Advent Moravian Church has a long history that can be traced back to 1859. As people moved into the growing area of Bethlehem, south of the Lehigh River, parents became concerned about the spiritual life of their children. They asked Miss Amanda Jones, a member of the Moravian Congregation of Bethlehem, to conduct religious instruction on the South Side of Bethlehem. The first Sunday School servic
e was held in a public schoolhouse on May 1, 1859, with 11 pupils. Before long, they had 279 pupils, three male and ten female teachers, and had to move to the grain house of A. A beautiful legend describes Amanda as being rowed across the Lehigh to attend to her duties as superintendent of the school by the son of parents who were inspired by her vision. Children were taught the knowledge of Christ without sectarian bias. Amanda was assisted by students from Moravian College in the fall of 1859. On July 3, 1860, about 60 people met in the grain house with Rev. Francis Hagen, President of Moravian College and composer of "Morning Star." They signed a memorial requesting the Bethlehem Home Mission Society to help erect a church building south of the Lehigh. The German-speaking congregation was formally organized on December 25, 1863 with the reception of 20 Brethren and Sisters. The cornerstone for the first church was laid in November 22, 1863, and the building consecrated a year later. Henry Van Vleck became the first pastor. Enrollment in the Sunday School under Amanda's leadership was 478. At about the same time, Lehigh University was established and bought the first church, renaming it "Christmas Hall." A new building was erected at Packer Avenue and Webster Street. The congregation shared its church with an English Moravian Mission from the spring of 1868 until it was discontinued in 1869. Shortly thereafter, English and German services were conducted alternately. Advent became a self-sustaining congregation in 1908. In 1911, the third church building was erected at that site. The builder, Robert E. Pfeifle, a member of the congregation, was a civic-minded citizen, who later became mayor of Bethlehem. It was Mayor Pfeifle who publicized the city as "the Christmas City" and planned extensive lighting displays and the star atop South Mountain. Part of the congregation's ministry was a Christmas Putz of artistry and beauty. Thousands of tourists viewed the Putz each year. Sandwiched between the vast Bethlehem Steel Company and the expanding Lehigh University, church members began to migrate from South Bethlehem. Finally, after prayerful consideration, the congregation acceded to a request of Lehigh University to purchase their land for further expansion. After worshiping in Borhek Chapel at Moravian College, we became Advent Moravian Church in December 1964. The Church in its present location, Hanover Township, is in a growing area of Northampton County. We are surrounded by industrial parks that spark the new economy of the Lehigh Valley. New residents are finding a vital church home as members of our congregation. ALL LITURGIES AND HYMNS IN VIDEOS-- Reprinted or adapted from the 1995 Moravian Book of Worship with the permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church in America. © 1995 IBOC. www.moravian.org; e-mail: [email protected]. All rights reserved.
