Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, moves Lovefeast service online

Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem has moved its traditional Lovefeast, normally held as an in-person service, to a virtual format this Christmas season. The change comes as the congregation adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lovefeast is usually a time for families and friends to gather. Rev. John Jackman of Trinity Moravian Church described the usual observance: members gather in the sanctuary, sing, share a simple meal called a Lovefeast, and pass items to one another.

This year, the church has developed an alternative. Jackman said the congregation planned a virtual program broadcast on the web so that anyone can take part, and it arranged for the items needed for the observance to reach every home. Each household that wants one will receive a Moravian candle, a Moravian Lovefeast bun, a recipe for Lovefeast coffee, and a program.

Jackman said keeping the tradition going matters to the congregation. He said the shared observance helps people feel connected even though they cannot be in the same room or do the same things, and that families can still pray the same prayers and take part in practices that other families are also observing, staying united across distance (Psalm 133:1).

The virtual service will be broadcast live online and will also be available to watch later. Jackman also addressed the wider Moravian community. “We need to wear our masks, we need to stay distant from one another and find some way to express our faith maybe in a way that is different from what we usually do but to still express it and show our love for one another,” he said.

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