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The Anchor
Everything is a Day of Thanksgiving
Old & New
Annual
Church Auxiliary
Just Us
The Bread
Deaconess Ministry Update
The Pennsylvania State Baptist Convention 2009
The Family Caregiver Training
Gates
Baptist Evening Fellowship
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What Watch Night Means to Me
Submitted by Carolyn Green Casiano
The tradition of Watch Night Service
dates back to 1733, when Moravains, a small Christian
denomination in what is the present Czech Republic, held
the first Watch Night Service at the estate of Count
Nicholas von Zinezendorf in Hernut, Germany to reflect on
their covenant with God, “state of grace” and the past year.
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist
movement, incorporated monthly and full moon Watch Night
vigils into his services. The first American Watch Night
Service is believed to have been held in 1770 at the Old
St. George’s Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On September 22, 1862, President
Abraham Lincoln signed the Preliminary Emancipation
Proclamation which initially freed slaves in Washington,
D.C. only. The preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
stated “[O] the first day of January… all persons held as
slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the
people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United
States shall be then, thenceforward and forever free.” For
slaves and Freemen alike Watch Night, December 31, 1862
services took on an extra special air of anticipation. Even
those who did not observe Watch Night met in churches,
gathering places and private homes awaiting news of
Emancipation at midnight. This night came to be known as
“Freedom’s Eve”. The hope for freedom was added to
“watching” for the coming of Christ. On January 1, 1863,
President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation
freeing the slaves.
As a child I pouted at
having to miss watching the “dropping of the ball in Times
Square” to attend Watch Night Service. As an adult I am
humbled each year God’s grace allows me to attend Watch
Night Service or to be at home when the New Year arrives. I
can only hope I’ve kept God’s covenant of communion and in
some small way served my fellowman.
This year, I am particularly
humbled because I’ve spent more than 80 days in the
hospital, 70 office visit and physical rehab sessions.
God’s grace and mercy and my family, church family, friends
and medical staff held me up through this year of illness,
two wars, the worst economic crisis since the depression,
families losing jobs, homes and students not having enough
money to attend schools.
Serving God
and my fellowman through the next year will always have me
prepared for the coming of my Lord.
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