News Release
December 2005
Bethlehem, Pa., December 19, 2005—Audiences across the state will share in the
tradition of Moravian College Vespers, featuring the Moravian Choir and Women’s
Chorus, on Christmas Eve when the two-hour program is broadcast on the Pennsylvania Cable
Network (PCN). The program of inspiring choral music will be aired on Pennsylvania Cable
Network on December 24 at 8 p.m., and repeated at 10 p.m.
The program will also air on Blue Ridge Communications (TV-13) on December 24 at 9:30
a.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.; Blue Ridge Communications (Cable 11) on December 22 at 8 p.m.,
December 23 at 10 a.m., and December 30 at 12 p.m.; and on Service Electric (TV-2) on
December 24 at 7 p.m.
The Vespers Services, with Paula Ring Zerkle conducting the Moravian
Choir and Eduardo Azzati conducting the Women’s Chorus, was recorded in Central
Moravian Church on December 9 and 10, through the generosity of Blue Ridge Communications
(TV-13). For the third consecutive year, Blue Ridge Communications has produced the
program on behalf of the College as a gift to be enjoyed by the Moravian campus community,
the Lehigh Valley, and beyond.
The Vespers service is an expression of two traditional forms of
worship in the Moravian Church, the Singstunde and the Candlelight Service. A Moravian
Singstunde (Singing Hour) is a service of music with no preaching. Since the 1720s,
Moravians have been known for their worshipful singing. For the service, the music
has been carefully selected and arranged to bring the Christmas message without need
of a sermon. The Moravian candlelight service originated in 1747 in Marienborn, Germany,
when candles with red trimming were distributed at the children’s Christmas service. Bethlehem’s
first candle service was in 1756.
Moravian College is a private, coeducational, selective liberal arts college located
in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, it is recognized as America's
sixth-oldest college. Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.
