Updated 6/5/2012. This PDF Introduction to the Moravian Church consist of c. 200 Power Point Slides. It describes the history and theology of Moravian Church from the time of John Hus (15th Century) through the time of Zinzendorf (18th Century) to the present day. This author began this Introduction while a member of the Inter-Provincial Faith and Order Commission c. 2002 and worked to complete it for the first Moravian Festival in 2011. He wishes to thank Br. Bill Ray III for his generous donation of many photographs of New Philadelphia in worship, working, and at play, and the Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews for taking the time to check the historical accuracy of the presentation. That said, this Slideshow is a work in progress, especially where the changes in our Southern Province have occurred. Many things have changed—like the Board of Cooperative Ministries, which is now seeking a new director, and many other things are changing. Our history is still being written. However, I am daring to put this out this version of the Slideshow because in hopes that readers will send along their feedback and make it better in the future.

This PDF Slideshow is 35 Megabytes in size, and will take a while to download. If there is a difficult with the download, refresh your browser. Users must be able to open PDF’s on their computer to this presentation. Save the Slideshow to the desktop, and run it from there—otherwise users will find themselves reloading it several times. Depending upon how the reader views the Slideshow, the internal links may not be active in this PDF version.

Other Moravian Churches are free to link to this Slideshow, and those that so desire may request a POWERPOINT version on CD. In accordance with the instructions contained in the presentation, churches may modify certain slides depicting New Philadelphia Moravian Church with slides depicting life in their own congregations. So, too, certain slides may be omitted from the presentation, and these are also noted. A special thank-you goes out to Kay Windsor for her extensive edits! Constructive criticism is always welcome.

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Worth Green, Pastor.

[box type=”download”] Download a PDF of the Slideshow here[/box].

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Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him. Acts 2:38-­39

Introduction:

Baptism is the sacrament of initiation. It is through baptism that believers and their children are embodied in the covenant of grace and become a part of the fellowship of the Church. There are some important facts that every Moravian should know about baptism.

Continue reading Baptism in the Moravian Church

The Ground of the Unity is the only doctrinal statement adopted by the Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum). First crafted in 1957, and revised several times since, it has proven its continued usefulness for more than fifty years.

The Lord Jesus Christ calls His Church into being so that it may serve Him on earth until He comes. The Unitas Fratrum is, therefore, aware of its being called in faith to serve humanity by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It recognizes this call to be the source of its being and the inspiration of its service. As is the source, so is the aim and end of its being based upon the will of its Lord.
Continue reading The Ground of the Unity

The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living was formerly known as The Brotherly Agreement of the Moravian Church. The name has changed, but, more than ever, it is heartily recommended for use in the congregations of The Moravian Church in America, Northern Province and Southern Province.

Preface

This Moravian Covenant for Christian Living is an attempt to state in clear arrangement and contemporary form a document which has long served the Moravian Church. The Church today has need of a clear statement of its faith and life through which each member may become aware of the nature of his/her Christian commitment. Such a document can become an invaluable aid in the instruction of both new and present members and a meaningful guide in the expression of the Christian life. That such a revision of the Agreement should have been made is entirely in harmony with the spirit of the early Moravian Church which believed that all forms should be updated and made relevant to the present life of the Church.

Continue reading Covenant for Christian Living