The Concordia Seminary Chorus, St. Louis, Missouri, under the direction of Rev. Henry V. Gerike, begins its 2001 Advent Tour today. The tour will include a service of congregational hymns, readings and settings of psalms and spiritual songs for the season of Advent at the following congregations and times:

December 12, 2001 at 7:15 p.m. - Zion Lutheran Church, Mascoutah, Illinois
December 14, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. - St. John Lutheran Church, Quincy, Illinois
December 15, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. - Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt, Iowa
December 16, 2001 at 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m - Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois
December 16, 2001 at 3:00 p.m. - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois

The music for the service has been specifically selected to reflect the season of Advent. Handbells will be used to accompany "The Magnificat" by Healey Willan. The service concludes with the hymn, "Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending." The touring choir of the Concordia Seminary Chorus consists of students who are preparing to become pastors in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. They represent a portion of the full Concordia Seminary Chorus, which numbers over 100 singers.

For more information, contact Communications, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105; 314.505.7375; communications@csl.edu.