Lovefeast scheduled for Dec. 2
By Kezia McKeague
Old Gold and Black Reporter

In a service marked by candles, music and a simple meal, the university will celebrate the 36th annual Christmas lovefeast at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 in Wait Chapel.

Moravians in Europe first celebrated the lovefeast in 1747, later introducing it to North Carolina. It became a university tradition at the suggestion of a Moravian student, Jane Sherrill Stroupe, ‘67.

This celebration is believed to be the largest indoor service of a Lovefeast in North America.

Chaplain Ed Christman expects about 2,000 people to attend– mostly students, faculty and staff. “It’s a singular event for Wake Forest people to join together,” he said.

Luminaries, courtesy of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, will light the path to the Chapel, where a Moravian star will hang outside.

Al Gambill, a Moravian missionary, will offer a reflection and the university Concert Choir, conducted by Brian Gorelick, an assistant professor will lead the congregation in singing traditional carols and the Moravian song “Morning Star.”

The Messiah Moravian Church Band and university carilloneur Lauren Toney will provide music as a prelude to the service. The university’s handbell choir and flute choir will also perform.

“The Lovefeast is always a very exciting time for us. It’s the largest event we do and an opportunity for the university community to see a musical group that usually doesn’t get a lot of attention,” senior Mark Sherriff, the director of the handbell choir, said. The fourteen-member group will perform “What Child is This?”

In addition, senior Lauren Kapcha will play the organ. Though she said she is nervous because “there are so many people,” she has years of experience to rely on. She has performed in a church since seventh grade.

An important part of the service is the partaking of the Lovefeast. Students and faculty will serve coffee and Moravian buns.

Each participant will also receive a beeswax candle decorated with a red paper dressing.
According to Christman, the beeswax symbolizes the purity of Christ, while the paper symbolizes sacrifice.

Beginning with a single flame, each candle will light another until the chapel is illuminated.

The participants will raise their candles for the final stanza of Joy to the World.

After the service, donations will be given to Prodigals Community and Samaritan Ministries. Prodigals Community is a drug rehabilitation center founded by a university alumnus.

Although the Lovefeast has not been changed, Christman said that “there is more need for it this year in one sense.

“Since Sept. 11, we have an additional reason to affirm hope in the presence of so much darkness and despair.”