Ship of Fools: New Year's Eve services?

Thread: New Year's Eve services? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

Did any of you go to a New Year's Eve church service last night?

I sometimes used to go to these, but it occurs to me now that they don't seem to be the norm. Would it be a good idea for more churches to have them?

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

Well, last night would have been a day late...

My church had their regular weekday services on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, but nothing special for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day this year. I checked our Cathedral, and they cancelled their regular Wednesday and Thursday services.

I would have liked to have gone somewhere.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

These "Watchnight Services" used to be "de rigeur" in Baptist (and other Nonconformist) churches. But I've looked at all 7 BUGB Baptist churches in our town and none of them held one. Can't speak for the Grace Baptists or Methodists though ...

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

'Watchnight' - that's the word I was looking for.

Perhaps the Nonconformist congregations where this was once popular have aged to the point where they're unlikely to want to be out so late. OTOH some of the same churches have Midnight Mass at Christmas, so age and late nights can't be the only issue.

In such an uncertain world you'd think churches would welcome the chance to focus on praying for the coming year and yielding the past to God. Churches are also good venues for people who want to celebrate but don't or can't go out drinking or partying. But for some reason the New Year is an ambiguous concept for churches.

Posted by Liturgylover (# 15711) on :

I didn't go but the Methodist and Baptist churches near me held the service as normal. An increasing number of Anglican churches too seem to be offering this too. Check out the St Jude's on the Hill website - it seems like a good time was had by all.

Posted by Adam. (# 4991) on :

Vigil Mass of Mary, Mother of God. At 5:30pm, though, so I'm not sure if it counts. When we were novices, we had this Mass at 11pm, and then had just enough time to pour some champagne and toast the New Year in.

Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SvitlanaV2:
But for some reason the New Year is an ambiguous concept for churches.

Because it's all a bit arbitrary? The Church year begins with Advent. One digit rolling over on the calendar isn't all that interesting.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

It's not New Year's Day for the Church, but it is the Feast of the Holy Name (aka Circumcision).

[ 03. January 2015, 05:08: Message edited by: Pigwidgeon ]

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

Interestingly the great Reformed preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who was not one for following the church calendar, did feel that it was worth marking secular celebrations in the Church. He wrote, "I shall never forget my sense of disappointment ... when I ... went to a service conducted by a young minister on the first Sunday morning of a New Year. To my utter astonishment he began his sermon by saying, 'Well, you remember that last Sunday we were dealing with such and such a verse; this Sunday we go on to the next verse.' He made no reference whatsoever to the New Year. I felt sorry for him, sorry that he was capable of missing such an opportunity. ... Anything that happens in the world, anything striking, any phenomenon,is something we should always take advantage of". Presumably the preacher must have ignored Christmas and Epiphany as well!

[Host: I hope that this quote is acceptable viz-a-viz copyright as I can't easily reference it with USB code].

[ 03. January 2015, 07:16: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]

Posted by Arethosemyfeet (# 17047) on :

I presume NYE Watchnight services started to die a death when Presbyterians and others made their peace with the calendar and the lectionary and began to accept the celebration of Christmas - our local churches held a joint Watchnight service on Christmas Eve but nothing on NYE.

Posted by Prester John (# 5502) on :

Not sure about that. The Revised Common Lectionary has readings for January 1st. My congregation had nothing on New Year's Eve, not even the usual mid-week Bible study. The congregation I grew up in did have something but being a notorious home body I was more than content to stay home. I did visit another place New Year's Day for the above mentioned Feast of the Circumcision.

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Arethosemyfeet:
I presume NYE Watchnight services started to die a death when Presbyterians and others made their peace with the calendar and the lectionary and began to accept the celebration of Christmas - our local churches held a joint Watchnight service on Christmas Eve but nothing on NYE.

Presumably these Watchnight services would be held on 24 March under the old calendar?

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

Possibly true about the Presbyterians ... but the Baptist church I was a member of in the 1970s did both Christmas and NYE - which was pretty common.

I think some though have gone over to a "midnight" service on Christmas Eve (they might even call it "Midnight Mass" in some places!!!)

But I also think people are more likely to be celebrating the New Year with their friends and families these days.

BTW W. Sangster the Methodist minister told a story of a preacher who waxed eloquent at a Watchnight Service about the need to "turn over a new leaf" and to "start the new years on a fresh sheet of paper". His final peroration though exhorted his congregation to "Go home - and begin the new year with clean sheets!"

[ 03. January 2015, 17:12: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

I went to bed at 9pm with the worse flu I think I have ever experienced. I have spend most of the past ten days in bed. Became vaguely awake with firework noises and then slept on until 11 am.

Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
These "Watchnight Services" used to be "de rigeur" in Baptist (and other Nonconformist) churches. But I've looked at all 7 BUGB Baptist churches in our town and none of them held one. Can't speak for the Grace Baptists or Methodists though ...

We don't do one. The Minister and everyone who'd have to rock up to make it happen deserve one public holiday off to spend with their families however they want. The church gets Easter and Christmas. There's nothing to stop people meeting privately together to pray the new year in if that's their thing.

A lot of the Penticostal churches do one. Others host a party instead. (Most free churches don't have licences so no Champagne for anyone when the clock chimes!)

Tubbs

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

One of our neighbouring parishes had a 'family-friendly' New Year's Eve party, rather than a service. I haven't yet heard how it went, but it was aimed, I think, at people who wanted to 'see the New Year in' without the boozed-up clamour that usually accompanies such an event in this corner of Our Lady's Dowry.

The Church Of My Yoof (a small Tin Tabernacle) used to have a Watchnight Service - IIRC, it was a shortened BCP Evensong, with appropriate hymns e.g. The year is gone beyond recall and a sermon, and included the New Year being rung in on a set of tubular bells, played by Yours Truly [Eek!]

Ian J.

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

I don't see these services as something that congregations should feel obliged to attend, but I think they serve a valuable purpose. Not every Christian will be planning to have fun with their secular family members, and their 'friends' may well be the people they meet at church.

The last NYE service I went to was at a Wesleyan Holiness Church. I understand there was a party at the Church of God of Prophecy afterwards, so it wasn't a case of churchy stuff somehow preventing people from enjoying themselves properly elsewhere.

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

I just wonder why it's seen as 'fun' to 'see in the New Year' anyway. Just another step towards dusty death, IMHO.

Ian J.

Posted by ldjjd (# 17390) on :

At St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood, it's Low Mass at 10:30 pm followed by an alcohol-free pot luck.

I think it's a splendid alternative for those in recovery and/or those who want a church-centered end of year.

I'm not sure that it still happens, but the minister of the Methodist Church in West Hollywood passed out business cards in local gay bars early in the evening of Dec. 31 inviting recipients to his church's New Year's Eve service. The result was always a large and appreciative turn out.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

Back in the 70s, my church had a party (with food, silly games, home movies etc.) from about 8 pm, which culminated in a service at 11.30 pm. It was fun!

Posted by Adam. (# 4991) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
I just wonder why it's seen as 'fun' to 'see in the New Year' anyway. Just another step towards dusty death, IMHO.

Ian J.

Or a step towards the glorious consummation of all things when our king shall come again and sin and death shall be no more.

Well, a little from column A, a little from column B, anyway.

Posted by ldjjd (# 17390) on :

Way, way back in the day, St. Paul's Cathedral in Detroit had a very well attended New Years Eve Eucharist, which was broadcast live by a local television station no less!

Over time, the congregation grew smaller and moved to the chapel; the television broadcast ceased; and I think that the service was alas discontinued several years ago.

By the way, I think that St. Paul's pioneered the live radio broadcast of church services by having WWJ, Detroit, transmit the weekly 11:00 worship starting in 1921. That broadcast, too, ceased some time ago.

By the further way, I think that Central Methodist, Detroit, may have been the first church to broadcast its weekly service in STEREO beginning probably in 1960. One can only speculate as to whether or not they were competing with (and trumping?) their Woodward Avenue neighbor, St. Paul's. At any rate, Central no longer broadcasts either.

[ 04. January 2015, 01:05: Message edited by: ldjjd ]

Posted by Evensong (# 14696) on :

Our little suburban Anglican parish used to hold annual New Year's eve barbecue dinners followed by an 11:30pm Eucharist. Was a lovely time.

We moved and our new place doesn't do it but I reckon its definitely a good idea.

I always remember the reading from Ecclesiastes. Perfect fit:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

Given that our neighbouring parish had a party, but no service, on New Year's Eve, it might be a Good Idea this year to give them a hand, and have both party and Eucharist (at theirs or ours, whatever). Nice thought (and by then we might be officially linked with them, anyway!)

Ian J.

Posted by Joan_of_Quark (# 9887) on :

I attended a service for my first time this year as I am in a new church that has them. It started at 11pm and included a prayer of penitence for being too lukewarm in the past year, prayers of covenant to follow more closely in the coming year, and so on. That might make it sound a bit of a Jonathan Edwards brimstone-fest, but the atmosphere was much more positive and hopeful than that. It was a Eucharist. The service finished just after midnight and we trooped outside for sparkly fireworks then back in again for sparkly drinks.

Posted by Barefoot Friar (# 13100) on :

I wanted to have a Wesley Covenant Renewal Service at our (United Methodist) shack this year, but lack of interest stopped me, and then family responsibilities conspired to keep me from reconsidering. We will do it another time.

Posted by Pewgilist (# 3445) on :

The Anglican Cathedral downtown here in Hamilton - Christ's Church (yes: with an apostrophe) - had a New Year's Eve service at 11 pm (as I recall) in 1999. My wife and I went - walking for an hour along the waterfront to get there on a dark and quiet night- and it was lovely and well attended.

In the years since, we've looked for similar services at the Cathedral or other churches, but haven't heard a whisper of any such thing.

Too bad, really, for stay-at-home middle-aged fuddy-duddies such as we [Smile]

Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Joan_of_Quark:
I attended a service for my first time this year as I am in a new church that has them. It started at 11pm and included a prayer of penitence for being too lukewarm in the past year, prayers of covenant to follow more closely in the coming year, and so on. That might make it sound a bit of a Jonathan Edwards brimstone-fest, but the atmosphere was much more positive and hopeful than that. It was a Eucharist. The service finished just after midnight and we trooped outside for sparkly fireworks then back in again for sparkly drinks.

Nah, not really Johnathon Edwards more John Wesley!

Jengie

Posted by Forthview (# 12376) on :

Angloid -sorry I've been away visiting relatives
for Ne'erday,as it's sometimes known here in Bonny Scotland.

Pope Gregory XIII gave his name to a new calendar introduced in 1582.It was at this time that the pope decided to set the date for the beginning of the new year to the 1st January (first day of the new month after the winter solstice) instead of 25th March (Lady day after vernal equinox)

We know that this calendar was slow to be introduced,particularly in non-Catholic countries.
HOWEVER in 1600 the Scottish government(sort of ) followed the papal lead and declared 1st January as the beginning of the year .This allowed Presbyterians more easily to transfer Yuletide merrymaking to a more secular and certainly less papist festivity.

For a long time New Year's day was the only general public holiday in Scotland - cleaning the house,laying a new fire and not touching alcohol till midnight were three common customs (not observed by all,of course.)

Watchnight services replaced the Christmas midnight Mass.
When I was a child in Scotland Christmas was a season for children and it was mentioned occasionally in Presbyterian churches,but only in the late 40s or 50s did Presbyterian churches start to have special services around 25th December,though this would sometimes be postponed if 25th December fell on a Sunday.
By the mid 60s Christmas Day became a public holiday.

Posted by Forthview (# 12376) on :

Watchnight services in Scotland became gradually more associated with Christmas rather than New Year.
Generally they finished about midnight rather than starting at Midnight as was the case with the Catholic Mass.

In the 60s after Vatican 2 new fasting laws as well as new rules about the time Mass could be offered often brought forward the time of the 'midnight'Mass to any time after 7pm.
At present in Scotland in both RC and Presbyterian churches Christmas Eve services can be at any time.
New Year's Eve services are now rare but can occasionally be found in both RC and Presbyterian (as well as other)churches .
Strangely enough New Year's Day services are
still popular in the RC church. In the olden days
1st January was a Holyday of Obligation, known as the Circumcision,then rebranded as Octave Day of Christmas and yet again as Mary,Mother of God and World Day of Prayer for Peace.Although it lost its obligation along the way it still attracts larger than usual congregations to start the New Year.

One last detail - with the New Year starting in Scotland on 1st January and in England on 25th March till mid 1700s documents between the two states signed during these months would have two years indicated e.g. 26th February 1677/1678

Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Forthview:
New Year's Day services are still popular in the RC church. In the olden days 1st January was a Holyday of Obligation, known as the circumcision, then rebranded as Octave Day of Christmas and yet again as Mary, Mother of God and World Day of Prayer for Peace. Although it lost its obligation along the way . . . .

Say what?

Posted by Adam. (# 4991) on :

That's within the purview of each Bishops' Conference. While Jan 1st is a HDO in the US (and attendance wasn't bad for us), I believe Scotland along with England and Wales have de-O-ed it.

What's not within the purview of a Bishops' Conference is how early Vigil Masses can start. When you say

quote:

At present in Scotland in both RC and Presbyterian churches Christmas Eve services can be at any time.

Do you mean last-day-of-Advent services? Those can be at any time, but surely an honest-to-goodness, obligation-fulfilling, Christmas Mass can't happen any earlier than 4pm on the 24th.*

--
*In the contextually salient timezone. One of many examples of "canonization of civil law."

Posted by Forthview (# 12376) on :

Sorry I was thinking of anticipated Christmas services.Of course the eve of Christmas has its own liturgical services at the end of Advent.
In the last few years,however, anticipated Christmas Masses from about 5 or 6 pm have been very popular,particularly for the elderly and those with children. 8pm,9pm and 10 pm are also popular.
Lately many Presbyterian churches have also offered late afternoon of Christmas eve services.

Posted by Vulpior (# 12744) on :

I have, in a previous church, run a brief end-of-year service in the late afternoon of New Year's Eve. Nothing stupendous, and not hugely well attended, but a nice close to the year.

I might suggest the same for where I am now at the end of this year.

Posted by cosmic dance (# 14025) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:

The Church Of My Yoof (a small Tin Tabernacle) used to have a Watchnight Service - IIRC, it was a shortened BCP Evensong, with appropriate hymns e.g. The year is gone beyond recall and a sermon, and included the New Year being rung in on a set of tubular bells, played by Yours Truly

Ian J. [/QB]

Posted by Siegfried (# 29) on :

Two Primitive Baptist churches near me both had Watch Night Services NYE. Only ones I've ever noticed around here that announce one.

Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :

Basically I've always seen New Year as a secular festival and therefore one night I can stop being pious, holy and on show. Bugger liturgy!

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

[Overused]

Quite so......

Ian J.

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Zappa:
Basically I've always seen New Year as a secular festival and therefore one night I can stop being pious, holy and on show. Bugger liturgy!

This isn't something that has to be led by an ordained minister, though. Aren't there lay preachers or worship leaders who could do something? Then you'd be free to go off and have your boozy party somewhere else!

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