NATCHEZ — Churches all over the Miss-Lou will be having their annual watch night services this evening to help kick off the New Year by looking back on the previous year, and looking ahead for what’s to come.

“We take the time to reflect over the year,” Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Pastor the Rev. Birdon Mitchell said. “It is a very spiritual atmosphere.”

Mitchell said the service at his church will include songs and a testimonial time where anyone who wants to speak can share.

“Any person who would like to speak and reflect over things that happened that the Lord brought them through over the year or what their desires and aspirations are can do so,” he said.

Mitchell said the watch night services have been going on since before he started at Zion, and said it is a good place to come and share what is on your heart.

“The scriptures say that testimony of others helps build faith with others,” he said. “We can know that we are not going through things alone.”

Marblestone Baptist Church Pastor the Rev. Dan Alexander said his church will having a praise and thanksgiving service for the blessings that God has provided throughout the year.

“We are going to have testimonies from people on how God has enlightened them throughout the year through their tribulations,” he said. “We are then going to have a sermon to bring the new year out.”

Alexander said the spirit-filled atmosphere creates a joyous evening for all that attend.

“We bring the spirit with us, we don’t look for it,” he said. “It is such a blessing to see an old year go and a new one come in.”

Alexander said the watch night service is a celebration for being allowed to experience another year in the presence of God.

“We give thanks to God for being so kind and good to us,” he said. “Many people did not make it to this New Year, and it is such a joyous thing that he allowed us to stay to witness another year.”

Doty Road Church of God Pastor the Rev. Simeon Green said the watch night services are also to look ahead on what 2011 is going to bring.

“For 2011 we are looking to see where God will lead us,” he said. “We have high expectations that God will be there doing good things.”

Green said that one of the things his congregation will be looking to work on in the new year will be reaching out to the community.

“Doty Road is a light, and we don’t want our light to be hidden, we want it to be seen by the people of Ferriday,” he said. “We want to be sure they are a part of the new year as well so God can do great things for the community.”

Green said one thing Doty Road Church will be doing at their watch night service will be a feet washing.

“This shows that we are servants to everyone,” he said. “No one is higher than the other.”

Green said the service is open for anyone who wants to attend a night of praise, worship and testimonies.

“We just want everyone to come out and be a part of the celebration,” he said. “It is going to be a great time for everyone.”

For a list of watch night services in the Miss-Lou check the Tracings section.