Out with the old and in with the new. On the night of Dec. 31, people around the world bring in the New Year in their own special way.
Many in the Black community bring in the New Year by going to a Watch Night service. This gathering can be traced back to “Freedom’s Eve,” Dec. 31, 1862, a night when the Black community waited in churches to hear the Emancipation Proclamation become law. The following day, Jan. 1, 1863, the slaves in all the confederate states were freed and the great news made people pray, shout and sing for joy as they thanked God for such a blessing.
The continuation of this tradition, now called a Watch Night service, has become so popular for many Black Christians that it has come to feel like part of the religion itself.
Here are churches in New York City still celebrating the watch night tradition.
Manhattan
- Riverside Church: 10:00 p.m. 490 Riverside Dr. New York, NY 10027. For more information, visit http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/ call 212-870-6700.
- First Corinthian Baptist Church: 7:30 p.m. – 12 a.m. 1912 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. New York, NY 10026. For more information, visit http://www.fcbcnyc.org/ call 212-864-5976.
- Mount Neboh Baptist Church: 10:00 p.m. 1883 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. New York, NY 10026.For more information, visit http://www.mountneboh.org/Pages/default.aspx or call 212-866-7880.
- The Absynnian Baptist Church: 10:00 p.m. -12:30 a.m. 132 Odell Clark Pl. New York,NY 10030. For more information, visit http://abyssinian.org/ or call 212-862-7474.
- Canaan Baptist Church of Christ: 9:00 p.m.-12 a.m. 132 W 116th St. New York, NY 10026. For more information, visit http://www.cbccnyc.org/index.html or call 212- 866-0301.
- Convent Avenue Baptist Church: 420 W 145th Street New York, N.Y. 10031. For more information, visit http://www.conventchurch.org/ or call 212-234-6767.
Brooklyn
- Trinity Baptist Church: 10:00 p.m. 179 New York Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11216. For more information, visit http://www.tbcny.org/or call 718-221-9788.
- Brooklyn Tabernacle Church: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m and 9:00 p.m. – 12 a.m. 17 Smith St. Brooklyn, NY 11201. For more information, visit http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ or call 718-290-2000.
- Lenox Road Baptist Church: 9:00 p.m. 1356 Nostrand Ave Brooklyn,NY 11226. For more information, visit http://www.lrbc.net/ or call 718-941-3359.
- St. Paul Community Baptist Church: 9:00 p.m. 859 Hendrix St. Brooklyn, NY 11207. For more information, visit http://www.spcbc.com/ or call 718- 257-1300.
- Brown Memorial Baptist Church: 10:15 p.m. 484 Washington Ave Brooklyn, NY 11238 For more information, visit http://brownmemorialbaptist.org/ or call 718- 638-6121.
- Mt. Ollie Baptist Church: 10:00 p.m. One Rev. R. D. Brown Place 1698 St. Marks Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11233. For more information, visit http://mtolliebaptistchurch.org/or call 718-385-3261.
Queens
- Faith Baptist Church: 8:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m. 105-01 37th Avenue Corona, NY 11368. For more information, visit http://www.studygodsword.com/or call 718-457-5651.
- New Jerusalem Baptist Church: 9:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. 122-05 Smith Street Jamaica, NY 11434. For more information, visit http://www.gonjbc.org/or call 718-978-5777.
- Dabar Bethlehem Cathedral: 10:00 p.m. 218-38 98th Avenue Queens,NY 11429. For more information visit, http://www.dbcathedral.org/ or call 718-468-7595.
- Perfecting Faith Church: 10:00 p.m. 311 North Main St. Freeport, NY 11520. For more information, call 516-223-8300.
- St. Johns Mar Thoma Church: 90-37 213 St. Queens Village, NY 11428. For more information, visit http://www.stjohns-marthomachurch.org/ or call (718) 465-2358.
- Elmhurst Baptist Church: 7:00 p.m. 87-37 Whitney Avenue Elmhurst, NY 11373. For more information ,visit http://www.elmhurstbaptistchurchnewyork.org/ or call 718-426-0139.
Bronx
- Macedonia Baptist Church: 10:00 p.m. 141 South 9th Avenue Mount Vernon, NY 10050. For more information, visit http://macedoniabapt.org/ or call 914-667-6691.
- First Union Baptist Church: 9:00 p.m. 2064 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10457. For more information, visit http://www.fubcbronx.org/ or call 718-583-8726.
- Tremont Baptist Church: 10:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. 324 East Tremont Avenue Bronx, NY 10457. For more information, visit http://www.tremontbaptistchurch.org/ or call 718-583-2620.
- Goodwill Baptist Church: 10:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. 642 Crotona Park South Bronx, NY 10456. For more information visit http://www.goodwillbapt.org/ or call 718-617-6800.
- Eastchester Church of God: 8:30 p.m. 3020 Eastchester Rd. Bronx, NY 10469. For more information, visit http://www.eastchesterchurch.net/ or call 718-379-5137.
- First Church of the United Bretheren Bronx: 7:30 p.m. 805 Astor Ave. Bronx, NY 10467. For more information, visit http://firstubbronx.healthyministryresources.com/ or call 718-515-2916.
Staten Island
- Christ Church of New Brighton : 10:30 p.m. 76 Franklin Avenue Staten Island, NY 10301. For more information, visit http://www.christchurchnbrighton.org/or call 718-727-6100.
- Faith Community Church: 70 Winthrop Place Staten Island, NY 10314. For more information, visit http://faithcc.com/ or call 718-447-1224.
- Church At The Gateway: 4:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m. 200 Boscombe Avenue Staten Island, NY 10309. For more information, visit http://www.churchatthegateway.org/ or call 718- 966-4500.