FOR MAUNDY THURSDAY EVENING AND/OR EASTER DAY 2020

In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the neighborhood called ‘Old Salem’ is one of the oldest continuous religious communities of America: The Moravian Church. Although that's a denomination found across America, Old Salem, NC is one of its principal locations. Its eighteenth century church building is still in use, as are many of its traditions, which came from the Czech/Slovak area of central Europe.

A few times a year, the Moravians celebrate what is called a ‘love feast’ as part of the church service. In other parts of the world this is also known as an ‘agape’ from one of the four Greek words for different kinds of love – agape being akin to Christian love for one’s neighbor.

This is how one Moravian describes the ‘love feast’ and how it differs from that other Christian ‘meal’, the Eucharist:

“Crumbs, coffee, sugar, bread, milk, mugs, chewing, slurping, singing, spilling, visiting,laughing, feasting. The Love Feast, a ritual meal based on the ancient Christian agape meal, occurs several times a year during Moravian worship. While the Eucharist, the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood, focuses on the relationship between God and humans, celebrating our redemption in Christ and Christ’s presence in our lives, the Love Feast continues the Eucharistic blessing and celebration by connecting humans with each other so that for a few minutes, we may see Christ in each other — even the dirty, difficult other.

Made with mashed potatoes, flour, sugar, lemon juice, lemon and orange zests, the Love Feast bun is a cross between a sweet roll and a hamburger bun.”

Because we are all apart from each other this Holy Week and Easter during this pandemic, and because we cannot celebrate the Eucharist together during this time, I encourage you to consider celebrating this very short form of prayer service with Moravian ‘love feast’ buns, coffee and each other around the dining table. You can do this any time, of course, but on Maundy Thursday or later during Holy Week, why not do this as part of your family meal time, echoing the way in which Jesus gathered with his nearest and dearest around a meal table in the Upper Room to share both conviviality and his hopes and fears with his friends. Then, on Easter Day, we celebrate the new light and life of Christ and what better way to do this than with the conviviality of sweet dessert and laughter!

So.... here’s what to do:

1. Bake some Moravian Love Feast Buns! The recipe is below, adapted from the Winkler Bakery recipe from Old Salem, NC, baked there since 1800 in their wood stove!

2. Bring enough buns for everyone to have one, placed on a platter and set on the table, with a lit candle and, if possible, placed atop a small cloth.

3. Going around the table, each person says one thing which they are most hopeful about / hopeful for, right now.

4. The platter of buns is passed from person to person, each taking one. One person, acting as host, or leader, receives their bun last and offers a few very brief words of reflection.

5. All, together, around the table, pray this prayer before eating the buns:

Be present at our table, Lord;

Be here and everywhere adored;

Thy creatures bless, and grant that we

May feast in paradise with Thee.
John Cennick (1718-1755)

6. Having eaten the buns, all bless each other in the words of The Grace:

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

And the Love of God,

And the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

Be with us all, evermore. Amen.

OLD SALEM MORAVIAN LOVE FEAST BUNS
INGREDIENTS (makes about 15 buns)

1/2 cup hot mashed potatoes, unseasoned, without milk or butter