CHURCH STAFF
Pastor: Melissa Johnson
The Rev. Melissa Johnson became the pastor of Advent Moravian Church in June 2018. She grew up in Nazareth, PA and graduated from Nazareth Area High School. She attended Moravian College (’95) and received her Master of Divinity degree from Moravian Theological Seminary (’01) in Bethlehem, PA.
Pastor Missy has served churches on Staten Island and in Palmer Township, PA. She also served as the Director of Admissions and Student Life at Moravian Theological Seminary. She is married to Frank, and they have two children, Morgen and Quincy.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, trips to the beach, and chauffeuring her kids to music lessons, dance classes, and sports practices.
Director of Music: Donna Ambler
Donna has been Music Director at Advent since August of 2005. A life-long Moravian, she grew up in Hellertown and was a member of Mountainview Moravian. She became the organist there in 1980 shortly after graduating from Bloomsburg University. Over the next 25 years, she directed the Senior Choir, Children’s choirs, and began a Handbell Choir in 1999.
An accomplished pianist/organist, Donna began lessons at the Bethlehem Conservatory of Music, and continued her studies through college. She gave private piano lessons for 16 years, and was accompanist for the Northampton County College Choir and the Saucon Valley Middle School chorus. She was the commencement organist for Saucon Valley High School for 19 years.
Donna has sung with many choral groups around the Lehigh Valley including the Masterworks Chorale of Cedar Crest College, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and most recently with the Unitas Chorale, a choral group of area Moravians sponsored by the Moravian Music Foundation. She has served on the Board of Trustees of the Moravian Music Foundation from 2011 - 2018.
As Director of Music at Advent, Donna plays the organ for Sunday morning services; directs the Adult Choir & the Handbell Choirs; and works closely with the leaders of the Advent Brass and children’s music groups. She feels blessed to be a part of Advent’s rich musical heritage.
Donna lives in Lower Saucon Township with her husband Dave (a tenor!). They have two grown children, Amy and Eric.
An accomplished pianist/organist, Donna began lessons at the Bethlehem Conservatory of Music, and continued her studies through college. She gave private piano lessons for 16 years, and was accompanist for the Northampton County College Choir and the Saucon Valley Middle School chorus. She was the commencement organist for Saucon Valley High School for 19 years.
Donna has sung with many choral groups around the Lehigh Valley including the Masterworks Chorale of Cedar Crest College, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and most recently with the Unitas Chorale, a choral group of area Moravians sponsored by the Moravian Music Foundation. She has served on the Board of Trustees of the Moravian Music Foundation from 2011 - 2018.
As Director of Music at Advent, Donna plays the organ for Sunday morning services; directs the Adult Choir & the Handbell Choirs; and works closely with the leaders of the Advent Brass and children’s music groups. She feels blessed to be a part of Advent’s rich musical heritage.
Donna lives in Lower Saucon Township with her husband Dave (a tenor!). They have two grown children, Amy and Eric.
