Watch Night.
In the African American community, Watch Night services on New Year’s Eve commemorate the evening of Dec. 31, 1862, as enslaved Americans looked to Jan. 1, 1863, and the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The idea of a New Year’s Eve service actually is older than Freedom’s Eve, and in fact finds its roots in the Moravian Church and a 1733 New Year’s Eve service held in Germany.
John Wesley incorporated the service into his denomination and some Methodists continue to hold monthly evening services, known as “Covenant Renewal Services.”
The Watch Night service obviously took on deeper significance on New Year’s Eve, 1862, when it was more important than any before or since, and the effects will still be observed in black communities tonight.
In 1862, millions of American residents – not citizens, enslaved people with no rights – eagerly looked to the new year for the promise of hope.
You can imagine their trepidation and excitement. Many of us share similar feelings, in our own ways, as we consider the year to come, 2025, less than a day away.
“It is a day for poetry and song, a new song. These cloudless skies, this balmy air, this brilliant sunshine . . . are in harmony with the glorious morning of liberty about to dawn up on us.” ~ December 31, 1862
January takes its name from the Roman god Janus. The dual-headed god of beginnings, endings, transitions and time. Like Janus, on January 1, we look back on the year that was and we look forward to the coming year.
The evil policies of the Trump administration are intended to destroy families, disrupt businesses and make life unpleasant for tens of millions of United States residents.
What will you do? What will you do when the Trump government inflicts misery on millions of our neighbors?
What will you do in 2025?
For other articles, visit:
Notes From a Sermon: “What do you want me to do for you?”
The Clark Doll Study Documenting the Damage of Segregation
Do Christians Need to be Reminded that Racism is Immoral?
Notes from a Sermon: Mark 7: 24-37
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Pastor Jim Meisner, Jr. is the author of the novel Faith, Hope, and Baseball, available on Amazon, or follow this link to order an autographed copy. He created and manages the Facebook page Faith on the Fringe.
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