June 21, 2009, Sunday: Charleston, SC

Today we attended the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church at 53 Meeting Street with its tall taupe columns and white cornices. This church was formed in 1731 by a group of Scots who left a Congregationalist church to align with the Scottish Presbyterian church. As the ministers processed this morning, they were led by the Beadle carrying the large church black leather bound Bible and wearing a plaid kilt in honor of the church heritage. The service music was provided by a full toned pipe organ with the pipes enclosed behind three ornate white wrought iron panels above the choir loft. It was a beautiful sanctuary with balconies above on three sides. They had a children’s sermon with the children gathered to sit in the center aisle which was paved with the original flooring masonry. The youth minister confided with the children about pencils and erasers; and God’s forgiveness of sins. The service included prayers for the people of Iran and we sang songs you might expect for the patriotic services in July, like “My Country, Tis of Thee” and “America, The Beautiful”. The following message was on Faith and Freedom with the challenge that government does not provide freedom... it is supported and protected by spiritual values and the moral strength of the people. He drew from the history “The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire” along with Jesus’s words in John 8:31-38. For instance, no government can fulfill the lost of a father who does not love and nurture his children. It was a thought provoking lecture on freedom.

After church, we rode with Bob and Sue out to Shem’s Creek to have lunch at Vickery’s restaurant on the water. It was fun to watch the boats going by and the shrimp boats rafting up as we waited for a table there. We wondered how deep it was as it was a busy street but opted to eat inside due to the heat. Leaving after lunch we decided to see the Citadel where Bob had taught English for over 30 years. The striking campus was built to look like a fortress and provides facilities for 2000 undergrads who attend here. It is a solid part of Charleston’s history; my uncle graduated from here around 1926.

The lights on the marina boats at night give off a happy glow in the darkness of sky and water.