Lovefeast is Sunday

Ed and Jean Christman enjoy last year's Lovefeast.

The Lovefeast and candlelight service will be Sunday, Dec. 4, in Wait Chapel. It is sponsored by the University and celebrates one of the unique traditions of the Moravian community in Winston‑Salem. The Quad is lined with luminaries, the Chapel is adorned with Christmas decorations, the concert choir and Moravian band are featured, traditional Moravian coffee and buns are served, and beeswax candles are provided to all who attend.

This year’s speaker will be President Nathan O. Hatch, and the service will feature music from the University Concert, Flute and Handbell Choirs as well as Don Armitage, University Organist.

See highlights from last year’s service »

Moravian student Jane Sherrill Stroupe (’67) organized the first Wake Forest Lovefeast in December 1965, as 200 students gathered to celebrate the traditional meal. Since then, the Wake Forest Lovefeast has grown to be the largest Moravian-style lovefeast in North America, and one of the favorite features of Wake Forest tradition.

The Wake Forest Lovefeast consists of a sweetened bun and creamed coffee. It is served to the participants by dieners (German for servers). During the meal, music is offered by the Wake Forest Concert Choir, Handbell Choir, Flute Choir and the Messiah Moravian Church Band. During the service of song and scripture reading, handmade beeswax candles decorated with a red paper frill are distributed to each worshiper. The candles are lit while the worship space is darkened except for a large illuminated Moravian Advent Star for the singing of the final hymns.