wfn.org | ELCA's Christmas TV Special is Rebroadcast

[NEWS@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

December 12, 2003

ELCA's Christmas TV Special is Rebroadcast
03-225-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "This Holy Night," a Christmas television
special produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), will be rebroadcast this year on selected national and
satellite networks, as well as local television stations and
cable systems.
     Networks and cable systems that will carry the worship
service are the Hallmark Channel; Cornerstone Television Network;
Trinity Broadcasting Network; ZNS, the Broadcasting Corporation
of the Bahamas; and Christian Associates Cable Television
Ministry, which serves cable networks in southwest Pennsylvania.
WYCC-TV, a PBS station in Chicago, and WDJT-TV, a CBS-TV
affiliate in Milwaukee, will rebroadcast the program.  At least
five ELCA college and university stations will air "This Holy
Night" this year.
     Faith TV, a satellite network, rebroadcast the program Dec.
1 and Dec. 2.
     "This Holy Night" is a liturgical worship service held at
the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Luke, Chicago, and
broadcast on Christmas Eve, 2002.  It was originally carried by
CBS-TV and the Hallmark Channel.
     "We're very pleased to present this Christmas Eve worship
service again on broadcast television," said Ava Odom Martin,
broadcast media production manager, ELCA Department for
Communication.	Martin produced "This Holy Night."
     "The program is a classic Christmas Eve service emphasizing
music," she said.  "Saint Luke is one of the largest ELCA
congregations in the Chicago area.  It has a membership rich in
multicultural diversity."
     "This Holy Night" features the Rev. David G. Abrahamson,
senior pastor at Saint Luke, as presider and preacher.	The Rev.
Barbara Berry-Bailey, ELCA Division for Congregational
Ministries, provides commentary on the various elements of the
service.  Music conductor is the Rev. Mark P. Bangert.
      Components of the service include proclamation of the
Christmas story, Holy Communion, prayer and diverse music,
including traditional Christmas hymns, African songs, jazz and
Latino compositions. The Rev. Frank W. Stoldt composed and
arranged music and liturgy, and the ELCA worship team contributed
to the service.
     Prayers are led by representatives of some of the ELCA's
full communion partners: the Episcopal Church, Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) and United Church of Christ.
     Music is performed by a 35-voice adult choir, a 20-voice
children's choir, a 20-piece orchestra featuring brass and
strings, a six-piece jazz ensemble and Stoldt, who is organist.
     The Rev. Eric C. Shafer, director, ELCA Department for
Communication, is executive producer of the broadcast. Big
Shoulders Digital Video, Chicago, provided production services.
     Available dates and times for the rebroadcast of "This Holy
Night" include:
+ WYCC-TV, Chicago, Dec. 24, 7 p.m. Central Time
+ ZNS, the Bahamas, Dec. 24, 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time
+ Cornerstone Television Network, Dec. 24, 10:30 p.m.
  Eastern/Pacific and Dec. 25, 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time
+ WDJT-TV, Milwaukee, Dec. 24, 11:37 p.m. Central Time
+ Hallmark Channel, Dec. 25, 12:30 a.m. Eastern/Pacific Time
+ Trinity Broadcasting Network, Dec. 25, 12 p.m. Eastern/9 a.m.
  Pacific Time
+ Christian Associates Cable Television Ministry, check local
  listings
+ ELCA colleges and universities: Newberry College, Newberry,
  S.C.; California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif.;
  Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis.; Grand View College,
  Des Moines, Iowa; Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas.
Check local listings for air dates and times.
-- -- --
     Information about "This Holy Night" can be found at
http://www.elca.org/co/holynight.html on the ELCA Web site.

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