Christ Our Shepherd will offer its twelfth annual Love Feasts in Moravian Tradition on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m.
Christ Our Shepherd’s inter-generational church band will play carols in the Narthex about 30 minutes before each service. Then, at 15 minutes before the hour, The musical offering will feature music by Joyful Noise Ringers, The COS Winds, the Love Feast Consort, and harp soloist Jamie Ann Gossett.
During the services everyone will be served a Love Feast bun and Moravian-recipe coffee or apple juice. Music by the Sanctuary Choir, Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Brass Choir, da Chiesa strings, and Joyful Noise Ringers will permeate the services.
At the singing of “Silent Night” all will be given a beeswax candle, another Moravian tradition.
Included are festive arrangements of songs by contemporary composer/performer Michael W. Smith, along with a rich variety of seasonal music and carols for the congregation.
New this year are three carols by John Rutter and a contemporary carol by Chris Rice.
Love Feasts are a cherished tradition of the Moravian Church, with which Lutherans are partners.
Sparked by the dissent of a priest, Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake over a century before the Reformation, Unitas Fratrum, as they were known, were nearly stomped out in two centuries of war and persecution.
A Lutheran nobleman invited the struggling group to his estate in Germany, and they founded a community at Herrnhut.
Five years later, on Aug. 13, 1727, the believers came together to share in the sacrament of Holy Communion.
When the service became protracted with singing and praying, the nobleman sent food, and Love Feasts grew from that event.
Love Feasts are worship services but not communion services, and there is no sermon.
There is no admission charge, and all are welcome.
Christ Our Shepherd is on the corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City. For more information, call 770-487-8717.
