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Rock Island's Second Baptist Church holds annual New Year's Eve 'Watch Night' service

The annual Watch Night service celebrates the enacting of the Emancipation Proclamation that took effect Jan. 1, 1863.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Rock Island's Second Baptist Church hosted its annual New Year's Eve Watch Night service on Saturday.

The event took place at 10 p.m. at the church located at 919 6th Ave. in Rock Island.

The annual Watch Night service celebrates the enacting of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Sept. 22, 1862 but didn't take effect until Jan. 1, 1863. 

After months of anticipation, on the night of Dec. 31, 1862, also known as "Freedom's Eve," Blacks across the country watched, waited and eventually celebrated the new law that freed millions of Americans as the clock struck midnight. 

Reverend Joseph D. Williamson III, pastor of Second Baptist Church said, "So it's not only a time when we come together -- to celebrate the new year but we also thank God for bringing us through the last year." 

Williamson III created the annual service after realizing he had to make the long trip to Chicago in order to celebrate the night.

"We would go up every year  -- every year my wife and I -- to Chicago because we couldn't find a Night Watch service, so I said if I ever got to be a pastor, the first thing I wanted to do was start a Watch Night service," Williamson III said.

Nowadays, the night is an annual New Year's Eve tradition that focuses on the memory of slavery and freedom, reflections on faith and celebration of community.

Trinity Community Baptist Church and Macedonia Baptist Church came together with Second Baptist to host the event.

Rev. Larry D. Dixon, pastor at Trinity Community Baptist Church in Moline, Ill. was one of three pastors at the service. He said the event has grown since being online for two years due to the pandemic.

"We look back over our history, and how the Lord has brought us and kept us from all through slavery and through segregation, but he still stayed with us," Rev. Dixon said."  

The service included singing, sermons from all three pastors, testimonies and prayer.

All were welcome to join the night of prayer and worship. 

You can watch online by visiting the church's website or by going to their Facebook page.

   

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