Habari-Gani ! UMOJA !

Celebrate Kwanzaa & Watchnight Service 12/31/2005 with Village
Baptist Church. For more information call 467-0389. Details below:

(Black) History of Watch-Night Services:
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 7p.m. to 10p.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. Most people still
assume that Watch Night was a fairly standard Christian religious
service --made a bit more Afrocentric 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 nearly 140 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."

On 12/31/2005 you may celebrate Kwanzaa & Watchnight Service with
Village Baptist Church. For more information call 467-0389. Details
below:

2005 K W A N Z A A E V E N T S !!

1) 12/26/2005 MONDAY - Hampton
Celebrate with Suwabi Afrikan Ballet on 12/26/05 from 6 PM - 9 PM @
Lindsay Middle School of Hampton located at 1636 Briarfield Road in
Hampton Va. For more info' call 757-725-9198.

2) 12/27/2005 TUESDAY - Norfolk
The Imani Foundation presents our 17th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration &
Food Drive on 12/27/2005 @ 7:00 PM. Bring a canned food item for the
Food Bank of Hampton Roads. The celebration includes afrikan dance,
games, children activities, dancing w/ D.J.'s, & the Kwanzaa
candlelighting ceremony. FREE & open to the public. The Hunton YMCA
(622-7271) is located at 1139 E. Charlotte St. Norfolk, VA 23504
across from Ruffner Middle School. For more information please call
757.248.3820. Sponsored

3) 12/31/2005 SATURDAY - Va. Beach
Celebrate a "Kwanzaa & Watch Night Service & New Years Party" with
Village Baptist Church at Va. Beach's Salem High School from 10 p.m.
until 3 a.m. Celebrate Kwanzaa, Christ, & Dance to Disco, Line Dance,
Gospel, R&B music with Positive Vibes D.J.s. For more information
call 467-0389.

For more information on Kwanzaa visit www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org