GRACEWAY CHURCH CELEBRATES ITS 40th ANNIVERSARY
On Sunday, October 30, GraceWay Church of Leesburg, formerly known as Lake Square Presbyterian Church, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special “Kirkin’ of the Tartans” during worship and luncheon afterwards.
Lake Square Presbyterian Church began as a church plant of First Presbyterian Church of Leesburg. The Rev. Bob Alexander, then pastor of First Presbyterian Church, believed that once a congregation reached 1000 members it was time to plant another church. Forty faithful members of that congregation agreed to step out in faith and started “Lake Square Chapel” in the former Jones Music Store on Hwy 441 by the Mall. The congregation grew and called its first pastor, the Reverend Dr. Jerry Little, built their church on the corner of Radio Road and Morningside Drive in Leesburg, and became Lake Square Presbyterian Church. In 2013, the church changed its name to GraceWay Church, not to be named after a specific area of town, but to reflect the teachings of Jesus and the way of grace.
Ali Dickson, Director of Music and Media said, “The church had been planning this celebration since January. The service was filled with special music by the Celebration Choir and Handbells, and a processional of clan tartans led by the City of Mount Dora Pipe Band, under the direction of Joe McKie. The Kirkin’ tradition is really about honoring a community to which you belong and love. Scottish tradition is all about welcoming outsiders into their community just as we do here at GraceWay. We are so blessed to be celebrating 40 years of God’s faithfulness.”
The service celebrates Presbyterians’ rich Scottish heritage. People of Scottish descent were encouraged to wear their clan’s tartans to the worship service. Kirk is Scottish for church, and tartans, with their distinctive cross-lined patterns, represent Scottish clans, families, and regions. The tradition of the tartan is ancient and was part of the everyday attire of the Highland people for centuries. Groups of families, called clans, had their own distinctive patterns and colors. During a dark period of Scottish history, when the wearing of tartans was outlawed, people would bring a small patch of their tartan to the church (kirk), and at a certain part of the worship service, the minister would bless it, thereby kirkin’ the tartan.
Former pastors, Reverend Dr. Jerry Little, Reverend Dr. Stephen Hulsey, Reverend Bill Birdsall, (all Pastors Emeritus of GraceWay), and Reverand Scott Worth (a former Associate Pastor) all participated in the service, along with current pastor, Reverend Dr. Ian Lamont.
Lake Square Presbyterian Church began as a church plant of First Presbyterian Church of Leesburg. The Rev. Bob Alexander, then pastor of First Presbyterian Church, believed that once a congregation reached 1000 members it was time to plant another church. Forty faithful members of that congregation agreed to step out in faith and started “Lake Square Chapel” in the former Jones Music Store on Hwy 441 by the Mall. The congregation grew and called its first pastor, the Reverend Dr. Jerry Little, built their church on the corner of Radio Road and Morningside Drive in Leesburg, and became Lake Square Presbyterian Church. In 2013, the church changed its name to GraceWay Church, not to be named after a specific area of town, but to reflect the teachings of Jesus and the way of grace.
Ali Dickson, Director of Music and Media said, “The church had been planning this celebration since January. The service was filled with special music by the Celebration Choir and Handbells, and a processional of clan tartans led by the City of Mount Dora Pipe Band, under the direction of Joe McKie. The Kirkin’ tradition is really about honoring a community to which you belong and love. Scottish tradition is all about welcoming outsiders into their community just as we do here at GraceWay. We are so blessed to be celebrating 40 years of God’s faithfulness.”
The service celebrates Presbyterians’ rich Scottish heritage. People of Scottish descent were encouraged to wear their clan’s tartans to the worship service. Kirk is Scottish for church, and tartans, with their distinctive cross-lined patterns, represent Scottish clans, families, and regions. The tradition of the tartan is ancient and was part of the everyday attire of the Highland people for centuries. Groups of families, called clans, had their own distinctive patterns and colors. During a dark period of Scottish history, when the wearing of tartans was outlawed, people would bring a small patch of their tartan to the church (kirk), and at a certain part of the worship service, the minister would bless it, thereby kirkin’ the tartan.
Former pastors, Reverend Dr. Jerry Little, Reverend Dr. Stephen Hulsey, Reverend Bill Birdsall, (all Pastors Emeritus of GraceWay), and Reverand Scott Worth (a former Associate Pastor) all participated in the service, along with current pastor, Reverend Dr. Ian Lamont.