Wake Forest Baptist Health Lights Moravian Star During Pandemic

There's a new yet familiar guiding light in the Winston-Salem sky. Wake Forest Baptist Health has brought out its Moravian Star again in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The star is 31 feet tall and weighs over 3,000 pounds. It normally appears atop Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in the season of Advent.

The decision to bring it out again comes as health care systems across the United States cope with the spread of COVID-19. Keith Stirewalt, the program director of FaithHealth Clinical Ministries says it's an extraordinary sign in an extraordinary time.

“That star is a symbol of hope and love, but it's also a symbol of a promise of reconciliation and peace,” he says.  

Community members have been lighting their own stars in neighborhoods throughout the city.

“It reminds us of our perseverance in a time that might otherwise seem so dark.”

Wake Forest Baptist's star went up last Friday and will remain lit while Winston-Salem's stay-at-home order is in effect. 

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.