EDITOR'S NOTE:
- I will be leaving for Nashville on Tuesday, the Lord being my helper! As a soldier would say, "Three days and wakeup and I am out of here!" I will truly miss Hampton University, but I am excited about being the Editor of The Christian Recorder.
- The Christian Recorder will not be accepting articles or requests for posts through The Christian Recorder Online website because the posts are forwarded with all of the email addresses listed for anyone to see. I do not want members' email addresses in a public venue. If you want to post an article or announcement, send it directly to: chsydnor@bellsouth.net
- Founder's Day is celebrated each year in February. The Editor would like for the February 2005 issues of The Christian Recorder to be largely devoted to Richard and Sarah Allen and the other early leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Request that you forward articles ASAP. Any Founder's Day announcements will need to be received immediately so that we can put your announcements in the end of January edition of The Christian Recorder.
- March is Women's History Month. The Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, Episcopal Supervisor of the Fifth Episcopal District "put a bug" in my ear for an all women's issue of The Christian Recorder. I have planned for that to happen in March 2005. I am hopeful that the women of our Zion will see this as an opportunity and I hope that the Women in Ministry (AMEC/WIM) will support this effort. Articles are needed now and before February 5, 2005
THE LEXINGTON DISTRICT OF THE KENTUCKY ANNUAL CONFERENCE WEBSITE:
www.lexingtondistrict.com
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Webmaster for The Lexington District website is the Reverend William R. T. Hale, pastor of Barnes Temple A.M.E. Church, 437 Fox Street, Elsmere, Kentucky 41018
www.barnestemple.com
Pastor Hale is one of the pioneers in the use of technology in the AME Church.
FIRST AME CHURCH, GREEENSBORO, NC CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
First AME Church, Greensboro, North Carolina
Christmas Worship Service - Sunday, December 19, 2004, 11:00 A.M.
Marriott Hotel-Downtown
304 North Greene Street
Greensboro, NC 27410
Free Parking
Founder, Rev. Dr. M. Smith
2005 Worship Services
January 2, 2005
January 16, 2005
Directions to the Hotel
Telephone: 336-379-8000
TO: AME Pastors and Ministers of Greensboro and Surrounding Areas
From: Pulpit Forum of Clergy, Greensboro and Vicinity
All Pastors and Ministers are invited to attend a Celebration Dinner
FOR: New Pastors and their Spouses or Guests on Tuesday, December 21, 2004, 6:00 p.m. at the St. James Baptist Church, 536 West Florida Street, Greensboro, North Carolina 27406.
All Pastors and Ministers are invited to attend the Regular Pulpit Forum of Clergy, Greensboro and Vicinity at 4:30 p.m. at St. James Baptist Church.
THE REVEREND ROBERT STRODE SHARES INFORMATION ABOUT WATCH NIGHT SERVICE:
Many of you who live or grew up in Black communities in the United States have probably heard of "Watch Night Services," the gathering of the faithful in church on New Year's Eve. The service usually begins anywhere from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and ends at midnight with the entrance of the New Year. Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate. For others, church is the only New Year's Eve event. Like many others, I always assumed that Watch Night was a fairly standard Christian religious service -- made a bit more Afro centric because that's what happens when elements of Christianity become linked with the Black Church.
Still, it seemed that predominately white Christian churches did not include Watch Night services on their calendars, but focused instead on Christmas Eve programs. In fact, there were instances where clergy in mainline denominations wondered aloud about the propriety of linking religious services with a secular holiday like New Year's Eve.
However, there is a reason for the importance of New Year's Eve services in African American congregations. The Watch Night Services in Black communities that we celebrate today can be traced back to gatherings on December 31, 1862, also known as "Freedom's Eve." On that night, Blacks came together in churches and private homes all across the nation, anxiously awaiting news that the emancipation Proclamation actually had become law. Then, at the stroke of midnight, it was January 1, 1863, and all slaves in the Confederate States were declared legally free. When the news was received, there were prayers, shouts and songs of joy as people fell to their knees and thanked God. Black folks have gathered in churches annually on New Year's Eve ever since, praising God for bringing us safely through another year.
It's been 141 years since that first Freedom's Eve and many of us were never taught the African American history of Watch Night, but tradition still brings us together at this time every year to celebrate "how we got over.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
A POEM ENTITLED, "JUST ANOTHER DAY" BY THE REVEREND FAITH WATERS:
As I look out my window,
I see bright flashing Christmas lights,
And people walking with big bags in their hands.
I've even seen three Santas walk past!
I wonder what they're thinking?
Probably about all the things to do
Before Christmas gets here.
Where I live,
Christmas is just another day.
No singing reindeer, candy canes
Or gingerbread man,
Not even a tree.
And, of course, there will be no gifts from Santa.
I guess we were all bad again this year.
I hope my sister will be able to cook that chicken
She serves on special days.
Lisa does the best she can
Since Dad's dead
And we haven't seen Mom in a month.
We don't even have heat.
And there are five of us to feed.
I know things will get better
One day when Mom gets well.
I'll ask God to help us.
Until then,
Christmas is just another day.
Reverend Faith Waters (c) 12/01
fwfaithw@aol.com
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
