New Philadelphia Moravian Church was established on July 26, 1846 to serve the New Philadelphia Community, hence our name. The community itself is gone, long ago swallowed up by Winston-Salem; but the church remains. Today New Philadelphia is a large regional church serving western Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville and beyond. Several of our members come weekly from Kernersville, Greensboro, Mt. Airy, Advance, etc. At present we worship two services each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. We have a Sunday School for all ages at 10:45 a.m., and an active program for Elementary, Middle and Senior High Youth. Our aim is to have a quality, large church program that can meet the needs of individuals and families regardless of their age or station in life. We take pride that, though we have grown in numbers, we have maintained a personal touch. Our character is summed up in our mission statement:

New Philadelphia seeks to be an open and caring Christian congregation in the Moravian tradition, worshipping God and honoring the scripture, while encouraging one another to live, love, and serve like Jesus as we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.

The Moravian Denomination

The Moravian Church was first known by the name “Unitas Fratrum.” It is a Latin phrase meaning, “Unity of the Brethren.” Worldwide, it is still our official name. The church got its start in Moravia and Bohemia, hence the name “Moravians”.

The History of the Moravian Church is divided into the time of the Ancient Unity, and to the time of the Renewed Church.

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Worship with Us

New Philadelphia currently offers two ways to join in worship; Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in-person or watch live-stream online via our Facebook page, and 11:30 a.m. in-person only.  Our pastor, The Rt. Rev. Sam Gray presides over our worship services.

There is a nursery for worship services.

Our Sunday service features frequent musical offerings by our Band, and our Bell Choir.

Worship Team

Our Worship Team leads worship each Sunday at 9:30 AM. and 11:30 a.m. and meets at 7:00 PM each Monday for practice. Michael Westmoreland is our Organist.

A number of New Philadelphians are accomplished musicians, and we frequently enjoy the trumpet, flute, violin, or guitar in our worship services. We invite members and friends of New Philadelphia to participate in one choir, or in both.

Bells of Joy

The Bells of Joy meets every Wednesday evening at 6:45 p.m. and Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. to practice and enjoy fellowship with each other as we work through a variety of music to enhance the worship experience for the NPMC congregation. The members of our handbell choir come from a variety of musical backgrounds, but each of us enjoys creating music as a part of our ministry to the church. Our director, Terri Queen, is a delightful leader, always eager to guide and challenge us. Music is a wonderful way to worship our Lord and Savior, and we are so happy to be a part of the music program at New Philadelphia.

The New Philadelphia Band

The New Philadelphia Moravian Church Band meets weekly on Sunday mornings. There are classes for beginning band members, and scholarships are presently available for children who wish to play an instrument. Although the Band takes a special interest in Church Festival occasions (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Palm Sunday, Passion Week, Easter, Pentecost, 4th of July, August 13th, Church Anniversary, and Thanksgiving), the main purpose of the Band from week to week is to play a prelude for each Sunday morning worship service. During Lent and Advent, the Band plays rounds through the community and at homes of shut-ins. The Band is also committed to supporting funeral services of members within this and other Moravian congregations. Do you play an instrument? Would you like to? You are invited to participate with our band. Contact David Teague at band@newphilly.org for additional details.

During the summer we have Band-Rounds in the fellowship hall.

Useful links:

MoravianChorales.Info hosts a complete green-blue chorale book in parts.

MoravianBand.Org is the Southern Province Band Page.

For additional information about our musicians, please check out the Staff page.

The Christmas Eve Lovefeasts

The Christmas Eve Lovefeasts are the apex of worship at New Philadelphia Moravian Church. Services are held at 4:30 p.m. and at 8:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with a band prelude 30 minutes prior to each. The dieners serve a simple meal of buns and coffee as the congregations sings carols and hymns of the season. We partake together as the choir sings several anthems. Then, as we sing “Morning Star” the candles are distributed to every worshipper. A wonderful scent feels the air. The warmth of the moment is palpable. The soft glow of the light from hundreds of pure beeswax candles reminds us that Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world!” Or, as St. Paul once wrote, “We have seen the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.” Then, during the final verse of the final hymn, the congregation holds all our candles aloft to remind one another that Jesus also said, “And you are the light of the world! Let your light so show shine before people that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven.”

Moravians have long argued for the simplicity of the Christian faith, albeit a simplicity that is found on the far side of complexity. Luke of Prague, a premier theologian of the Ancient Unity, taught that the one essential (see motto above) was “a heart relationship with the Triune God that issues in faith, hope and love.” Count Zinzendorf said that all essential Christian doctrine could be written down on one large sheet of paper. We find a similar pattern of looking for the simplicity on the far side of complexity in the New Testament when Jesus says, “So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) Or, when St. Paul says, “The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9)

Continue reading What We Believe