture tells us that reality. One of the statements Christ made is understandable and clear. Taking a child in […]

(Members of Estamos Unidos, St. Philips, and Home Moravian Congregations assemble bean and rice packs for Sunnyside Ministries in Winston-Salem, NC) The watchword for the week: Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35 Praise the Lord and give thanks for all God’s mercies. In Jesus […]

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Who Do You Say That I am? Glory, fame, honor, praise, power are goals we do not normally associate with Jesus’ disciples. When Peter, rightly, proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, the context of this story points to the fact that Peter had his own understanding of the role and purpose of […]

(Lay Ministers being commissioned in Hopedale, Labrador) The watchword for the week: Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” Mark 8:29 Amid this busy day, we pause to place God at the center of all that we are. We lay aside the menial tasks and the important decisions for just a moment […]

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Becoming “Opened” Jesus encounters a woman from Syrophoenicia, a Gentile region. Despite her being an outsider, her “otherness,” and the cultural barriers between them, this woman approaches Jesus with an unwavering faith, pleading for her daughter to be healed. At first, Jesus seems to insult her, stating that his mission is […]

The watchword for the week: I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Psalm146:2 May the love of the Lord our God be upon us. Christ, inspire the work of our hands; May the mercy of the Lord our God be upon us. […]

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Hand Washing At first glance, the Pharisees’ question for Jesus regarding hand washing before meals seems valid. It evokes the Far Side cartoon of the man exiting the bathroom and a “did not wash his hands” alarm going off. There are certain public health considerations that we perform in common, and […]

As bishops of the Moravian Unity in the Northern and Southern Provinces, we greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Chief Elder. We had the blessing of spending August 19-23, 2024, in community at Laurel Ridge, the Moravian Conference Center in North Carolina. This has allowed us time to share fellowship and worship, […]

The watchword for the week:  Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19 Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us give thanks to the One who hears our prayers and is quick to forgive. We can take comfort in knowing that the Spirit of God is upon […]

Fourteen Sunday after Pentecost Bread Familiar and Mysterious Eating the bread was easy; but then things got harder. After the feast, the people who ate the bread were frustrated when Jesus didn’t show up where they expected. Then he refused to give them a sign. Then he challenged them to give up old ways of […]

The watchword for the week: Jesus says, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63 How wonderful are your ways, loving God. We look at the world you have created, and we are filled with awe. While we marvel at the complexity of this creation, we are even more […]

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Living Bread “This is my body.” The church calls these the “words of institution.” With them, the pastor presiding at communion invokes Christ’s presence in the bread. In our communion service we remember that Jesus spoke these words as he offered bread to his disciples in their last meal together—as the […]

(The newly elected Western District Board of the Northern Province is installed at their recent Synod. ) The watchword for the week: Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight. Proverbs 9:6 Gracious God, we adore your saving name. We give thanks that grace is at the center of your way. […]