A Watch Night Service

[vbcater]

I am looking for a Watch Night Service. I have done the UMC service for several years now, centered around Wesley's Covenant. So I would like something a little different this year.

[Susan in Ca.]

I have no idea what a Watch Night Service is. I have never heard of that.

Susan

[Deke in TX]

Susan, I never heard of Watch Night either. I was curious and found some info:

From the Wikipedia article on New Year’ Eve:

Religious Communities
Many religious communities have a tradition of New Year's Eve being known as "Watch Night". The faithful of the community congregate in worship services commencing New Year's Eve night and continuing past midnight into the new year. The Watch Night is a time for giving thanks for the blessings of the outgoing year and praying for divine favor during the upcoming year. Though held by some to have begun in the African American community, watch night can actually be traced back to a sect of Christians known as the Moravians who held the first Watchnight Service in Herrnhut, Saxony, in 1732. The practice was later adopted by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Watch Night did take on special significance to African Americans on New Year's Eve 1862, however, as slaves eagerly awaited the arrival of January 1, 1863—the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation. This particular New Year's Eve became known as "Freedom's Eve."[13]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watch_Night


This site gives more information:
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp ... d=9,32,423

[LBC]

It looked like there may be some resources on textweek.com

[Susan in Ca.]

Thanks, Deke. Our church apparently does a "Watch Night" service. We have just never called it that. But it is one of my favorite services of the year. We gather to give thanks for the previous year and to ask for prayers for the upcoming one.

Thanks for looking that up though!

Susan

[Cindy]

At the congregation I serve, we have a party starting about 6-ish. Play card games, eat yummy stuff, and general fun fellowship. At 11:45 we gather in the sanctuary for prayers, a hymn, and thanksgiving. I time it to end right at midnight when we ring the bell. I have a service on my work computer so when I get home later today I will post it.

[vbcater]

For those that have responded, thanks. Now after reading some of your posts,I remember as a teenager we did something much like some of you. Cindy thanks for the post of your service as well. God Bless

[Cindy]

Here is the order of worship for watch night as promised:

P: On this last day of 2009, we gather in the name of the Father, and † the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

HYMN O God, Our Help in Ages Past #632

Litany

P: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

C: We praise your name forever.

P: Blessed are you, Holy God! When you said: “Let there be light”
C: there was light and it was good.

P: When your people fled from oppression,

C: You led them with a pillar of fire.

P: In Jesus Christ, your light shines in the darkness,

C: and the darkness cannot overcome it.

P: Blessed are you, God of light! Shine in our lives with the light of Christ that we might give you praise through him who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, now and forever.

C: Amen.

Scripture Genesis 1:14-19
And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

Prayer

Let us pray for the church, the world, and all people according to their need.

For the church…. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.

For the world…. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.

For the sick, for the discouraged, for those who mourn, especially… Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
O God, our Creator, you have divided our life into days and seasons, and called us to acknowledge your providence year after year: Accept your people who come to offer their praises, and, in your mercy, receive their prayers; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.

P: The peace of the Lord be with you all.

C: And also with you.

The people share the peace with one another.

P: Let us ring in the New Year, trusting in God’s gracious love now and in 2010. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord's face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. In the name of the Father, and † the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

Closing Hymn Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.


The bell is rung to usher in the New Year.

Happy New Year!

[Susan in Ca.]

Cindy, that's a nice service. Thanks for sharing it.

Susan