Travel on your own or grab a ride with your friends and learn about the journey Moravian ministers made from Salem to Virginia!
Buses will leave from the Salem College Elberson Fine Arts Center parking lot at 1:00 PM and return at 5:30 PM.
2 buses will leave the Salem College Elberson Fine Arts Center parking lot at 1:00. There are 28 seats available. Call/text Frances Beasley for reservations: 336-462-2550.
For any other questions please contact Peggy Dodson, coordinator of the Children’s Festival planning team, at 336-813-6737.
Lunch and Lovefeast Information:
Prior to our 2:00 PM start time, bring a picnic and join us for lunch on the church grounds!
During Lovefeast, enjoy Mt. Bethel’s Fried Apple Pies!
Check out this fun travel guide to entertain your kids for the hour drive to and from Cana, VA from Winston-Salem, NC.
This document includes 2 pages to give to children of all ages with activities and a bingo card. Page 3 is a guide for older kids and parents with more details about the history of the trip to Mt Bethel made by early Moravians and more instructions for each activity.
Use this printable flier to spread the word in your community.
Download these 2 social media sized fliers to post on your church’s Facebook or Instagram. Image 1. Image 2.
Festival Reflections from Beth Hayes, member of the Children’s Festival planning team
Several weeks ago in The Essentials email, we were invited to cultivate space for faith formation throughout the generations.
“From generation to generation, we learn lessons of faith and life. We hope you can cultivate space in your ministry for the generations to share with one another both inspiration, encouragement, and support.”
I can think of no better way for each of us to carry on this all-important mission in our Moravian churches than to get behind and support the annual Moravian Children’s Festival held each year on the Sunday closest to August 17th. We began the current celebration of Children’s Festivals at Bethabara Moravian Church, the first Moravian settlement in North Carolina. Our 11th festival will be held on Sunday, August 18, from 2:00 – 4:30 at Mt. Bethel Moravian Church in Cana, Virginia.
Our theme is “Sowing Seeds of Love with Courage for the Future.” We will celebrate the heritage of this congregation and the way it continues to spread the seeds of love through bazaars and worship in its community. You won’t be disappointed! We are planning wonderful activities for the whole family to enjoy!
We would love for a group in each congregation to work with children and families to organize the transportation to join in for this year’s Children’s Festival. Mt. Bethel is about one hour from Winston-Salem, just over the NC/VA state line.
- If your church has a van, organize an afternoon trip together.
- If you are a church with only one or two kids, join us for an afternoon of activities so that kids can meet other kids in the Southern Province.
- Two Shuttles (only 28 seats) leave Salem College Fine Arts Center Parking Lot at 1:00 p.m. Parents (or a church chaperone) must accompany their children.
Statistics show that the more Christian congregations support parents in their faith formation, the more likely they will participate in the life of the church. By providing the Children’s Festival, our planning team is seeking to minister to the whole family and the future of Moravian Churches going forward. Such family activities bear rich fruit.
Our planning team is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside congregations in our province to support their ministry to children. It is a blessing to partner in this ministry with them. Help us to get the word out about this year’s festival and plan to join us at Mt. Bethel on Sunday, August 18, 2024, from 2:00 – 4:30pm!
Submitted by Beth Hayes, member of the Children’s Festival planning team.
