Today commemorates Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760), renewer of the church and hymn writer. Count von Zinzerdorf, a member of the Austrian nobility, was raised in a pietist Lutheran family. He always had an interest in religious matters. In 1722 he opened some of his lands in Saxony to a group of Moravian refugees. The Moravians, or Unitas Fratrum (Unity of Brethren) as they were called, traced their origins to the teachings Jan Hus, a Protestant reformer who lived a century before Luther. With Zinzendorf’s help they established the community of Herrnhut.

In 1732 the Moravians became involved in a mission to the West Indies. After being ordained a Moravian bishop in 1737, Zinzendorf himself took up missionary work with enthusiasm. In 1741 he came to the colony of Pennsylvania. It was here that he had an unfortunate conflict with Henry Muhlenberg, the patriarch of American Lutheranism. It was many years before Lutherans and Moravians healed the rift. In 1999 the ELCA and the Moravian Church became full communion partners.

Zinzendorf emphasized the growth of the spiritual relationship between the believer and the Christ. He believed that Christians should live lives of love and harmony.

He was a noted hymn writer producing more than 400 hymns. One of my favorite of his hymns is “Jesus still lead on.” Here’s the second verse:

If the way be drear, if the foe be near,
let not faithless fears o’ertake us,
let not faith and hope forsake us;
for, through many a woe, to our home we go.

Read Matthew 26:26-29 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne (With apologies to Jim who knows a lot more about this subject.)