The Moravian Easter Sunrise Service at God’s Acre is just hours away, and preparations are well underway, from the music to cleaning headstones to celebrating the spirit of the season.The sounds of the Moravian brass band will fill the air Sunday morning to call the community to God’s Acre for the special service.”The music is important because the music is something we do all together,” said Rev. Joe Moore of Ardmore Moravian Church. “It’s the culmination of our faith.”Reverend Joe Moore said this sunrise tradition is 254 years in the making here in Old Salem, but the holy week was recognized long before then.”On Easter, we celebrate the fact that death was not the end, but that the Lord is risen and remains risen,” Moore said.He said the Moravian band music moves throughout Old Salem, telling the story of hope and strength that persists in a special way for all to join in singing along.”The songs are sung by every member of the congregation, and the band itself is important because it makes up all different parts, and it represents the diversity of the Kingdom of God and how Jesus is risen not just for us, but for all,” Moore said.He said Easter week is a special time that always brings out generations of families honoring fellow Moravians that came before them with flowers and cleaned headstones.”There are families that come later. Today I will be here with my family, and we will clean the graves of my father, my grandfather, my grandmother, several generations going back, and we place flowers on those and clean those graves,” Moore said.The Moravian Easter sunrise service will be streamed on WXII 12 starting at 6:10 a.m.
The Moravian Easter Sunrise Service at God’s Acre is just hours away, and preparations are well underway, from the music to cleaning headstones to celebrating the spirit of the season.
The sounds of the Moravian brass band will fill the air Sunday morning to call the community to God’s Acre for the special service.
“The music is important because the music is something we do all together,” said Rev. Joe Moore of Ardmore Moravian Church. “It’s the culmination of our faith.”
Reverend Joe Moore said this sunrise tradition is 254 years in the making here in Old Salem, but the holy week was recognized long before then.
“On Easter, we celebrate the fact that death was not the end, but that the Lord is risen and remains risen,” Moore said.
He said the Moravian band music moves throughout Old Salem, telling the story of hope and strength that persists in a special way for all to join in singing along.
“The songs are sung by every member of the congregation, and the band itself is important because it makes up all different parts, and it represents the diversity of the Kingdom of God and how Jesus is risen not just for us, but for all,” Moore said.
He said Easter week is a special time that always brings out generations of families honoring fellow Moravians that came before them with flowers and cleaned headstones.
“There are families that come later. Today I will be here with my family, and we will clean the graves of my father, my grandfather, my grandmother, several generations going back, and we place flowers on those and clean those graves,” Moore said.
The Moravian Easter sunrise service will be streamed on WXII 12 starting at 6:10 a.m.