Manna is a new congregation in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, while we are growing, we are hosting pop-up style dinner church services in collaboration with other congregations or in local park pavilions. Our next service will be on August 23rd at Schoeneck Moravian Church in Nazareth, PA. For more information or to let us know you're coming, click here.

Dinner church is a worship service in the Christian Tradition, where we gather around the table to enjoy a meal together, engage in conversation with one another exploring scripture and how our faith and belief actually impacts our lives. Together, we sing, pray, and celebrate Communion.

We prioritize access, and are committed to accommodating dietary needs and restrictions. Meals are often vegan, and/or gluten free, and safe alternative foods are available, especially for children who might not be interested in the meal offered. Communion is celebrated with juice.

Our meal begins with an act of service, as we all find seats around the table, we pass around soap and a basin of water, helping one another as we wash our hands before enjoying our meal.

Simple songs are sung, and prayer requests may be shared, we will listen to one or several passages read from the Bible and Pastor Byrnese will offer a brief refection or invitation question to discuss around the table while we eat together.

After our meal, there will be an invitation to share any meaningful moment of personal reflection or conversation highlights before we receive Communion together. The Moravian Church practices an open table, and as you will often hear in worship, you are invited because "This table does not belong to any denomination, church or community, it belongs to Jesus. It was at table that he met people heard their stories and shared his."

Children are not expected or required to remain seated at the table, they are welcome with all their curiosity, wiggles, and energy, and spaces for children to play are available adjacent to where we eat together. Families are supported and are welcome to determine how they would like their children to participate in all aspects of the service, including communion.

What is Dinner Church?

"This is the table, not of the Church but of Jesus Christ.

It is made ready for those who love God, and who want to love God more.

So come, you who have much faith and you who have little,

You who have been here often, and you who have not been for a long time or ever before,

You who have tried to follow and you who have failed.

Come, not because the Church invites you; it is Christ who invites you to be known and fed here."

An Invitation to Communion from the Iona Community

hello@mannabethlehem

(425)539-2510