Elizabeth City, USA - When the Moravians — a Christian sect from Bohemia, or modern day Czech Republic — came to North Carolina from eastern Europe in the 18th century, they brought with them many of their traditions, including an enduring one that is celebrated here in Elizabeth City the first Thursday of December, The Moravian Love Feast.
A celebration that kicks off the Christmas season, the event was first brought to the area by Clifford and Anna Bair, members of Cann Presbyterian Church, according to First Baptist Church music director, Billy Caudle. Over the years, the musical celebration became too large for Cann, and it was moved across West Main Street to First Baptist, where it will be celebrated next Thursday, 7 p.m.
“What this is, is a celebration of love,” says Caudle, who organizes both choral and orchestra music for the event.
It is also a community-wide event, bringing together a number of musicians from various denominations. This year, as with years past, there will be a guest vocalist, Monica Williams, and a guest organist, retired First United Methodist Church organist Rodney Trueblood.
Williams, says Caudle, is a trained opera singer who will generally blow your socks off. Trueblood has been a staple in the faith-music community for years, and is well known for his love of the pipe organ.
The celebration happens inside the church’s sanctuary. Coffee and Moravian buns are passed to the people and they are instructed to say a prayer for others, “especially those sitting on either side of them.”
And then the music begins.
Caudle says Williams will sing “Oh Holy Night,” while the voices from area church choirs will continue the service with a number of known Christmas carols, accompanied by a variety of musicians, including The Rev. Tony Wood of Newland Methodist Church — she plays the obo.
And the congregation, Caudle says, will also sing a number of Christmas carols. And in the end, candles are passed to each person as the lights are dimmed. Once the overheads lights are replaced by the soft glow of flickering candles, the people will sing “Silent Night.”
The Moravian Love Feast doesn’t need any promotion, per say. It’s wildly popular and typically fills the church to capacity, over 500 people.
Caudle says folks wishing to attend — everyone is invited and encouraged to attend, he says — should probably arrive at the First Baptist Church of Elizabeth City, on the corner of West Main Street and Dyer Street, at about 6:30 p.m.
With the community-wide fellowship, and the high quality of music provided, it’s a great way to kick off the Christmas season, he says.