Posted on 10/12/2017 8:49:33 AM PDT by SandRat
BISBEE — On Sunday, Oct. 29, Covenant Presbyterian Church will hold a special "Kirkin of the Tartan" worship service to celebrate the Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian Church. The plaintive sound of the bagpipes, played by Pete Criscuolo, will herald the Kirkin of the Tartan worship service at 12:30 p.m. He will be playing outside in front of the main entrance to the church and then lead a procession into the church for the 1 p.m. Kirkin’ Worship Service. Wear whatever attire you are comfortable worshipping in, all the better if you wear a kilt and sash. The church is located at 19 Howell Ave. in historic Old Bisbee, right next to the historic Copper Queen Hotel. Following the service, there will be a special Kirkin' fellowship in the Annex, directly across the street from the church, where Scottish refreshments will be served. The public is welcome.
I have been involved in Kirking ceremonies with my clan.
That’s clan with a “c”.
I am careful not to wear that t-shirt around town. If I die, there will be no one to protect my family.
Had a close call once in KFC where I had to stand sideways the whole time so thugs could not read it.
What does “Kirkin of the Tartan” mean?
LOL!....I first read that as ‘Kickin’ Off the Tartan’..................
I’m Scottish descent and raised Presbyterian, and I had never heard of it:
https://churchmousec.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/the-custom-of-kirking-of-the-tartan/
It’s sad that people don’t know the difference between a Scottish clan and “The Klan.”
They’re niggardly in their comprehension.
I first became interested in my Scottish roots at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. I only entered because a friend was competing and I came along.
One of the first things I noticed was a large awning/tent with the words “Clan McDuffie”. This was in 1970.
I walked over to them and talked to a guy named Fritz McDuffie. He asked where I was from and then said he was pretty sure he knew which branch of the family she was from.
He wrote her and Mother wrote back giving all her info. He then wrote Mother back giving her a line of her ancestors dating to the 1400s on the Island of Colonsay.
It turned out the Clan is officially “Clan McPhee” tho they admit that McDuffie is the older name.
Kirk is Scottish for church. To Kirk the Tartan is to bless (in the church) all things Scottish, but particularly clan colors/plaid.
(There was a 30 year period in the 1700s, following a Scottish uprising, during which the British government forbade the wearing of tartans. To get around it, the clan members would pin a small swatch of their tartan on the inside of their jacket/clothes. At a given point in the church service the pastor would give a signal, and everyone would reach inside their garment and touch the tartan.)
I’m not a drop Scottish, but I attended a Presbyterian Church for several years. The annual Kirkin’ of the Tartan services were wonderful.
Must have been something my church didn’t do at the time. I think I would have remembered it.
Attention:
THINGS are Scottish,
People are SCOTS...
And the drink is WHISKY...without the “E”
Carry On.
Ora et Labora!
You would definitely remember. The service begins with bagpipes played outside the open doors to the narthex. At the conclusion of this magnificent music, the colors are paraded inside, each held high on a staff and preferably carried by a representative of that particular clan. The enormous staffs, with their large clan colors, are then arrayed in stands across the front of the sanctuary where they will remain throughout the service. All hymns on that day are of traditional Scottish origin. Early in the service a Scottsman—it wasn’t always the same person—went to the pulpit and explained the history of the tartans. It was memorable.
It sounds wonderful, and I definitely would remember.
I was involved in the Kirkin’ of the Tartan at my clan’s ( Murray of Athol Clan) gathering at Loon Mountain, New Hampshire.
“Kirk”, BTW, means church.
Must be one o' them Italian Scottish Presbyterians!
Another well known Presbyterian was Caspar Weinberger.
Some fools think Clan starts wyh K.
His Wikipedia page says he was Episcopalian, from his English-descended mother, while his father and father's parents were non-practicing Jews.
I sat a couple of seats away from him in Ford's Theater one time when he was in office serving President Reagan's admin. A very nice-looking man.
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