Announcements • Events • Happenings

Bluegrass Bash!

Every month on the 3rd Sunday at 7:00 pm

The Bluegrass Bash features the six-member, Hendersonville-grown bluegrass band “Appalachian Fire” performing Southern gospel songs for both old and new fans of the traditional mountain music. The concerts are held at 7:00 pm on the third Sunday of each month in the church's Fellowship Hall. Free cookies, ice cream and coffee are provided. Come and bring a friend!

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GREAT NEWS!

God has graced our church with new families, and both our infant and toddler nurseries are growing. This presents some fantastic volunteer opportunities for those looking to share God's grace with the children and their families. Volunteers are need to work during either the 8:30 AM, 10:55 AM or 5:00 PM Sunday services, as well as for various other special events. Please contact the church office if you are able to help.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

3:00 – 6:00 pm

The Member Life Ministry invites you and your family to the annual Church Picnic. There will be games, hayrides, food, fun and great fellowship in a beautiful country setting! You may want to bring a folding chair. We plan to eat between 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Although this year's picnic is still in the planning stages, be sure to mark the date on your calendar and check back soon for more information.

October 21, 2012

10:55 a.m. Service

The Kirkin' o' the Tartans Service honors the Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian Church and of many families within the church. It is designed to recognize the faithfulness of families who have passed their Christian faith and love of country down through the generations, regardless of their national origin.

Legend holds that the service originated in Scotland during a time in the eighteenth century when, following the failure of the Facobite Regellion of 1745, the English forbade the Scots from wearing their clan-identifying tartans. Not only were these symbols of geographical and family unity outlawed, so were the traditional bagpipes and music so dear to the Scots.

In defiance, and as a show of faith during this bleak time, brave Highlanders would hide a small bit of fabric on their person and wear it to church (in Scotland, a church is called a "kirk"). At a predetermined time, they would all secretly touch their material during the service. This blessing (or "kirking") of the tartans was one way of staying conncected to their heritage.

The concept was revived during World War II by the Reverend Peter Marshall, a native of Scotland, who was then Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. To encourage Scottish Americans to enlist in the war effort on behalf of Great Britain, Marshall recreated the "Kirkin' O' the Tartans" ceremony at his home church, New York Avenue Presbyterian, in Washington, D.C. Since that time, Presbyterian Churches (as well as other denominations) around the country have celebrated this annually as a grateful expression of our freedom to worship.

The service includes the proud playing of traditional Scottish hymns and the presentation of the tartans for blessing. On October 21, we will host the Montreat Scottish Pipes and Drums. Over thirty families of First Presbyterian Church will be presenting their "colors" during the service. Whether presenting banners or not, all who wish to do so are encouraged to wear their own plaids as they join in this uplifting ceremony.