Palmetto Moravian Fellowship
Palmetto Moravian Fellowship website
This history description by Palmetto comes from their website in 2018:
In the fall of 1990, a group of Moravians in the upstate of South Carolina met for the first time to share a meal and fellowship. It was decided that they would meet one Sunday evening each month in a home belonging to one of the group members for supper, and afterward have a time of prayer and worship. Not long after the meetings began, the Moravian Church recognized the group as an “official Fellowship.” It was then arranged for Rev. F. Herbert Weber, a retired Moravian minister, to travel from Charlotte, NC, to Spartanburg, SC, to lead worship at the monthly gatherings. A short time later, two services each month were held, and in 1993, worship services were held each Sunday morning.
The Fellowship received two gifts along the way. The first came from Central United Methodist Church, Spartanburg, SC, with an offer to use their chapel anytime the Fellowship wished and it soon became “home.” The second was received from Rev. John Bullard, PhD, a member of the Department of Religion at Wofford College, Spartanburg, and an accomplished organist. He offered to be the Fellowship’s organist and continues to do so. He also serves on the Board of the Moravian Music Foundation, Southern Province for the Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, NC. Central United Methodist Church and Dr. Bullard continue to be strong supporters.
The Fellowship reaches out to the local community by sharing Moravian traditions. They host Advent Lovefeast and Candlelight services each year; one in First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg’s chapel, and one in the sanctuary of Central United Methodist Church. Lovefeasts in commemoration of Moravian events are also held in the Cannon Memorial Chapel of Central United Methodist Church where the Fellowship worships each Sunday morning, 9:00 a.m.
The Fellowship supports the local community and ministries through charities and hands-on events, Moravian Church foundations, and foreign Moravian Church missions such as:
- Salvation Army, Spartanburg The Haven, Spartanburg
- Spartanburg Housing Authority Miracle Hill Ministries, Spartanburg
- Total Ministries of Spartanburg Great Day of Service, Central United Methodist Church, Spartanburg
- Soup Kitchen of Spartanburg Central United Methodist Church, Spartanburg
- Spartanburg Humane Society Moravian Music Foundation, Southern Province, Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, NC
- Safe Harbor, Greenville Moravian Archives, Southern Province, Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, NC
- United Way of Spartanburg Unity Women’s Desk, Southern Province, Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, NC
- Hope Center for Children, Spartanburg Sierra Leone, West Africa, Moravian Mission