Welcome!
Welcome to Schoeneck Moravian Church, located in a “beautiful corner” of Nazareth, Pennsylvania!
Are you visiting Schoeneck for the first time? Looking for a church home in the Lehigh Valley? Perhaps you are just interested in learning more about Schoeneck Moravian Church and experiencing Moravian worship?
We are so glad you are visiting our website — you can learn more about what we do at Schoeneck and about the heritage and traditions of the Moravian Church. We encourage you to look at the various pages to see the many different ways we are living out our mission statement of following Jesus in loving and serving all.
Join Us For Worship!
We hope you will be inspired by what you see here to join us for worship.
Our worship services are on Sundays at 8:00 am and 10:30 am,
with Sunday School for children, youth, and adults at 9:15 am.
We encourage you to join us in person for worship in our beautiful sanctuary. Congregational worship is our shared opportunity for spiritual growth and faithful fellowship. When we worship together, a special bond is formed between us that comes from feeling Jesus Christ’s presence among us. Come add your voice, your spirit, and your smile — we can’t wait to worship with you!
We live-stream our 10:30 am worship service on YouTube for those who can’t join us in person. Please click here to view the most recent live-stream, or to see videos of past worship services.
For your convenience, our sanctuary is air-conditioned and universally accessible.
Please click here for more information about our worship services.
We can’t wait to see you in church!
The Season of Advent
The season of Advent is when we prepare our hearts and minds for the arrival of Christ. It is a time of soul-searching, but also a time of joyful anticipation of that great day on which we celebrate Emmanuel – which means “God with us.”
At Schoeneck, Advent is a contemplative season of expectation, of candlelight, and of reflections on hope, peace, love, and joy. We celebrate by placing an Advent wreath of evergreen branches in the sanctuary with four candles surrounding a central Christ candle. One candle is lit each Sunday and the flame of each new candle reminds us that something is happening. . . And something more is still to come!
The First Sunday of Advent — Sun. Nov. 30th at 8:00 & 10:30 am
The readings for the first Sunday in Advent assure us that God will fulfill all his promises through the birth of Jesus. For this reason the first Advent candle represents HOPE.
Advent Candlelight Holy Communion — Sun. Nov. 30th at 4:30 pm
On the First Sunday of Advent, we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion at a special worship service in the late afternoon. Many people find this contemplative service to be one of the best ways to prepare spiritually for the season. We also invite you to stay after the worship service for a Fellowship Dinner in our Fellowship Hall. Schoeneck Moravian Church practices open communion – if you have been baptized, regardless of denomination, you are welcome to partake in the sacrament of Holy Communion with us.
A Quiet Christmas — Wed. Dec. 3rd at 7:00 pm
As we begin this joy-filled celebration of Advent, we know that there are those for whom this season might not be a time of joy or anticipation. Whether you’re grieving, feeling weary, or just need a moment of peace, we come together as a community to love and support one another. This service makes space during this busy, holiday time to reflect, find comfort, encouragement, and hope. Individuals attending will be invited to light candles as we remember loved ones no longer with us. All are welcome.
The Second Sunday of Advent — Sun. Dec. 7th at 8:00 & 10:30 am
The readings for the second Sunday concern Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and other prophecies, so the candle is often called the “Bethlehem candle” and represents PEACE.
The Third Sunday of Advent — Sun. Dec. 14th 10:30 am only
The readings for the Third Sunday of Advent relate to John the Baptist, and the candle may be called the “shepherds candle” and represents JOY.
Schoeneck’s Music Ministry will be presenting a Christmas Cantata — Morning Star Rises, featuring the Senior Choir, our Junior and Senior Handbell Choirs as well as brass, organ, and piano. This beloved service of lessons and carols will feature many of the great songs of the Christmas season. Please join us for this festive service — you won’t want to miss it!
The Fourth Sunday of Advent — Sun. Dec 21st at 8:00 & 10:30 am
The readings for the fourth Sunday relate to the annunciation of Christ’s birth, for which the Magnificat or “Song of Mary” may be featured. The candle is known as the “Angel’s candle” and represents LOVE.
Schoeneck’s Sunday School will present their annual Christmas Program at the 10:30 am worship service. Our Sunday School students will share the story of the birth of Christ through a traditional Christmas Pageant of Scripture and Song. Enjoy music from our talented youth, join in singing beloved hymns, and find comfort in the familiar words as we journey through the Advent Season. All are welcome!
For more information on the Advent Season, please click here.
Please Join Us — All Are Welcome!
This Month At SchoenecK
Dec
3
A Quiet Christmas Service
A Quiet Christmas will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:00 pm. As we begin this joy–filled celebration of Advent, we know that there are those for whom this season might not be a time of joy or anticipation. Our Quiet Christmas service is offered as a place for people to come together to express grief or loss — loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, a job; some might be looking for hope. Join us for a time of contemplation and encouragement, as we come together as a community of love and support for one another.
Dec
6
Advent Workshop & Sanctuary Decorating
The Christian Education Ministry is holding an Advent Workshop in conjunction with Decorating the Sanctuary on Saturday, December 6th from 9:00 am to 12 noon. All children (whether they regularly attend Sunday School or not) are invited to the Fellowship Hall for crafts, fun, and fellowship. Meanwhile, adults of all ages are invited to help decorate the sanctuary. Please bring your children and grandchildren with you to attend the Advent Workshop in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be provided for EVERYONE, so that when you go home you are filled up with nourishment in your body and God’s love in your heart!
Dec
7
Second Sunday of Advent
The readings for the second Sunday concern Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and other prophecies, so the candle is often called the “Bethlehem candle” and represents PEACE.
Dec
7
Joyful Noise Offering
A Joyful Noise Offering takes place on the first Sunday of each month. Proceeds go to Moravian Open Door, a non-profit organization committed to providing transitional housing and supportive services to those experiencing homelessness, those who are distressed, and the underserved population of New York City.
Dec
14
Third Sunday of Advent
There will be just one service at 10:30 am today. The third Sunday of Advent is often called Gaudete Sunday after the first word of the introit (Philippians 4:4). The readings relate to John the Baptist, and the candle may be called the “shepherds candle” and represents JOY.
Schoeneck’s Music Ministry will be presenting a Christmas Cantata — Morning Star Rises, featuring the Senior Choir, our Junior and Senior Handbell Choirs as well as brass, organ, and piano. This beloved service of lessons and carols will feature many of the great songs of the Christmas season. Please join us for this festive service — you won’t want to miss it!
Dec
14
Unity Prayer Watch
The Unity Prayer Watch is a practice in which every moment of every day someone in the world–wide Moravian Unity is praying for the church and the world. Schoeneck participates in this sacred tradition on Sunday, December 14th. You can sign–up on the bulletin board outside the Church Office. Packets with prayer topics are available for you to take home as well. For more about the Unity Prayer Watch, including downloadable prayer topics for 2025, please click here.
DEC
21
Fourth Sunday of Advent
The readings for the fourth Sunday relate to the annunciation of Christ’s birth, for which the Magnificat or “Song of Mary” may be featured. The candle is known as the “Angel’s candle” and represents LOVE.
Schoeneck’s Sunday School will present their annual Christmas Program at the 10:30 am worship service. Our Sunday School students will share the story of the birth of Christ through a traditional Christmas Pageant of Scripture and Song. Enjoy music from our talented youth, join in singing beloved hymns, and find comfort in the familiar words as we journey through the Advent Season. All are welcome!
DEC
24
Christmas Eve
4:00 pm — Children’s Christmas Eve Lovefeast & Candlelight Service
6:30 pm — Traditional Christmas Eve Lovefeast & Candlelight Service
8:30 pm — Traditional Christmas Eve Lovefeast & Candlelight Service
For more information, please click here.
Dec
28
First Sunday After Christmas
There will be just one worship service at 10:30 am with Sunday School for children, youth, and adults at 9:15 am.
dec
31
New Year’s Eve Lovefeast
Our New Year’s Eve Lovefeast is a wonderful way to ring in the New Year. It is a family–friendly worship service filled with songs and prayers thanking God for the blessings of the past year and looking with Christian hope towards the incoming year. The selection of a Congregational Watchword for the coming year and the distribution of personal watchwords are a favorite highlight of this service.
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2025 Congregational Watchword
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
— John 14:27