Downtown Murfreesboro has been beautifully transformed with sparkling lights and colorfully decorated shops for the December-long holiday celebration.

This year the celebration will end with the annual “New Year’s Eve Nightwatch: Praise and Prayer for 2012” from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Murfreesboro. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., followed by a 9 o’clock “virtual midnight.”

“Finally at 9 p.m., as all the church bells around the Square begin to ring, we hope that others in surrounding neighborhood will join us in creating a sweeping city-wide celebration by coming out of their homes to ring bells, bang on a pot or sound their car horn,” Nightwatch organizer Thom Christy said. “We intend this groundswell of jubilant noise to represent an affirmation that – as people of faith, we are not alone, we have reason to hope and share our trust in God with one another through the coming year.”

He said the evening is intended to represent an acknowledgment of God's plan for the community.

“As people of Faith, we gather to celebrate at the boundary of one year passing into the next as watchmen,” Christy said, adding that he chose the term “watchmen” because they were the ones who kept an eye on and warned the community when danger approached.

 “While mindful of the challenges we’ve faced together over the past year, and because we anticipate the likelihood of more challenges, we gather to fervently pray for an abundance of blessings – certainly an abundance of strength and resources to meet them with unwavering courage and collaborative creativity.”

Christy said he chose the theme of “abundance” for this year's Nightwatch because “God’s intended purpose to provide – in abundance – to each one who turns to him, calls upon his name, and lives a life emboldened by expectance, reliance, obedience and gratitude.”

To help show gratitude, the Blue Chips Praise Band from Celebrate Recovery at Belle Aire Baptist Church will play lively music, along with special guest musicians and singers from other area praise and worship bands to warm the night.

Mike Courtney from Branches Recovery Center will be the master of ceremonies for the evening, and a distinguished group of local leaders, educators, public servants and pastors will be on hand to share a few reflections on the past year, and offer a prayer focused on a specific area impacting the peace and prosperity of our community.

Attendees are asked to bring a bright flashlight for everyone in your family or group and a bell or some other cheerful noisemakers to use in celebration of the arrival of 2012.

“Joyful noise and lights shining into the sky will symbolize a renewal of hope and commitment to working together to bring a better quality of life for everyone who lives in our area,” a news release states.

Also, gifts of clothes, canned food, some other non-perishable household supplies, and blankets will be collected and shared with the ongoing efforts to feed and bring comfort to those in need, including the homeless of the community.

Everyone is encouraged to bring leftover Christmas cookies for refreshments. Non-alcoholic beverages including punch, hot cider and coffee will be provided.

Make plans to join this family friendly, community celebration at one of Murfreesboro’s oldest Churches this New Year's Eve.

First Presbyterian Church is located within a couple of blocks of the Courthouse on the corner of College and Spring streets.

Thursday
10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Noon Year Eve Party
Featuring The Snappy Pappy Band. St. Clair Street Senior Center, 325 St. Clair St.

Saturday
10 a.m.-noon -Countdown to Noon
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, 502 S.E. Broad St. 890-2300

10 a.m.-4 p.m. - 149th Anniversary of Battle at Stones River
Join park rangers and volunteers for living history programs that tell the story of the most critical parts of the battle. Stones River Battlefield. www.nps.gov/stri/planyourvisit/anniversary.htm

7-9 p.m. - Nightwatch Celebration
Bells around historic downtown will ring at 9 p.m. for a "virtual New Year.” First Presbyterian Church