PONDERINGS (ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) April 2018, Vol. 49, No. 3 Publications Agreement No. 40036408 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: OnTrac International, 121 5th Avenue NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 email: file@ontrac.com Official Journal, The Moravian Church in North America, Northern and Southern Provinces
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The Lord is Risen, Indeed!
s I continue to pen the “Ponderings” column for each issue of The Moravian Magazine, I notice that fewer and fewer of them are about my Moravian “firsts.” Early on in my editorship, it was fun to write about the new things. My first synods, my first trips to camp, my first Lovefeasts or Singstundes or Moravian conferences all made for (hopefully) interesting reflections on learning about and living beloved Moravian traditions. This spring, I got to experience a new first, one that I’d been told is a “must see”—the Easter Sunrise service in Winston-Salem. I had heard so many wonderful things about the service, the music, the crowd, the beauty of it all, but timing and distance had conspired against my being there—until this year. My wife, daughter and I had made the 450-mile trek to North Carolina to spend the Easter weekend with relatives in Durham. Once there, I was so close— less than 80 miles away—and decided this was the year when I was going. I rose quietly as to not wake anyone and was in the car before 4 a.m. for the hour and twenty minute drive. It’s remarkable how enjoyable a drive along Interstates 85 and 40 can be when you essentially have the road to yourself. I arrived in Winston-Salem and parked at Salem College, just a short walk to Home Church. While walking across the parking lot, I met some other visitors for whom this would be their first service, too. Despite their drowsiness, they seemed excited to be there. Now, I’ve spent plenty of time in the Old Salem area during my tenure with the IBOC, but I had never seen it so dark…and so crowded! As I approached Home Church, I ran into friends and colleagues, all pointing me in the right direction for the service. Knowing people has its perks; I got access to the Home Church tower for photos, met with the clergy gathered in the sanctuary (including the pastor who would lead this year’s service), received first-hand explanations of what was about to take place, and arranged for a plum spot right in front of the dais where the service would commence. Alas, I had arrived too late to experience the roaming brass players who spread out into the city in the pre-dawn hours to rouse the sleeping faithful to the sunrise service. Perhaps next time… The crowd in Salem Square and up Church St. continued to grow as the time to begin the service approached. Each year starts at a slightly different time to coincide with the sunrise, which shifts from year to year based on the date (later when Easter falls early, earlier when Easter falls late.) It’s also precisely timed, as
Published monthly, except bimonthly January-February and June/July issues, by the Interprovincial Board of Communication, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. Subscription rates: $15.00 per year, U.S.A. & Canada; $18.00 per year, all other countries. Individual copies available for $3.00 each. The Moravian is sent to the families of the Moravian Church as a privilege of membership. Periodicals postage paid at Bethlehem, PA. Circulation: 17,000 Postmaster please send address changes to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245. Continuing The North American Moravian, The Moravian and The Wachovia Moravian. Michael Riess, Editor Susan Kiefner, Communications Assistant Jill Bruckart, Customer Relations/Business Assistant Interprovincial Board of Communication Ginny Tobiassen, chair Terri Bischoff, Peggy Carter, Margaret Couch, Lance Fox, Paul Knouse, Kat Lehman, Amy Linville, Dan Miller, Jill Westbrook. Design by Michael Riess, IBOC. Address all correspondence regarding articles, subscriptions, or advertising to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245 FAX: 610.866.9223 Phone: 610.867.0594 800.732.0591 e-mail: moravianmagazine@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2018, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in America. All rights reserved
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The Moravian