In order to get people in the holiday spirit during the month of December the Relgious Life office is sponsoring their annual Moravian Christmas Lovefeast and candle service held on Monday at 5 p.m. in the Elon Community Church. This European service of traditional Chrsitmas carols was brought over by Moravian settlers from Germany to Winston Salem, N.C.

The first Moravian Lovefeast to be celebrated in the U.S. was held in 1753. This service was established after the Moravian Church in 1727 revived the tradition of Christians who broke bread together signifying their spirtual union as well as love and fellowship for the church. The Moravian Church has demonstrated this practice through the years by celebrating church festivals called "lovefeasts."

Chaplain Richard McBride has been invloved in these services since he has been at Elon.

"It's held annually, for at least the 20 years that I have been here, though it predated me by some number of years," he said.

McBride said he spent 10 years as an assistant Chaplain at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, one of two main centers of Moravian Church life in the U.S. (the other is Bethlehem, Penn.), which made him want to get invloved with these services at Elon.

McBride said his office plans the service each year in cooperation with Elon Community Church.  This year's guest speaker will be Betsy Reed Bombick, who is a lifelong Moravian and member of Home Moravian Church in Old Salem.

Bombick is one of McBride's former students from Wake Forest. She will speak about the contemporary Moravian Church, its missions in Central America and how the contemporary church is connected to its German heritage.

McBride said the Lovefeast usually draws a crowd of 300 people, which he considers to be a nice mixture of "town and gown." Students and members of the community come together to get in the holiday spirit as well as reflect on what they are most thankful for.

During the service, students have the opportunity to sing the Moravian carol "The Morning Star" while enjoying the service. Particpants will receive a meal of coffee and a Moravian bun. 

"I attended the Lovefeast last year not knowing what to expect and I came away feeling happy I had gone," said sophmore Danielle Kotopoulis.

She said that the service made her excited about Christmas and also made her realize what giving to others was all about during the holidays.

McBride said during the festivities, students and members of the community will be asked to hold a beeswax candle and watch the light flow down the rows. The candles symbolize Christ, glorifying the ablity humans have to shine their light around the world.

The service is open to anyone who enjoys like singing a Christmas carol and enjoying meeting and seeing new people and old friends.

"I have heard that this festival is a lot of fun, so I am looking foward to attending it this year," said sophmore Darcy Bridges.

Bridges said that this is exactly what she needs to get into the holiday spirit before she goes home for Christmas.

For more information contact the Relgious Life Office located in Moseley, at ext. 7729 or e-mail the office summerre@elon.edu.

Elon University Pendulum © 2003