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St. Lucia Festival
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THE ANNUAL ST. LUCIA FESTIVAL
Presented by
The Youth of Emanuel Lutheran Church
The Lucia Tradition and EmanuelIt is only natural that a congregation organized by Swedish immigrants over one hundred years ago should observe the St. Lucia Festival as a vital moment in their annual Christmas observance. The pageant has been presented by the youth of Emanuel for over ninety years. In honoring the heritage, the songs continue to be sung in Swedish, although most of the present youth in the cast have no Scandinavian ancestry. Lucia has gained a sufficient reputation in southern New England that many travel to Hartford the first Friday of each December to enjoy its simple and timeless beauty.
Emanuel Lutheran Church was organized in 1889 as a congregation of the Augustana Lutheran Church. While Emanuel was long known as "the Swedish Church," it has long opened its doors and its heart to people of all nations and races. Emanuel today is composed of a real mixture of people of varying backgrounds, as you would expect to find in a vibrant, metropolitan church. One of the largest congregations of the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, it is actively involved in Hands On Hartford, one of the most imaginative inner-city ministries in the Northeast. It has a very active youth program and church school, and reaches out to the community through its Social Ministry program. Lay volunteers reach out to those with special needs within the congregation. Emanuel is also the sponsor of Capitol Towers, a one hundred forty-four-unit apartment building for the elderly, which is located at the corner of Broad Street and Capitol Avenue.
Lucia comes to you with the prayer that its presentation may add immeasurably to the great joy of your Christmas Season. May the Good News which broke forth on that first Christmas and which continues to break forth, bring strength, love and peace into the living of all your days.
Lucia is held each year on the First Friday in December. Performances are at 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm.
This long-standing tradition at Emanuel is truly a wonderful way to begin the Christmas Holiday Season! Please plan on attending this beautiful pageant presented by the youth of Emanuel!
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