wfn.org | ELCA Produces 'Joy To The World,' ABC Television Christmas Special

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 21, 2005

ELCA Produces 'Joy To The World,' ABC Television Christmas Special
05-228-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) produced "Joy to the World," a television special that
will air across the United States on many ABC-TV stations this
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  ELCA Communication Services
prepared the one-hour program for the National Council of
Churches USA and the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission.
     "We really value our relationship with major networks like
ABC through the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission and the
National Council of Churches.  It allows us to share Christmas
celebrations with millions of people across the country," said
Ava Odom Martin, director for public media, ELCA Communication
Services, and the program's producer.
     "ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson opens the program with a
greeting he recorded in Manger Square on a recent trip to
Bethlehem," said Kristi S. Bangert, interim executive director,
ELCA Communication Services.
     Many ABC stations plan to broadcast "Joy to the World" on
Christmas Eve at 11:30 p.m., local time.  Management of some
stations may elect to air the program at some other time, usually
on Dec. 24 or 25.
     The program features Lutheran Christmas worship in various
cultural traditions -- African American, American Indian, Arab
and Middle Eastern, Asian and Latino.  A Swedish Santa Lucia
celebration introduces the mix of cultures recalling the birth of
Jesus Christ through music and praise.
     Services were recorded for the program during Christmas 2004
and involved several ELCA congregations:
+ Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Chicago
+ Thai Lutheran Community Church, Forest Park, Ill.
+ Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.
+ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cleveland, Ohio, and St. James
Lutheran Church, East Cleveland
+ Eben Ezer Lutheran Church, Oaks, Okla.
+ San Marcos Lutheran Church, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
     "The ability to produce this program is a direct result of
ELCA members' mission support.	Such a television production is
an important part of our church's outreach effort across the
United States and Caribbean," Bangert said.
     Martin added, "For those who have no idea what a Lutheran
church is like, they can experience with us the rich diversity of
our many multicultural and ethnic specific congregations.  We
hope many people will tune in to share the Good News of God's
grace."
-- -- --
     Details about the program are available at
http://www.ELCA.org/joytotheworld/ on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news