On the day before the Christian season of Advent began, after a two-year hiatus, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce revived a 55-year old Christmas tradition in Bethlehem, a breakfast to which all residents of the city are invited.
Approximately 125 people accepted the invitation. Served in the dining room of Moravian Village, the filling meal featured scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fresh fruit, and, courtesy of the Hotel Bethlehem, Moravian sugar cake. Coffee, tea and juices were also served. The busy servers were employees of the Moravian Village dining service.
Guests were welcomed to the breakfast by one of its organizers, Tammy Wendling, senior vice president of the Chamber of Commerce. The Rev. Suzanne Trump, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem, offered the invocation.
After the meal several speakers briefly addressed the guests. J. William Reynolds, Bethlehem’s mayor, reflected on Bethlehem’s sense of community as manifested in the Advent Breakfast. Charlene Donchez Mowers, senior adviser at Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites and Historian of the Bethlehem WorldHeritage Commission, spoke about the history of Bethlehem’s Christmas traditions, beginning in Colonial America and continuing to the present day.
The audience then participated in one such tradition that can be traced back to the founding of Bethlehem, a candle-lighting ceremony. Finally, the assembly sang the hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” to the accompaniment of the Bethlehem Area Moravian Trombone Choir. The breakfast closed with benediction offered by The Rev. Molly Clymer, chaplain of Moravian Village.
Carol Henn, center, a longtime board member of Moravian Village, came to the breakfast with two friends, Marie Jordan (left) and Debbie Sickler.
Tracy Patton, left, executive director of Moravian Village, and Jennifer Granda, director of marketing and sales for the Village, welcome early arrivals for the Advent breakfast.
Connie Latrenta and Delores Kennedy are at the very head of the line for the 8:30 a.m. breakfast.
A long line of guests arrive soon after Moravian Village opened its front door at 8 a.m.
Mary Ann Dutkin (right) and Stephanie Hilmon wait patiently for the dining room doors to open
Among the employees of Moravian Village who served breakfast to the crowd were (right to left) Stephany Zuniga, Hope Boryschut, Stephen Crew, Jennifer Leon and Ciani Cotto.
The Bethlehem Area Moravian Trombone Choir salutes guests as they enter the dining room at Moravian Village.
Responsible for planning and managing the breakfast are (left to right) Robert Irving, director of dining at Moravian Village, Frank Mehall, executive chef, and Brienna Aszli, dining room manager.
Tammy Wendling (right) and Brittney Chiardi from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce coordinated plans for the breakfast.
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds welcomes the guests and discusses reviving the Advent Breakfast after the hiatus caused by the pandemic.
Clean-up after breakfast began with collecting candles. Ryan Taylor got the process under way.
Charlene Donchez Mowers, senior adviser at Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites, review the Christmas traditions that produced our current practices.
As the breakfast closes, participants rise and shared lighted candles. Patricia Burke, who with her late husband Jack moved to Moravian Village 18 years ago, lights her candle.
PRESS PHOTOS BY DENNIS GLEW Holding lit candles, guests sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Janet Brandt (facing), The Rev. Don Quayle and The Rev. Mark Summer following the invocation by Chaplain Molly Clymer
State Rep. Steve Samuelson joins the other guests in lighting his candle to salute the celebrants.
