Concordia Seminary, St. Louis will hold its annual Epiphany Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003, at 3:00 p.m. in The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Participating in the celebration will be several vocal and instrumental groups from the Concordia Seminary community, including the Concordia Seminary Chorus, Pro Musica Sacra, Laudamus, Brass Choir, Handbell Choir and String Ensemble. They will be joined by the Senior Choir from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Mo. The celebration will include an extended choral prelude of Christmas and Epiphany themes and a service of evening prayer.

As a special feature of the celebration, a setting of "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright," composed by Donald Busarow, will be sung. The Concordia Seminary Chorus commissioned Busarow to compose the new setting of an Isaiah canticle, which will also premiere during the celebration. Busarow will conduct several of his compositions during the celebration.

Dr. Busarow, a long-time professor of music at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, has served the church at large with his compositions that encourage congregational singing.

Rev. Henry Gerike, director of choirs at Concordia Seminary, will direct his new setting of the carol "When Christmas Morn Is Dawning," which also will debut at the celebration. The carol will be joined by hymns and psalm settings involving the congregation throughout the whole service.

Special recognition will be given to pastors and church musicians of St. Louis area Lutheran churches. Because of their concentrated work during the church year, Concordia Seminary desires to express its appreciation for their work of proclaiming God's Word and leading God's people in worship and song.

For more information, contact Lois M. Engfehr, Director of Communications, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, Mo., 63105; 314.505.7374; [email protected].