‘Faith Crawl’ offers taste of 5 religions
Moravian, Jewish, Catholic, Presbyterian and Muslim houses of worship visited on bus tour
Pat Sisson has lived in Bethlehem for 26 years, but Sunday was the first time she ever visited Central Moravian Church, an historical landmark in the city’s downtown, where the Moravians first settled 278 years ago.
The history was fascinating, but learning about a different faith and new traditions resonated the most with Sisson, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church on Market Street in Bethlehem.
“I think it helps us know more about each other. I think the more we can cooperate with each other, the better,” she said, as she prepared to make her way to the next stop on Sunday’s “Faith Crawl,” where participants boarded buses to visit five Bethlehem-area houses of worship.
The event was organized by the Bethlehem Interfaith Group, comprised of 13 Bethlehem congregations that educate members about different faiths and unite people from various backgrounds while denouncing hate and violence.
“This is an opportunity to learn, see and experience other people’s houses of worship. Many people never visit another house of worship except their own,” said Rabbi Michael Singer of Congregation Brith Sholom in Bethlehem Township.
Singer organized Sunday’s inaugural event, which in addition to Central Moravian and Brith Sholom included stops at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church and Respect Graduate School, a private Islamic graduate school.
At Central Moravian visitors received traditional sugar cake shared during special events.
They learned Bethlehem was founded as an exclusive Moravian community in 1741, and the
primary language was German, though it also included American Indians and African Americans. In 1845, the Moravians opened their doors to those from other backgrounds, said Central Moravian historian Paul Peucker.
Central Moravian member Cathy Rannels excitedly talked about the traditions she enjoys most.
During Christmastime church members share a feast together.
During the holiday service they turn off all the lights while the men carry large trays of lit candles that cast a soft glow over the church as members sing “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord,” Rannels said.
“I think this event will broaden the understanding that we are all alike. We are human beings and by participating in this we grow,” she said. “In our church there are many people with diverse backgrounds. Wherever you are in your faith, you’re welcome.”
At Brith Sholom, those on the Faith Crawl stopped to see a handwritten Torah scroll. The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures and one scroll can take more than two years to write.
They learned about Jewish practices like the kippah, or skullcap, that Jewish men wear to cover their heads as a sign of reverence and submission to the God. In Yiddish, a skullcap is called a yarmulke.
At the conclusion of a service, it’s appropriate to extend a greeting to others in the congregation. On the Sabbath, the greeting is either “shabbat shalom,” which is Hebrew, or “good shabbis,” which is Yiddish.
Singer said another faith crawl is planned for the spring.
The Bethlehem Interfaith Group was created in response to the attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017, when a car was deliberately driven into a crowd of people who had been peacefully protesting a gathering of white supremacists.
BIG’s main tenets are education, social justice and fellowship, Singer said. They meet once a month and have issued statements in the past denouncing hate crimes, like the attack at a Pittsburgh synagogue last October that killed 11 people.
“We are one community with many voices,” Singer said.
Bethlehem congregations interested in joining BIG can contact Singer at rabbisinger@brithsholom.net