LEESBURG — As fireworks exploded over Times Square in New York and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, more than 225 United Methodists from the Florida Conference stood quietly on the path of the conference’s new prayer labyrinth, candles in hand, and prayed for a new beginning in the year 2000.

"…being with Christian brothers and sisters and having…the opportunity for prayer and communion. It was a blessed way to bring in the new year," said Linda Frano, a member of Glynlea Grace United Methodist Church in Jacksonville.

Gary Liput, a member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Brandon, said he was looking for a New Year’s Eve celebration with a family atmosphere. "This is a really special time of change, of history," he said. "I wanted to do something extra special and to bring my son to something he and the whole family can enjoy."

The Festival of Lights New Year’s Eve Millennium Celebration sponsored by the Florida Conference Council on Ministries’ Spiritual Formation office was held to give people a way to celebrate the new year and "have fun, find joy and find other people also walking in the faith," according to Patricia Brown, director of Spiritual Formation.

"I walked away with a high," Brown said. "It was marvelous that a space was made for God to work in people’s hearts going into the new millennium."

The celebration began with a dedication service for the conference’s new St. Michael’s Prayer Labyrinth at the Life Enrichment Center (LEC) here. Nearly 150 people walked the labyrinth as prayers were offered for wisdom, peace, purity, justice, strength and courage. Following the dedication, the labyrinth was open for prayer and meditation accompanied by live music.

After a candlelight dinner, participants had the opportunity to attend one or two Spirituality Workshops. Topics for the one-hour classes included meditation, journaling, praying through dance, living simply, sharing faith, developing a spiritual style and wholeness, and others.

The event culminated in the "Night of Miracles" Watch Night Service, which combined the traditional United Methodist liturgy adapted by John Wesley in 1753 with liturgical dance and worship seated around an indoor labyrinth. The service also included confession, communion and a covenanting ceremony.