Kirkin’ O’ the Tartans Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church 201 Fayetteville Street Clinton, North Carolina 28328 Dr. Stephen H. Wilkins, Pastor Sean & Lara Capparuccia, Directors of Music Melissa Griffin, Secretary Service of the Lord's Day Reformation Sunday / Kirkin’ O’ the Tartans Sunday, October 25, 2020 ** PRELUDE “Starkindler” Michael Card RINGING OF THE BELLS PROCESSIONAL “Scotland the Brave” & “March Medley” Patrick Knox Unrein, piper (Congregation remains seated for Processional) The Beadle: Silas Lockamy * THE OPENING OF THE WORD THE CONGREGATION GATHERS The Lord be with you. And also with you. CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP “Celtic Alleluia” O’ Carroll/Wlaker BLESSING OF THE TARTANS Dr. Falvy Carl Barr, Jr., Clerk of Session Thank you, O Lord, for your self-revealed Word which has ordained a rich heritage of faith and sacrifice from our ancestors, from Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, from Abraham to David, so onwards to the incarnation of Jesus Christ to the establishment of his church: our brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere. Never let us forget that a heritage of faith is a responsibility, not a treasure to be hoarded. Bless us that we may be a blessing, O Lord. Thank you, O Lord, for the blessing of family; the warmth, comfort, and security of family love. Never let us forget that our family love is a gift to be shared, that the stranger may be as welcome as the brother. Bless us that we may be a blessing, O Lord. We praise you, O Lord, for those who have lived and died in Christ that we might have the freedom to dwell in a community of faith. Never let us forget that the days of sacrifice are not yet over, that we too, have lives to live in faith. On behalf of all clans, families, and nations, we raise these tartans before Almighty God in gratitude for our heritage and pray God’s blessing on His servant people in all lands. PRAYER OF INVOCATION (Today’s prayer that is also being prayed throughout the Church of Scotland) Eternal God, before whom the book of history is laid and who sees every event, knows every character, experiences every moment, compared to You we are but a speck of dust caught in the sunlight; for we exist only in the moment, what we call the present – a gift from You: we cannot return to yesterday and correct our errors, we cannot venture into tomorrow and discover what lies ahead; now is all we have, we are a limited people, confined, restricted; and yet, from beyond time and all the stars, You reach out to us in love, to embrace us, to enfold us, to make us welcome, and we rejoice and give You thanks for Your mercy and Your grace. Amen. * HYMN 45 (See last page for hymn) “I to the Hills Will Lift My Eyes” DUNDEE, Scottish Psalter- 1615 * PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Adapted from John Knox’s liturgy of 1560) Almighty God, we are unworthy to come into your presence, because of our many sins. We do not deserve any grace or mercy from you, if you dealt with us as we deserve. We have sinned against you, O Lord, and we have offended you. And yet, O Lord, as we acknowledge our sins and offenses, so also do we acknowledge you to be a merciful God, a loving and favorable Father, to all who turn to you. And so we humbly ask you, for the sake of Christ your son, to show mercy to us, and forgive us all our offenses. Forgive the sins of our youth, and the sins of our old age. By your Spirit, O God, take possession of our hearts, so that, not only the actions of our lives, but also the words of our mouths, and the smallest thoughts of our minds, may be guided and governed by you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen. * CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE “Amazing Grace” (first verse) AMAZING GRACE Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. * ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Adapted from The Scots Confession, chapters 6-8) When the fullness of time came God sent his Son, his eternal wisdom, the substance of his own glory, into this world, who took the nature of humanity from the substance of a woman, a virgin, by means of the Holy Ghost… We acknowledge and confess that this wonderful union between the Godhead and the humanity in Christ Jesus did arise from the eternal and immutable decree of God from which all our salvation springs and depends… Further, it behooved the Messiah and Redeemer to be true God and true man, because he was able to undergo the punishment of our transgressions and to present himself in the presence of his Father’s judgment, as in our stead, to suffer for our transgression and disobedience, and by death to overcome him that was the author of death. So we confess, and most undoubtedly believe. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! * CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE “Amazing Grace” (fourth verse) AMAZING GRACE The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures. ** INSTRUMENTAL RESPONSE “Amazing Grace” Columbian Harmony, 1829 (Congregation remains seated for Instrumental Response) ** ANNOUNCEMENTS FIRST LESSON: Psalm 119:97-105 OT 568 MUSICAL OFFERING “Be Thou My Vision” Irish Tradiontal, arr. Richard Shephard SECOND LESSON: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 NT 212 SERMON “The Kirk and the Book” Rev. Dr. Stephen Howell Wilkins (See last page for hymn) CAITHNESS, Scottish Psalter - 1635 * HYMN 739 “O for a Closer Walk with God” * THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Taken from The Scots Confession, Chapter 1; the prayer is the epilogue to The Scots Confession) We confess and acknowledge one God alone, to whom alone we must cleave, whom alone we must serve, whom alone we must worship, and in whom alone we put our trust; who is eternal, infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent, invisible; one in substance and yet distinct in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; by whom we confess and believe all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible to have been created, to be retained in their being, and to be ruled and guided by his inscrutable providence for such end as his eternal wisdom, goodness, and justice have appointed, and to the manifestation of his own glory. Arise, O Lord, and let thine enemies be confounded; let them flee from thy presence that hate the godly Name. Give thy servants strength to speak thy Word with boldness, and let all nations cleave to the true knowledge of thee. Amen. * CHORAL GLORIA PATRI (Congregation remains standing for choral Gloria Patri) Scottish Chant, Hymn No. 580 PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER * HYMN 168 (See last page for hymn) “Within Your Shelter, Loving God” ABBEY, Scottish Psalter- 1615 * BENEDICTION AND BLESSING * CHORAL RESPONSE “Traditional Irish Blessing” Setting by Austin C. Lovelace “May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be at yor back, the sunshine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again… may God hold you in the palm of his hand.” * POSTLUDE “March of the Champion Supreme” W. Baird, Patrick Knox Unrein, piper In honor of all former members of Graves Memorial whose membership is now in the Church Triumphant. * Those who are able, please stand ** Seating of worshipers FLAGS & TARTAN BANNERS PROVIDED BY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF GMPC In 1999, paraments in the clergy tartan for the pulpit and lectern and the pastor’s stole, were handmade and anonymously given to GMPC in honor of the ministry of The Rev. Edward Franklin Johnston, Jr. In 2004, clergy tartan rosettes and Celtic cross brooches were given in honor of Edward Franklin Johnston, Jr., Pastor Emeritus, by his family, rededicated this year in his memory. The Scots Confession Banner Handmade by GMPC Presbyterian Women The flag of the United States of America In honor of Neal Warren Sinclair and James Eulen Sinclair, Jr. Saint Andrew’s Cross In memory of Doris Butler Stewart and Henry Lafayette Stewart, Jr. Seal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) In memory of Needham Howell Boyette Scottish Lion Rampant In honor of The Rev. Dr. William Lee Hawkins Falvy Carl Barr, Jr. Family Ayrshire District Bonnie Dalby Barr (Creech) Family Angus District Campbell Bradley Family Campbell and Graham Richard Franklin Bryan, Jr. Family MacKay John Wesley Cowand, III Family Colquhoun John Thomas Denny, III Family MacMillan Haywood Alexander Faircloth Family MacLachlan William Sullivan Fulton Family MacMillan and Strathelyde Blue Timothy Ward Howard Family MacGregor Edward Franklin Johnston, Jr. Family Johnston, Kerr/Carr and Wells Harold Henry Lamb Family Lamont Curtis Ray Lindsay Family Lindsay John Thomas Newton Family Edinburgh District Patrick Brian O’Neal Family O’Neal Betty Blue Britt Packard Family Thomson Myrtle Whitesides Petty Family MacGill George Byron Rose Family Rose William Kenner Scott Family Scott James Anthony Sessoms Family Paisley District James Eulen Sinclair, Jr. Family Sinclair Charles P. Spell, II Family Tara District Robert Glenn Spell Family MacNeil of Barra Henry Lafayette Stewart, Jr. Family Stewart of Appin John Peeler Surratt Family Stuart of Bute Granvillene Wallace Carter Family Wallace Sara Warren Rosario Family Fife District Burl Jasper Williamson, Jr. Family MacKay The Kirkin’ O’ The Tartans has its origin in the early 1940’s, when The Rev.