Here are some interesting facts about the Moravians:

	The Moravian Church believes people can experience forgiveness for sin and freedom from guilt through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe people can know God in a personal way and in that relationship find hope and meaning for life.
	The Moravian Church is a Christ-centered church that takes a very practical approach to the living out the Christian life in a day to day experience. We are more interested in applying the faith in real life experience than in splitting doctrinal hairs.
	Although its roots are in the Czech Republic (Provinces of Moravia and Bohemia), the Moravian Church has no ethnic connection to that area.
	The Moravian Church began in 1457 in central Europe as followers of a reformer by the name of John Hus. At that time it was called the Unitas Fratrum (Unity of Brothers). This was 60 years before Martin Luther began his reformation.
	Hus taught that the Bible was the ultimate authority for the church, that the people should have the Bible and the preaching in their own language, that sins are forgiven by God's grace alone (apart from human works), and that the people should receive the wine as well as the bread in holy communion. He also introduced congregational singing in worship.
	Moravians were leaders in church music, publishing the first hymnal in 1501. Early American Moravians were prolific writers of hymns, anthems, and chamber music.
	The Moravian Church was a pioneer in the world missions movement, sending the first missionaries in 1732.
	As a result of strong missions work, the Moravian Church is a world-wide church, with congregations in 25 provinces around the world.
	There are almost 1,200 congregations and nearly 420,000 communicant members and 740,000 total members worldwide. In the American Provinces there are almost 40,000 communicant members and 50,000 total members.
	The church adheres to the basic doctrines of orthodox Christian faith - faith in God as Trinity, salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, the real godhead and real humanity of Jesus Christ, the Bible as the inspired Word of God, the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian, etc.
	The Moravian Church has long worked for cooperation among Christian Churches. It does not claim exclusive rights to the truth. It considers itself part of the Body of Christ composed of the whole church on earth.
	Moravian worship varies widely from congregation to congregation, with some following quite liturgical forms and others a freer form. Music used in Moravian congregations includes the great historic hymns of faith common to all churches, hymns and chorales that have come out of our Moravian heritage, and contemporary hymns and praise songs. Our current Book of Worship was published in 1995.
	The Moravian Church practices baptism of children as a sign of God's covenant promise. Baptism does not save a person. We need to make a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, and the rite of confirmation is the means of affirming that commitment publicly for those who have been baptized as children.
	A strong sense of fellowship and caring for one another has marked life in the Moravian Church for a long time.
	A motto long in use by the church expresses well its approach to Christian doctrine: "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things love."
	The Moravian Church was an early leader in the field of education, with one of its bishops, John Amos Comenius, considered the "father of modern education."
	The Moravian Church values an educated clergy. Moravian Seminary is in Bethlehem, PA, along with Moravian College. The church also sponsors Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC, and several preparatory schools.
	A few unique worship traditions have become very special expressions to people who have come to know them. They include a Christmas eve candlelight service, Easter dawn worship, and lovefeasts, which are simple, symbolic meals eaten during worship to mark our common love for one another and for God.