SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
I can hardly believe that another year has passed by – and it’s 2019 already!! Remember all the “hoopla” that was made over Y2K (year 2000)? None of that came to pass, and now it is 19 years past that!! Amazing. My life is whizzing by!
In thinking of the new year, many random thoughts have come to my mind. I would like to share some of them.
I wrote a post on December 29, 2013 (Memories of New Years Past) about the “watchnight” service that was held each New Year’s Eve at my home church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lovely memory of home.
First Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico Credit Google Search
Another memory of New Year’s Eve watchnight service was when Fred and I were in Wiesbaden, Germany. That New Year’s Eve, the little church we were in was having a watchnight service, and they wanted to do a skit. They needed an “old year” grownup, and a “new year” young child. They asked Fred to be the old year, and since our Karen was small, they thought she would be good for that. Fred had a fake white beard and wig to wear. So as not to frighten Karen, we had Fred dress up in the wig and beard and then present himself to her. She took one look at him and said, “Hi Daddy.” So much for the disguise! We were quite amused. (I thought I had a picture of the two of them, but unfortunately, I can’t find it. Sorry)
Our church in Seaford, Virginia always had some type of watchnight service. It wasn’t as elaborate as the one in Albuquerque – I don’t remember having a dinner or movie or games or anything. But we did gather and prayed, shared thoughts for the new year, and frequently had the Lord’s Supper, or communion, as some call it. Another sweet memory. I do remember that the year Karen and Brian married (on December 30), that as we were sharing thoughts, I shared that I would have to learn to keep my mouth shut and be a good mother-in-law!
Seaford Baptist Church, Seaford, Virginia – oldest buildings
And that brings us to Orlando, Florida, where we now live.
Because Fred and I have had such good memories of watchnight services throughout our lives, we wanted to have a service at our current church. We really thought most churches have a service of some sort, so the first year we were in our church here, we suggested to the pastor that the church have a watchnight service. He wasn’t very enthusiastic about it, saying they had never had one before, but if we wanted to sponsor it, he approved. And so we spread the word, that the church would have a watchnight service, beginning at 10:30 p.m. on that New Year’s Eve. We arrived at the church at about 10:15 p.m. and got the church ready for the service. And we waited….and we waited….and we waited….11:00 p.m. came and went…..11:30 p.m. came and went. And not one other person arrived. So we went home. And we’ve not attempted to have another watchnight service in this church since. In a way, that hurts our hearts a bit, but then, we are now older, and enjoy being at home – and usually in bed asleep – when the clock hits 12:00 midnight each New Year.
I hope and pray that your new year is healthy and prosperous and full of the JOY OF THE LORD!
And so – HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019 from the Wills family!
May the God of hope fill you with all joyand peaceas you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hopeby the power of the Holy Spirit
Romans 15:13
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years
Old Things R New 
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