Lancaster Moravian Church
» Ministries

Worship Service – is each Sunday at 10:00 am in the sanctuary.  To hear a recording of our latest worship service - including our liturgy, message, choir, and hymn singing - click on the PLAY button.

Mission & Service Committee – is a subcommittee of our Elders that focuses exclusively on projects for the community, the greater Moravian Church, and the world.  Much of our local work is coordinated through programs of the Lancaster County Council of Churches.  One example of our work includes Share the Bounty Sunday held each third Sunday of the month with the donations going to the LCCC Mission Food & Clothing Bank or the Water Street Mission.  Other ministries include Hope House, Habitat for Humanity, Milagro House, Crispus Attucks, Tools for Schools, Moravian Open Door, and Lend-a-Hand.  M & S Committee normally meets every other month.  Check our calendar for the next date and time.

Christian Education Committee – is another subcommittee of our Elders that focuses its efforts on growth in knowledge and understanding of our relationship with the Lord.  Adult Sunday classes, Youth (more information found under Groups), and Children’s Sunday School are their ongoing weekly ministries.  In addition, a Women’s Bible Study group has recently begun meeting each Thursday @ 1:30 pm in the Parlor.  Our annual Vacation Bible School includes trips to fun and interesting sites with teaching to link the trip and God’s presence in our lives.  CE meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month @ 7:00 pm.

Moravian Daily Text – is a unique daily devotional guide.  With roots dating back 282 years, The Daily Text is used today by 1.5 million people worldwide – more than twice as many as all Moravians combined!.  Each day The Moravian Daily Text includes a watch word (a Hebrew (Old Testament) reading) and a doctrinal text (a New Testament reading) which relate to each other.  For each reading there is also one stanza of a related hymn.  A short prayer concludes each day.  Perhaps the Daily Text has endured so long due to this blending of scripture, hymnody, and prayer, briefly touching on the three main avenues of worship.  A copy for this year can be purchased at the church for $10 or can be received free of charge daily by e-mail from www.moravian.org/daily_texts/.  (Note: The e-mail version will not include the hymn stanzas due to copyright considerations.)

Readings for Holy Week – chronologically walk us through Holy Week with Jesus by each day reading the appropriate texts found in the Gospels.  The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, each in their own unique and sometimes diverse ways.  These readings of the day are separated by hymn stanzas that further contribute to understanding the events, emotions, and meaning of that day.  While recognizing the dangers in attempting to blend or harmonize the Gospels, for this week we experience the Readings as a effective way to prepare ourselves for the life-changing events ahead – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.  Check our calendar for dates, times, and location of this faith enhancing practice.

Unity Prayer Watch – recognizes and addresses the Biblical call (1 Thessalonians 5:17) to pray without ceasing.  Yet no one individual can literally pray without ceasing, but a group of believers can!  Therefore the Moravian congregations throughout the world take their turn in providing members at prayer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.  What is especially interesting about this vigil, is the relatively small size of our denomination – only about ¾ of a million people.  Yet despite our small size, each year we gladly take on this responsibility and opportunity to literally pray without ceasing.

Mission – has always been a hallmark of the Renewed Unity (worldwide name of the Moravian Church).  We recognize mission as more than an obligation, it is a defining call of our relationship with God and with our fellow neighbor.  To live our call to mission, Moravians understand that action, rather than mere intention, is essential.  Moravians also understand mission as bringing people to Christ, rather than to Moravian membership, as the primary goal.  We currently have missions throughout the world, many in lands that are too remote or undeveloped to support themselves.  Our most successful mission of the last century (numerically speaking) has been in southern Africa where ¾ of today’s Moravians reside.