Bethlehem residents gathered together the morning of Dec. 7 at Moravian Village to celebrate the 48th annual Community Advent Breakfast.

Shelley Brown, president and CEO of The State Theater, Easton, delivered this year's advent message. Former Bethlehem mayor and city council member Gordon Mower gave the opening remarks and formally introduced Brown.

Brown, a resident of Bethlehem, said during the Christmas season, Bethlehem lives up to its name as the Christmas City.

"We are uniquely qualified to be experts in Christmas," she said. "We are reminded constantly that we are blessed that the city is Christmas."

Brown said Bethlehem residents have the ability to introduce the Christmas spirit to those around them.

"We need to be spokespersons for hope," she said. "We are Bethlehem people."

During the event, those in attendance were treated to a breakfast, a musical presentation by the Broughal MS Ensemble and music provided by the Bethlehem Area Moravian Trombone Choir.

Near the conclusion of the event, Jan Christensen, member of the advent breakfast committee, led the crowd in the candle lighting ceremony.

"The candle [Moravian candle] has been used to talk about Christmas," Christensen said as the large crowd lit their candles and sang "O Little Town of Bethlehem," led by John Cornish.