Full disclosure. I really go for that cup of coffee. And to eat that bun. And I always imagine how much better it would taste with a big slab of country ham on it. I also love the smell of beeswax. But for me, it really is all about the coffee.
I am talking about the Moravian Love feast. Unless, you are Moravian, or grew up in Winston-Salem or Bethlehem, (PA, not the West Bank), you probably are not familiar. And you may or may not know the history or significance of a Love feast.
The Moravian love feast is a service of song at which a simple meal is severed to the congregation. This meal, usually a bun and coffee, is an act of fellowship. It is not a sacrament, nor a substitute for Communion.
The Love feast, begun by the Moravians in 1727, is a revival of the Agape of the early Christian Church. The service spread with the church throughout the world, and remains an important part of Moravian religious ritual. A love feast is a service dedicated to agape, or Christian love, considered the greatest of virtues. A love feast seeks to remove social barriers and encourage reverence and respect for the legitimate rights of all people.
The largest love feast in the world is held every year in Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest. If you have never been, put it on your bucket list.
The Christmas Love feast traditionally ends with a candlelight service. Beeswax candles trimmed in red tissue paper are passed out to represent Christ, the Light of The World.
To be honest, the professor who taught me the Moravian History would be quite disappointed that I have so simplistically described a love feast and my brother in law who is Moravian would have expected more as well. The service is rich with symbolism and laden with meaning. I suspect I have attended no less than 100 in my lifetime. Traditionally, my husband, son and I always attend the Christmas Eve Love feast at Kernersville Moravian Church.
I love the coffee. Moravian coffee is special and different. And to be even more honest, I would convert right now if they could promise me a cup of that coffee every Sunday morning. My brother in law is one of the coffee makers at his congregation. There is an art to it. And it really can't be replicated in your kitchen at home. Trust me, I have tried. I even own a set of Moravian coffee mugs. The music at a Christmas Love feast usually involves Moravian hymns as well as traditional Protestant carols. And at the end, Morning Star is always sung. A traditional Moravian Hymn that is only sung at the Christmas Love feast. And always, everyone in the congregation holds up a lighted candle trimmed in red to represent Christ the Light of the World. And always, I have taken the candle with me, until today.
So today I had to return the Light of the World. Today I only got to hold the Light of Christ in my hand for about five minutes or as long as it takes a Moravian ensemble to sing Morning Star and the pastor to bless us and send us forth in peace. And there she was taking up the Light of Christ in a basket. And it made me wonder had I known I was going to have to return the Light of the World, would I have held onto more tightly? And as I walked away stunned and wondering exactly what would I trim my scrapbook page representing 12.12.12 with now?
The hospital where I work celebrates three Love Feasts during Advent. There are a couple of reasons why I find that miraculous. First, given the age and times in which we live, and how polarizing religion can be, it amazes me that such a "Christian" celebration is allowed in such a "public" place. It certainly would be forbidden in our schools. And in such lean economic times, (yes I will be honest, I can think of better uses for the money), I am surprised it has survived budget cuts. But given my love for that coffee, I am glad it did. So, every year, for the past twenty years or so, I have attended and I have kept my candle. Until today. Today I had to give it back.
And so did he. I suspect if you have ever had your heart broken, ever felt grief, ever watched your world fall apart or ever had to say goodbye to the very thing or the very one who you thought meant the most, or ever felt the pain of abandonment, or ever suffered through the end of an important relationship, then I suspect you know a thing or two about returning light.
Joseph must have thought more than once that never in a million years would he have dreamed this was to be the way. Brown Bannister put those very thoughts to music.
It can be hard to walk in the dark. It can be difficult at best realize that you have to give the light up. And even if we could see the future and even if we knew when we might be called upon to give the light up, would it make us more present to the times when the Light is so bright? Would it cause us to hold onto the Light more tightly? No, I suspect not and that is how it should be.
And today, with a lump in my throat, and my eyes stinging with tears, (desperately trying not to ruin my makeup - I was at work after all), it occurred me that giving the Light back was the plan all along. It is a strange way to save the world. Only by being willing to lay the Light down, does the dawn ever come. Only by being willing to step into the dark of the night, will you ever see the next morning. And if we never, ever saw the dark...could we really ever know what the light could look like? If we never saw dark, would we ever know how to hope. I suspect not. Joseph was willing to give the Light back. He gave it back so the world could be saved. Strange isn't it? So holding tightly to the Light won't really save anyone (not even ourselves), holding on tightly to the Light won't make the room any brighter, holding on tightly to the Light won't cause the night not to fall, the only thing we gain by holding on tightly to the Light is that we are the only ones who can see.
So, never be afraid to give the Light back. It is the plan after all.
What a strange way to save the world.
All is grace,
moravian coffee
love feast buns
ham
beeswax candles
saying goodbye
endings
beginnings
light
dark
Moravian Stars
our traditions
carols
"What a strange way to save the world"
Christmas Cards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL6JfNjTHpg (skip the add, turn off the light and give the light back)
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