ELCA NEWS SERVICE December 18, 2008 ELCA 'Voices' in CBS Television Special on Christmas Eve 08-207-FI CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Several members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are among the "Voices of Christmas from the National Council of Churches" -- a one-hour special to broadcast Christmas Eve on 190 CBS television stations across the United States. The program will air Dec. 24 during the "Late Night with David Letterman" time slot -- 11:35 p.m. Eastern time. During the program the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, assistant to the presiding bishop and executive for administration, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, talked about how God sees power in "Jesus being born to common people" and in a stable. "It's a sense that the last can be first, that God levels the playing field and makes a way for all people -- for all humanity," she said. Segments of the program feature Christmas music from many of the traditions participating in the National Council of Churches USA -- Baptist, Brethren, Methodist, Moravian and Presbyterian. The broadcast is in recognition of the council's 100th anniversary, bringing together 35 Christian denominations and communions in ecumenical fellowship. The television special offers Christmas music from a celebration at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Luke, Chicago, that included a full choir and orchestra -- "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" and "Silent Night, Holy Night!" The Rev. Katherine A. Shaner, an ELCA pastor in Somerville, Mass., is featured among the spoken voices in the television program. "A tiny child could be the one to flip our world upside down," she said. "The birth of Christ addresses my fears in that it is an audacious symbol of hope." "While the rest of the world is deeply engaged in the Christmas season, Lutherans and some others who are more liturgical are in the midst of waiting, still," said Laura Strietelmeier, Bexley, Ohio. "The rest of the world is already celebrating, and we are still awaiting the advent of Christ, both as a small child and then also celebrating the final return of Christ in glory." "As a child growing up I remember my parents preparing baskets for people in our neighborhood who needed food," Bullock said. "My parents would buy all these groceries, spread them out, make these baskets and then whatever was left was ours. And I kept thinking there's something wrong with this picture. Why don't we take something first and then whatever's left give it away?" she asked. "It taught me how to be generous," Bullock said. "It taught me that Christmas is really about giving and about giving your best." -- -- -- A preview of the program is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMBYTPfzChA on the Web. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog