On Wednesday, October 28th at 10:00 am parents, guardians and caregivers of students in Grades 1-12 joined us for our first ever virtual Fall Family Lovefeast. During the service we shared the hallmarks of a lovefeast including music, readings, and a special message. Students on campus were served cookies and juice in their classrooms and our adult guests were encouraged to have a snack ready at their personal viewing location… cookies and juice, the traditional coffee and sweet roll, or something else of your choosing. Though we couldn't all be in the same room together right now, we were still able to partake together in love!

I am new to the community…. What exactly is a Lovefeast?

The Moravian Lovefeast began on August 13, 1727, with a small group of refugees living on the estate of our school founder, Countess Benigna, and her father, Count Zinzendorf, in Herrnhut, Germany. The community there had experienced some discord, but after a communal celebration at the village church, the people were so moved and inspired that they didn’t want to separate. Instead of heading home to their separate dwellings, they gathered spontaneously in seven small groups. The Count sent each group some food from his kitchen for dinner, sparing them the usual tasks of the day, and allowing them to remain together. As the saying goes, they partook of this food together in love. This date marks the first Moravian Lovefeast. These early Moravians carried the tradition with them to Bethlehem, where it has endured as a joyful part of school life for over 275 years. Today, we celebrate the Lovefeast as a special Chapel service where a simple meal is shared. Everyone is welcome to participate.