Watch Night Service

New Year's Eve, when I was a kid, was marked not only by the preparation of sauerkraut and pork, but also by the traditional 'Watch Night Service'.

What is a 'Watch Night Service'?

It was a worship service that was intended to end one year and begin a new one.  It was typical of a traditional worship service, with music, singing, worship, preaching and prayer.  Most were characterized by testimonies.  In these testimonies, people would confess shortcomings and commit themselves to more faithful lives in the new year.

Every 'Watch Night Service' I ever attended ended with everybody gathering at midnight around the altar to bring the new year in with prayer.

When I was a teenager, my home church (New Brighton, PA Free Methodist Church) coordinated a 'Watch Night Service' with several other area Free Methodist Churches.  One of these was the Rochester, PA, FMC.  My future wife and her family attended this church - although, at the time, we were merely acquaintances.  I particularly remember that night because her father, Ken Whippo, was delegated to bring the message.  Ken was a layman and a relatively new believer who was growing fast under the biblical tutelage of his pastor, Fred Schreffler.  I don't remember the message - after all, I was a teenager - but I remember being impressed with him and his delivery.

During my younger years, I sort of liked these 'Watch Night Services'.  Most people attended as families, so there were plenty of other kids to be with. These services often began at 9:00 PM, and went on till a little past midnight.  Occasionally, we would have refreshments, although that kind of thing was not as common in the 1960's as it is now.

But, gradually, the popularity of these services began to wane.  As a teenager, I recall being the only young person in a crowd of much older people.  Then, even the crowd began to dwindle.  If I'm honest, I have to admit that I came to dread these services.  The last place I wanted to be at midnight on New Year's Eve was around an altar, holding hands with a bunch of old women!

I think I was 16.  The 'Watch Night Service' had come to travel from church to church since no one church could rally up a significant enough crowd. That particular year, the service was scheduled at the Aliquippa FMC.  As I recall, there were about thirty people present;  I was the only young person.

I had asked permission to leave a few minutes before midnight to go outside to hear the bells ringing, the fireworks and the horns blowing.  My mom quickly refused.  However, my dad took me out to the car and handed me a road flare.  He over-ruled my mom and told me I could leave the service at 11:55 PM.

WOO HOO!

I brought 1969 in waving a road flare at 1301 Davidson Street, all alone - but happy!  And with a renewed appreciation for my Dad (who I think was smiling while he prayed at the altar).  Somehow, I think God was OK with my not being at the altar that year...