One of my family's annual New Year's Eve traditions is to attend Watchnight Services at our church.
The service usually begins around 9 pm and last a few minutes after midnight. Our church usually fellowships with another local church and we alternate as host year after year.
Prior to moving to the Souf, I was unfamiliar with Watchnight Services. I had attended Midnight Mass services and I've attended New Year's Eve Worship Services in the past but I never heard of Watchnight.
The Watch night Service is a worship service held in many African American churches. However, the service did not begin in the African American church. In fact, John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, is credited with starting the services as an alternative to other New Year Eve's traditions.
Here are 4 interesting things to know about Watch night Services.
1. Watch Night services are held in Methodist and Presbyterian churches. However, the practice of prayer services to welcome the New Year actually began in Eastern Europe in the 1700s.
2. Watch Night is also known as "Freedom Night" and holds a significant place in African American churches. Some historians say the first Watch night was December 31, 1862 slaves waited anxiously for news of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
3. Services typically begin in the early evening and last until shortly after midnight. Some churches would serve a meal either before the service or light refreshments after the service and fellowship with each other.
4. Some hymnals have specific songs reserved for Watch Night service. These traditional hymns offer reflective notes on the year past and gone and offer encouragement for the year to come.
Have you ever attended a Watch Night Service? What are some of your family's New Year's Eve traditions?
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