by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
"Joy to the World," a Christmas special on ABC-TV produced by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was seen by more
than 2.6 million viewers in at least 116 television markets,
according to the A.C. Nielsen Co., a research and ratings firm.
The program featured Lutheran Christmas worship in various
cultural traditions -- African American, American Indian, Arab
and Middle Eastern, Asian and Latino. A Swedish Santa Lucia
celebration introduced the mix of cultures recalling the birth of
Jesus Christ through music and praise. It was broadcast by local
ABC-TV affiliates either Dec. 24 or Dec. 25.
Services were recorded for the program during Christmas 2004 and
involved several ELCA congregations: Ebenezer Lutheran Church,
Chicago; Thai Community Church of Chicago, Forest Park, Ill.;
Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church, Cleveland, Ohio; St. James Lutheran Church, East
Cleveland, Ohio; Eben Ezer Lutheran Church, Oaks, Okla.; San
Marcos Lutheran Church, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The Rev. Mark S.
Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, opened the program with a greeting
he recorded in Manger Square in Bethlehem.
Hot links:
Joy to the World: http://www.ELCA.org/joytotheworld/
A.C. Nielsen Co. http://www.nielsen.com/
Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Chicago: http://ebenezerchurch.org/
Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.:
http://www.arabicbible.com/salam/
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop:
http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/index.html
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
