With a new year starting, First Assembly of God is making sure locals have their spiritual needs taken care of to begin 2015 with a fresh start.

Jim Mannon, lead pastor, has been providing a special communion service for the past several years to families and individuals who wish to participate.

On Wednesday, Dec. 31, He joined with his family and church members from 5 p.m. until around 8 p.m. to share a special time of prayer, communion and a short sermon. The communion featured a small serving of bread wafers and grape juice.

“We like to have prayer with families and individuals and pray in the New Year with,” said Mannon.

Mannon stated communion is a special time for remembrance of Passover. Participation in the service itself brings to mind the lessons of humbleness, servitude and deliverance from sin.

Mannon’s sermon quoted scripture from the book of Exodus and said, “Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments.”

Mannon explained Jesus Christ’s work with the disciples as taking something unworthy, paying for it and making it worth much more.

“He shared with the disciples, and he is saying ‘you may have been worthless before, but you’re going to be valuable now.'”

Mannon wanted to put an emphasis on healing for the service to keep it on the forefront of their minds as they begin their year. For people who have heavy hearts from past hurts, it is essential to instilling a sense of closure.

All together, the service held almost 70 people and was a spiritual success.

Mannon, along with his wife Kim, has been with Brookhaven First Assembly for over eight years now. He stated he has thoroughly enjoyed praying in the New Year’s with his church.