Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterHUNDREDS OF Corporate Area residents rang in the new year in church on Friday night, reflecting on their achievements for 2004 and making new commitments for 2005.
Groups of uniformed policemen and women patrolled the grounds at several of the churches, to ensure the safety of those in attendance.
At the Tarrant Baptist Church on Molynes Road in St. Andrew, attire did not matter much, as many who attended Watch Night service there, were clad in jeans and other casual wear breaking the formal wear tradition.
"I have so much for which to be thankful," said Lincoln Thaxter who is also the principal of the Calabar High School.
At the Faith Chapel United Pentecostal Church on Washington Boulevard churchgoers rang out gospel songs one after another, clapping and dancing as midnight drew closer.
"We are having our own New Year's Eve Ball here tonight and it is not costing a thing," shouted one of the members.
'GOSPEL PARTY'
The 'gospel party' overflowed onto the church grounds where several others worshipped.
There were similar happenings at the Church of the Open Bible also on Washington Boulevard, St. Andrew; however a closed circuit television was installed to provide live coverage of the activities inside the church.
"If we are going to respond to the invitation of Jesus to go over to the other side, we are going to have to leave the crowd behind," charged the Rev. Carl Johnson, who preached his way into the New Year.
Rev. Johnson, who is also the general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, said many people were influenced by their peers to engage in wrong doing and noted that if persons were going to make a change in 2005, they must be guided by moral principles.
"We are busy making life but we have no time for the maker of life," he said.
At midnight, Rev. Johnson paused for an alter call, while firecrackers exploded in communities near by and starlight's sparkled in the skies.
There were also the occasional sounds of gunfire to herald in the New Year.
But those in attendance at the Church of the Open Bible sat peacefully, considering their charge for 2005.
