Several churches in the Fayette area will hold services on New Year’s Eve to usher in the year 2008.

Called “Watch Night” services by some, the Watch Night tradition began in 1732 with the Moravians in Germany. It was a time for giving thanks for the blessings of the previous year and praying for God’s blessings and good things in the upcoming year. People gathered in churches before midnight and continued their vigil into the new year.

The practice later was adopted by Methodism founder John Wesley and, sometimes called a Covenant Renewal Service, was observed in Methodist churches. The service was loosely constructed with singing, spontaneous prayers and testimonials, and readings, including the Covenant Renewal service from The United Methodist Book of Worship.

There may have been preaching or not, and the ritual may have concluded with a candlelight procession from the church. Volunteers took turns continuing quiet prayer in the sanctuary until dawn.

The Watch Night tradition took on special significance in African American history on Dec. 31, 1862, when slaves awaited the coming of Jan. 1, 1863, the official effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation.

That particular New year’s Eve became known as “Freedom Eve” and is still celebrated by many African American churches today.

In the Fayette area, churches observing the incoming new year with services on Monday, Dec. 31 include the following:

• Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City will have New Year’s Eve Mass beginning Monday night at 7 p.m. Exposition will follow Mass until right after midnight. Masses on New Year’s day will be celebrated at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and at noon and 1:45 p.m. The 1:45 p.m. Mass will be in Spanish. Holy Trinity is at 101 Walt Banks Rd., on the corner of Walt Banks and Ga. Hwy. 54 in Peachtree City. For information, call 770-487-7672.

• Members of New Life Ministries at 265 N. Jeff Davis Dr. in Fayetteville will begin their New year’s Eve service at 9 p.m. For information, call 770-719-8522.

• The Olivet Church will have its Watch Night Service Monday, Dec. 31, from 10 a.m. until midnight. For information, call 770-460-6656 or visit www.theolivetchurch.org.

• Redemption Fellowship will have a New Year’s Eve service Dec. 31 at 10:30 p.m. with the theme “Looking Forward.” Guest speaker will be the Rev. Stephane Cobbert. Redemption Fellowship is at 418 Ga. Hwy. 279, just past Ga. Hwy. 314, in north Fayette County. For information, call 770-460-1220, or visit www.redemptionfellowship.org.

• St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Newnan near Thomas Crossroads will have a Vigil Mass on New Year’s Eve at 5 p.m. On New Year’s Day, Masses will be celebrated at 9 a.m. and noon. St. Mary’s is at 3 Village Road, off McCollum-Sharpsburg Road and Ebenezer Church Road near the fire station.

• St. Paul Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will have a New Year’s Eve Service Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. on the lower level of the Worship Center. St. Paul’s is at 700 Ardenlee Pkwy., Peachtree City. Call 770-487-0339 or visit www.stpaulptc.org.

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