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Chicago (ELCA)-JB — "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.