Why We Celebrate Watch Night

The third of three in a series of faith-based points of view on the holiday season.

by Kevin R. Johnson, Ed.D., Founder and Lead Pastor, Dare to Imagine Church, Inc.
Posted 12/30/22

Watch Night is a special service which has long been a tradition in the African American community, where believers bring in the new year at church. 

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Why We Celebrate Watch Night

The third of three in a series of faith-based points of view on the holiday season.

Posted

Watch Night is a special service which has long been a tradition in the African American community, where believers bring in the new year at church. 

The origin of Watch Night dates back to Dec. 31, 1862, when those who were enslaved gathered in their homes and churches, praying, watching, and waiting for their freedom. And on January 1, 1863, their prayers were answered when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and freed all enslaved persons in the Confederate states. It is important to remember our history, acknowledge our history and honor our history.

Watch Night allows us to do that. 

To commemorate this very sacred occasion – being lawfully freed after centuries of enslavement and living in devastating conditions – we come together in a safe space to celebrate their strength and perseverance for our freedoms today.

Watch Night is not just going to church. It is a night of remembering our past, but equally important, it is a night of expectancy for our future.

This very significant worship experience gives us an opportunity to rejoice in our hope and acknowledge our faithful endurance through the trials and tribulations that we continue to encounter today.

While Watch Night is specific to our freedom in 1863, the Bible reveals in Matthew 26 that Jesus requested His disciples to watch and pray at night in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38-42) as He prepared for what He knew was coming. This is relevant because it highlights what believers have always known to do: 1) Go to God in prayer and 2) Watch to see what God is going to do. 

Watch Night not only encourages us to embrace our past and move forward to a brighter future, it also shines light on how we can make an impact in our communities. It helps us to identify ways we can fight for life and freedom today. It provokes a sense of urgency in standing up for injustices we see happening all across our state and country and world. It reminds us of our purpose as people of color, but also as God’s children.

Watch Night is bigger than going to church. It is communing with God and recognizing that our God is a God who hears and answers prayers.

We must not lose sight of this historical tradition, especially today, as we have some trying to erase our history and prevent it from being taught. We must counter those trying to deny history by telling the truth because it is the truth that makes us free.

As we prepare for 2023, it is my prayer that believers will return to church and be a part of the community, not just on New Year’s Eve, but regularly, so that we can pray, watch, and wait for the Lord to reveal Himself to us and our unique circumstances.

Like those who did before us, our ancestors understood that watching and praying in the community was better than doing it alone. They met in a unifying place (the church or the home) in hopeful anticipation because God is one who never fails.

I encourage everyone to participate in Watch Night this year and to be a part of a very meaningful tradition and teach our children the importance of remembering yesterday to give us hope for tomorrow and fortify our strength in His presence.

Dare to Imagine Church is located at 6610 Anderson Street in Mt. Airy.