Welcome to Advent Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Our church has a very long history that can be traced back to 1859. As people moved into the growing area of Bethlehem south of the Lehigh River, parents became concerned about the spiritual life of their children. They asked Miss Amanda Jones, a member of the Moravian Congregation of Bethlehem, to conduct religious instruction on the South Side of Bethlehem. The first Sunday School service was held in a public schoolhouse on May 1, 1859, with 11 pupils. Before long, they had 279 pupils, three male and ten female teachers, and had to move to the grain house of A. Wolle and Company.
    A beautiful legend describes Amanda as being rowed across the Lehigh to attend to her duties as superintendent of the school by the son of parents who were inspired by her vision. Children were taught the knowledge of Christ without sectarian bias. Amanda was assisted by students from Moravian College in the fall of 1859.
    On July 3, 1860, about 60 people met in the grain house with Rev. Francis Hagen, President of Moravian College and composer of "Morning Star." They signed a memorial requesting the Bethlehem Home Mission Society to help erect a church building south of the Lehigh. The German-speaking congregation was formally organized on December 25, 1863 with the reception of 20 Brethren and Sisters. The cornerstone for the first church was laid in November 22, 1863, and the building consecrated a year later. In April, 1866, Rev. Henry Van Vleck became the first pastor. Enrollment in the Sunday School under Amanda's leadership was 478.  more...