Once a symbol of family pride and devotion cloaked by outerwear, tartans have become a symbol synonymous with Scottish heritage - although more notably with kilts - and family clans.
In honor of its Scottish heritage, First Presbyterian Church of Greenwood will host the 12th annual Kirkin' O' the Tartans Oct. 24, where community members are encouraged to bring their family's tartan to be blessed.
"Because we are Presbyterian that means that the foundations of our church began in Scotland and were brought to America by Scottish immigrants," said Lane Thompson, a member of the church. "The First Presbyterian Church in Greenwood had many Scots among its founders, and some of those families are still in the congregation today."
Whether of Scottish ties or not, the service has become tradition among the church members and even the community. An area of the Heritage Library, between the old and new sanctuaries, has been dedicated to the Scottish service.
The annual event is also a time to honor the Scottish heritage of both the region and America. Although Scotland is thousands of miles away and across the Atlantic Ocean from Mississippi, traces of the Scots still exist today in names of towns such as Aberdeen and Inverness here in the Delta and families within the phonebook
"Mississippi was one of the magnets for Scots and Irish families moving west from the colonial states after the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, which created the place we know today as Mississippi," Thompson said. "Also, much of the agrarian life that still prevails in Mississippi mirrors that of Scotland today and through history."
Although the first formal Kirkin' in the United States wasn't held until the 1940s, the origins of this service date back to 1746 - a time when Scottish forces were defeated by the English and the wearing of tartans and the playing of bagpipes were forbidden in Scotland.
Having only begun during the late 1990s in Greenwood, the tradition is a bit newer but growing every year.
During the lunch, two men in the congregation compete in an election. Whoever raises the most money will get the kilt to wear the following year. This year it is between Mark Vemer and Taylor Calhoun.Wearing his new kilt of navy and green is last year's winner John Heston Powers.
The weekend isn't just a time to see men in kilts.
"We use this time to remember our past and the heritage of the reformers in Scotland," said Thompson.
Greenwood's First Presbyterian Church tries to line up their Kirkin' service with Reformation Sunday within the Presbyterian Church of the United States, which celebrates when the monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. The Protestant Reformation is connected with the theological teachings of John Calvin and these teachings were carried back to the Scottish church by John Knox. There are, however, 70 million Reformed Christians around the world who acknowledge Reformation Sunday.
At First Presbyterian in Greenwood, the Kirkin' service will be held the week before reformation Sunday, which is Oct. 31., to accommodate the guest minister.
The committee for the Kirkin' combs through candidates to line up a minister with Scottish roots to give the sermon that Sunday. Although that hasn't happened every year, this year's minister is Dr. David Renwick, who is the pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg, S.C. and is of Scottish descent.
"We picked Dr. Renwick because of his Scottish and Presbyterian connections," said the Rev. Rusty Douglas, minister at First Presbyterian. "I have heard him speak online, and he is a fine preacher."
Born to Scottish parents in Malaysia, he holds a degree from St. Andrews University in Scotland.
Once moving to the United States, he received his master's degree in divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, and he earned his Doctor of Philosophy from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va.
To honor the game invented in Scotland, the weekend festivities kick off at 8:30 a.m. with the Kirkin' Golf Tournament Saturday morning at the Greenwood Country Club. Church members will compete for the Kirkin' Cup.
Sunday's events begin at 9:30 a.m. with a special lecture. From 10:15 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., the Father of Waters Pipes and Drum band of Jackson will be outside the church on Main Street performing traditional Scottish music, complete with bagpipes and full Scottish dress.
The worship service will begin at 11 a.m. and will include a procession of kilts, swords, bagpipes, flags and tartan bearers.
Guests are invited to bring their family tartans to be blessed. The Kirkin' blessing will be led by members of the St. Andrew Society of North Mississippi, which seeks to further the Scottish culture of the area. The organization promotes events on various subjects related to the Scots, St. Andrew Day celebrations and more.
Sunday's service will end with a recessional, and lunch will be served across the street in Shuler Hall, located in the church's education building.
The lunch will feature ribeye steaks, cooked by John Lee, with potato casserole, green beans and chocolate cake for dessert; celtic music; and the "Knobbiest Knees" contest for kilted men.
Tickets are $7 for adults and $2 for children 10 and under who would like a sandwich. Some tickets will be available Sunday, but organizers recommend that guests buy their tickets in advance.
To learn more about the event, the St. Andrew Society or purchase tickets to the luncheon, call the First Presbyterian Church at 453-4680.
•Contact Andrea Hall at ahall@gwcommonwealth.com.
