Second Baptist to host New Year's Eve Watch Service Dec. 31

Posted December 25, 2019 10:00 pm

Submitted by Second Baptist Church

Second Baptist Church, 1280 Summit St., Elgin, invites the community to the New Year's Eve Watch Service celebration at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31.

This celebration of Watch Services - also known as Freedom's Eve - in the black communities can be traced back to Dec. 31, 1862. President Lincoln's signing of the Emancipation Proclamation - the promise that all slaves of the Confederate States were legally free - set the stage for this yearly celebration. The slaves gathered at the churches awaiting the stroke of midnight. On Jan. 1, 1863, when the slaves received news of their freedom, they prayed and fell to their knees giving thanks to God.

All are invited to come out and celebrate the new year.

Sunday worship is at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school begins at 9:30 a.m. Bus and child-care services are available.

For more information, call (847) 695-7757 or visit www.SBCElginIl.org.

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