Single Sisters Series
You're invited to step into the Single Sisters’ House, the Lehigh Valley’s only historically rooted, bricks and mortar, women’s programming space for the launch of this programming series dedicated to women.
2018 Single Sisters Series programs are
Bethlehem is one of the first places
where women received an education in the country.
Today, as we open this space to the public, we invite you to continue this tradition with this series of programs and workshops that celebrate womens’ accomplishments while considering the obstacles faced by Lehigh Valley Women in the past, present, and future.
This series will offer everything from artist workshops to expert-led discussions to self-defense sessions drawing inspiration from the experience and contributions of Moravian women in the 18th and 19th centuries and how their legacy has and will continue to influence women in the Lehigh Valley.
Explore the house, the role of the Single Sisters, and maybe even yourself!
2019 Programs & Workshops
Botanical Paint & Sip
Presented by Artist and Lehigh Art Alliance President Elena Shackelton
Saturday, April 6 from 10 am - 12 pm at the Single Sisters' House
This paint and sip class will focus on studies of flowers that would be found locally and observes the tradition of documenting florals in painting classes in Bethlehem in the late 1800s. Artifacts from the collection will also be on display.
Cost: $5 for Students with valid Student ID, $10 for HBMS Members, $15 for Non-Members
Women & Politics Session
Presented by Nichola Gutgold
Date TBD at the Single Sisters' House
About the Speaker: Nichola D. Gutgold, PhD is a professor of communication arts and sciences, an experienced university administrator and author or co-author of more than ten book on women's rhetoric, as well as numerous scholarly articles. She is a 2018-19 university-wide Penn State Alumni Teaching Fellow, the recipient of several campus teaching, research and advising awards, as well as the 2017 University College Teaching Award. She served as a visiting scholar at the University of Zagreb in 2018, and has lead student groups to China, India and Europe. Her research has appeared on NPR, and in The New York Times, US News and World Report and in leading international outlets. In 2018 she was named a Woman of Influence in the Lehigh Valley. She serves on the board of directors of The Literacy Center in downtown Allentown and the Communication Advisory Council of King's College, Wilkes-Barre.
Cost: FREE
Past Programming
See what great women's programming we did in 2018!
We thank everyone for attending and hope to see you again in 2019.
Making the Polly Doll
Presented by the Central Moravian Church Ladies Sewing Society
Saturday, December 8 from 11 am - 3 pm at the Single Sisters' House
The Moravian Ladies Sewing Society with the Central Moravian Church has been making the Polly Doll by hand since 1872 as a way to honor Polly Heckewelder, a much-loved member of the church and community. On Saturday they will be working on the dolls and visitors are welcome to learn more about their process when they visit the Single Sisters’ House as part of their Trees of Historic Bethlehem tour.
Cost: $20 (multi-site) Trees of Historic Bethlehem Pass
Purchase your pass online or at the following HBMS locations:
- Historic Bethlehem Visitor Center, 505 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
- Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, 60 West Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
- Kemerer Museum of Decorative Art, 427 North New Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Women & Politics Session
Presented by Nichola Gutgold
Thursday, October 18 from 6 - 8 pm at the Single Sisters' House
Ever wanted to run for office but wasn't sure where to start? Want to become a more informed voter to effect change in your community? Join us for this FREE community dialogue geared towards women who are interested in running for office or wish to become more involved voters.
Turn to the person next to you and ask them: "who are the women who have run for president of the United States?" Most will remember Hillary Clinton, who in 2016 won the democratic nomination. But do they remember Margaret Chase Smith, Shirley Chisholm, Pat Schroeder, Elizabeth Dole and Jill Stein? In this engaging presentation, Nichola Gutgold shares her research on women who have run for the United States, what obstacles they face and what opportunities are ahead for women to shatter the highest and last glass ceiling.
Learn about available resources and engagement opportunities in this bipartisan session.
About the Speaker: Nichola D. Gutgold, PhD is a professor of communication arts and sciences, an experienced university administrator and author or co-author of more than ten book on women's rhetoric, as well as numerous scholarly articles. She is a 2018-19 university-wide Penn State Alumni Teaching Fellow, the recipient of several campus teaching, research and advising awards, as well as the 2017 University College Teaching Award. She served as a visiting scholar at the University of Zagreb in 2018, and has lead student groups to China, India and Europe. Her research has appeared on NPR, and in The New York Times, US News and World Report and in leading international outlets. In 2018 she was named a Woman of Influence in the Lehigh Valley. She serves on the board of directors of The Literacy Center in downtown Allentown and the Communication Advisory Council of King's College, Wilkes-Barre.
Cost: FREE
Thank you for attending!
Travel Safety for Women
Presented in collaboration with Cedar Crest College Study Abroad and the Cedar Crest College Campus Police R.A.D. program
TBD at Single Sisters' House
Take part in this FREE women's education class on traveling safely on your own as well as self-defense techniques.
Enjoy an informative presentation with tips for women travelling alone in a foreign country from the Cedar Crest College Study Abroad Department. Then learn self-defense techniques from R.A.D. instructors of Cedar Crest College Campus Police.
Cost: FREE
Space is limited - RSVP today!
Calligraphy Class
Workshop Artist: Brianna Lasko of Letteredgem
Saturday, April 14 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm at Single Sisters' House
This introductory class to the art of calligraphy covers technique, form and materials. Participants will take home an artful, hand lettered Moravian expression: “In Essentials, Unity. In Non-Essentials, Liberty. In All Things, Love.”
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!
Natural Beauty Workshop
Presented in collaboration with Khineder Creations
Thursday, May 3 from 6 - 8 pm at Single Sisters' House
Learn about the health and environmental benefits of making your own natural beauty products in this workshop that is equal parts informative lecture and hands-on crafting.
Explore the relationship between botany and aromatherapy as you make your own take-home beauty products infused with organic, natural ingredients and essential oils.
Cost: $10 for HBMS Members, $15 for Non-Members
Single Sisters Crochet-Along
An afternoon of crocheting led by Melanie Depcinski from Counting Crafty Sheep
Saturdays this summer, May 26, June 2, 9, & 16 from 1 - 3 pm at the Single Sisters' House
Are you a crochet enthusiast or someone who has always wanted to learn? Now's your chance! Join Melanie Depcinski from Counting Crafty Sheep in a crochet-along project. Along the way, you’ll discover more about the stunning Single Sisters' House and who the Single Sisters were. Feel free to attend multiple sessions or just one!
Cost: $40 one-time-fee (covers all sessions), includes pattern and materials.
Read Melanie's Crochet-A-Long Blog | Join the Facebook Crochet-A-Long Event
Preserving Life Stories
Presented in collaboration with Your Words, Your Story
Sunday, July 1, 1:30pm - 3:00pm at Single Sisters' House
A fun and engaging session about preserving your life story or that of a loved one.
Memoirists Maria Canfield and Lisa Petrocelli of Your Words Your Story will give an informative and engaging presentation about creating personal memoirs. Through exercises and discussion, participants will learn:
- The proven benefits of memoir creation for you and your loved ones
- How to overcome the biggest obstacle to creating your memoir
- Prompts for jump-starting your memory and unleashing stories from your past
- 10 tips for creating your memoir, and having fun doing it
Life stories are gifts to be shared, and the session will introduce how to create these memoirs for family and friends.
Offering written and audio memoir packages to meet every storytelling goal and budget. Join us for this lecture to learn about the importance of preserving your history and find out what package would be best suited for your needs.
Cost: Free for HBMS Members, $15 for Non-Members. Registration required.
Product Photography & Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses
Presented by Kristen Merie Wieder, Lifestyle Photographer and Founder of Wildflower Marketing
Saturday, July 14 from 1 - 4 pm at Single Sisters' House
Learn to photograph your products and items to align with your personal brand, boost your online audience, generate leads, maximize the marketability of your items and grow a successful business through visual storytelling.
Ideal for small business owners, artists and creatives, attendees of this three-hour class will work under the guidance of professional photographer, Kristen Merie Wieder, to learn the ins and outs of setting up a product photoshoot as well as how to advertise on social media to make the most of low-cost marketing.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own cameras and the products they wish to photograph. At the end of the class you will leave with product images captured at the unique Single Sisters' House. Don't have a camera? No problem - your smart-phone camera works just fine!
Participants must sign a photo permission form with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites prior to starting the class.
Cost: $45 for HBMS Members, $50 for Non-Members
Intro to Improv Class
Presented by ArtsQuest Improv Instructor and local comedian Sarah White
Thursday, August 23 from 6 - 8 pm at the Single Sisters' House
Enjoy an evening of fun while developing skills that will carry into your personal and professional life. Inspired by the plays put on at the Moravian Ladies’ Seminary, Intro to Improv introduces attendees to beginner improvisational theater techniques.
Sarah will teach you first-hand how improv techniques can improve creative and strategic thinking, flexibility in difficult situations, and empathy.
Sarah White is a comedian from Allentown, PA who performs stand up, sketch, and improv comedy. She has been studying improv since 2008 starting at Lock Haven University with Dangerously Improv and now teaches Improv at ArtsQuest. She is currently performing with her duoprov team Nachos and Confidence and you can catch her at ArtsQuest as part of The Two Show Show every second Friday at 10:30 with both Cat Sweaters and The Flumpelnarfs.
Cost: $5 for HBMS Members, $10 for Non-Members
Single Sisters in the News
