Moravian University Christmas Vespers
Christmas Vespers is a wonderful opportunity for the campus community to share in the beautiful candlelight ceremony that is distinctive of the Moravian tradition. Music performed by our students combines with the beauty of the Liturgy in this service to usher in the holiday season for the Moravian community.
We share the traditional Moravian candlelight worship services on six evenings in December. Dates for the 2024 Christmas Vespers services are below. Ticket requests and the waiting list will open in September.
- Friday, December 6, 8 p.m.
- Saturday, December 7, 8 p.m.
- Sunday, December 8, 5 p.m.
- Friday, December 13, 8 p.m.
- Saturday, December 14, 8 p.m.
- Sunday, December 15, 5 p.m.
Community Tickets and Viewing Opportunities
We are no longer accepting ticket requests for Vespers as all services are now full. There will be a Vespers preview concert on Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Foy Concert Hall. The service is open to the public, and tickets are not required.
The service will be livestreamed on Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 15.
If you have any questions regarding services or viewing access, contact Lisa Brand at brandl@moravian.edu or 610-861-1338 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Please do not call to have your name added to the waitlist.
We look forward to sharing the Christmas Vespers with you!
Morning Star Solo
Children of alumni, faculty, and staff are invited to audition to sing the Morning Star solo at Vespers. To schedule an audition, contact Dawn Rodriguez at rodriguezd03@moravian.edu or 610-861-1651 by Friday, October 11. Auditions will be held Monday, October 14, at 6:30 p.m. in Peter Hall, Hurd Center for Music and Art.
NOTE: Preference is given to singers who memorize the four stanzas of Morning Star, O Cheering Sight for their audition.
Volunteer at Vespers
Join us during Vespers as a volunteer! Your role will include lighting Vespers candles and holding the tray of lit candles to help distribute light to all attendees. All volunteers will be trained upon arrival.
Vespers Service Recording and Program
Please enjoy the recording and program from the 2023 Christmas Vespers service:
About Vespers
The Vespers service is an expression of two traditional forms of worship in the Moravian Church, the Singstunde and the Candlelight Service. A Moravian Singstunde (Singing Hour) is a service of music with no preaching. Since the 1720s, Moravians have been known for their worshipful singing.
In the service, the music has been carefully selected and arranged to bring the Christmas message without need of a sermon. The Moravian candlelight service originated in 1747 in Marienborn, Germany, when candles with red trimming were distributed at the children’s Christmas service. Bethlehem’s first candle service was in 1756.
The beloved hymn “Morning Star,” traditionally sung with a child soloist, was composed in 1836 by Francis Florentine Hagen, a member of the Moravian Theological Seminary Class of 1835.
Moravian University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Anyone who anticipates needing any type of accommodation or who has questions about the physical access provided should contact Lisa Brand at brandl@moravian.edu or 610-861-1338 at least one week prior to visiting Moravian University.