West Side Moravian Church sits at the corner of Third Avenue and Prospect Street on the South Side of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where it has been a steady presence for more than 165 years. The congregation grew out of a Sunday School organized in 1860 by a single seminary student, and today the church is known for its warm welcome, its Moravian traditions, and its partnership with the Essentials Café just down the block.
A Sunday School on the Canal
The congregation's story begins on May 6, 1860, when Joseph Romig, a student at Moravian Theological Seminary, started a Sunday School that became the first west of the Monocacy Creek. It was an outreach to the canal boatmen and their families who worked along the Lehigh Canal, and the first class of 30 pupils met in the Vineyard Street Schoolhouse. Within a year attendance had more than tripled.
In 1865 the Sunday School moved to a new schoolhouse on Spring Street, and by 1883 enrollment had reached 220 pupils. The seminary class of 1884 raised most of the funds to build a 34-by-60-foot brick chapel with a small steeple at the corner of Allentown Road (now Prospect Avenue) and Third Avenue. The chapel was dedicated on January 27, 1884. Growth was so rapid that by 1890 an annex larger than the original building had to be added. There were still no regular church services, and seminary students carried most of the teaching and pastoral work until the Rev. F. W. Stengel was called as the first pastor in September 1901.
In 1918 the chapel was renamed West Side Moravian, and in 1943 the three churches of the Bethlehem Congregation, Central, College Hill, and West Side, took responsibility for their own work within the larger Moravian framework. The church today describes itself as open and affirming and welcomes all who are looking for a spiritual home.
Sunday Mornings on the South Side
Sunday is the heart of the week at West Side. From September through Memorial Day, the morning begins with adult Sunday School at 9:30 AM, followed by worship at 10:45 AM. During the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day), Sunday School is paused and worship moves to 10:00 AM. The 10:45 AM service is also offered on Zoom each week for those who cannot attend in person.
Worship follows the Moravian tradition, with Holy Communion celebrated as an open table where all are welcome. A fellowship meal follows the service, and visitors are always invited to stay. The building sits at 402 Third Avenue, at the corner of Third and Prospect, with parking available on site.
Lovefeast, Communion, and the Moravian Star
West Side carries on several customs that are particular to the Moravian tradition. The lovefeast, in which the congregation shares a bun and coffee or chocolate milk, takes its name from the first gathering of Christians after Pentecost. Originally these shared meals were connected to the celebration of the Lord's Supper that followed them, and the church still holds Advent lovefeast candlelight services in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Holy Communion at West Side is open to all. In the words of the church's own description of the sacrament, "we give thanks to God for all that God has done in creating and sustaining us, and, most of all, for redeeming us in Jesus Christ." Baptism of infants and adults is offered, with parents and sponsors promising to nurture the child in Christ.
The Moravian Star, also known as the Advent Star or Herrnhut Star, is hung in the sanctuary beginning on the first Sunday of Advent and remains a centerpiece of the church's Christmas tradition. The Moravian Star is also a familiar fixture in homes across Bethlehem.
Feeding the Neighborhood Through Essentials Café
West Side Moravian is one of the proud supporters of the Essentials Café, a pay-what-you-can community café at 418 Third Avenue, just steps from the church. The café operates Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Monday evenings from 7:00 PM are reserved for café preparation. West Side joins the other Bethlehem Area Moravian (BAM) congregations - Advent, College Hill, Central, East Hills, and Edgeboro - in keeping the café running.
The wider weekly calendar reflects the church's role as a neighborhood gathering place. A Child's Choice Montessori School meets in the building Monday through Friday beginning at 7:30 AM. Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 5:30 PM on weekdays and at 9:00 AM on Tuesdays, and Al-anon gathers at 7:00 PM on Sundays. Monday evenings also include a 7:00 PM meditation group; Saturday mornings bring yoga at 9:00 AM and, on the second Saturday of each month, the Valley Contra Dance at 7:00 PM. On the first Thursday of each month from September through May, the church hosts a sandwich lunch at 11:30 AM, with drinks and dessert provided and friends invited to bring a sandwich.
The Pastor, the Staff, and an Open Door
The congregation is served by Pastor Tammie Rinker, a native of Easton who returned to the area in 2020 after serving Moravian congregations in several states, most recently in suburban Maryland outside Washington, DC. She and her partner Os, who recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary, are deeply rooted in the South Side neighborhood, often seen walking, biking, shopping, and eating out locally. Pastor Tammie is especially interested in ministry that supports the local community and welcomes new partnership ideas.
Carol Acheson serves as organist, Anne Hosterman as administrative assistant, Greg Clugston as sexton, and Jim Kleintop as financial secretary. Karen Vidaurre Richards serves as parish nurse, and Greg and Jane Clugston serve as head sacristans. The church's mission statement reads: "We are disciples who nurture each other, pray with love and share the joy of Christ."
West Side Moravian hosts marriage ceremonies for couples regardless of religious affiliation, drawing on the 1764 Moravian Marriage Liturgy. The church is currently fundraising for an upper-level ADA restroom, with contributions made payable to West Side Moravian Church at the Third Avenue address. Giving is also available online through the Moravian Ministries Foundation, and the monthly newsletter, The Advance, is published online in PDF form.
A Continuing Witness
From a one-room Sunday School on the Lehigh Canal in 1860 to a multi-use building serving a Montessori school, a community café, recovery groups, and weekly worship today, West Side Moravian Church has remained rooted in the same neighborhood for more than 165 years. The congregation's 2026 watchword is drawn from Psalm 91:9 - "The Lord is my refuge."