Lutheran Christmas Eve Worship to be Telecast by CBS

Dec 05, 2002 12:35 PM EST

LOUISVILLE – Gather your family and friends for Christmas Eve and spend the warm night with "This Holy Night," a traditional one-hour Lutheran Christmas Eve service of lessons and carols. The show will be telecast by the CBS Television Network Dec. 24, during the time slot usually occupied by David Letterman, 11 pm EST.

The service, produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - a full-communion partner of the Presbyterian Church (USA) - and held at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Luke in Chicago, will air commercial-free from 11:35 pm - 12:35 am. It will also be shown Christmas morning from 2 - 3 am on the Hallmark Channel.

The program will be a classic Christmas Eve service emphasizing music, including brass and string instruments, an adult choir, a children's choir and a jazz ensemble. Featured music of the season includes "Silent Night," "Joy to the World" and "Go Tell It On the Mountain."

The service will be led by the Rev. David G. Abrahamson, pastor of Saint Luke since 1982. Commentary on the service will be presented by the Rev. Barbara Berry-Bailey. Musical director is the Rev. Frank Stoldt, cantor at Saint Luke.

By Albert H. Lee
chtoday_editor@chtoday.com