Little Brown Church in the Vale celebrates Kilt Sunday

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

“The Church in the Wildwood” closed out worship service at the Little Brown Church in the Vale like it does every Sunday.

But this wasn’t your typical Sunday service in Nashua.

Maybe it was the bagpipe playing “Auld Lang Syne” or Pastor Drew McHolm wearing his native country’s traditional Scottish kilt.

Either way, it was a memorable morning for all who made their way to the historic church to listen to McHolm’s message of faith and witness a surprise for his birthday.

“I was telling the ladies in the church office that I was going to make Drew wear his kilt for the service right after his birthday,” said Jesse Boatright, wife of Pastor McHolm. “I wanted to find a bagpiper. I didn’t think I’d actually be able to find one.”

McHolm, who hails from the Highlands region of Scotland, celebrated a birthday on Friday. He shares that date with Robert Burns, the famous Scottish poet who scribed the world famous song, “Auld Lang Syne.”

Boatright made sure the birthday celebration was extra special as Brian McKenzie, a bagpiper from Manchester, Iowa, begin playing the instrument to almost everyone’s surprise — including a smiling McHolm.

“He never expected it,” said Boatright, who was born and raised in Cedar Falls.

McHolm was shocked when McKenzie began walking from the back of the church playing his country’s most-well known instrument.

“There’s no mistaking somebody starting up the bagpipes,” said McHolm. “I thought, you’re kidding me.”

McHolm is currently the LBC’s interim pastor – filling in for full-time pastor John Granchie while he is on sabbatical. McHolm and Boatright moved up to northeast Iowa from Austin, Texas this past August. McHolm was an office manager of a law firm in the “Lone Star State” and has been a longtime pastor at several churches.

He was thrilled to say the least to hear the bagpipe play and more than thankful to be able to spread his message of grace and understanding of the word.

“To get a piper who’s actually from the Highlands of Scotland – that’s as good as it gets,” said McHolm. “It’s been great. The people have been phenomenal.”

McHolm said the opportunity to hear the bagpipes being played for his birthday was a special moment. It also crossed off another check mark on his bucket list.

“We wanted to do something special for the church to let them have a peak at my history and my traditions in Scotland,” McHolm said. “This is the best way to do it.”

The piper, McKenzie, moved to the United States in 2005 from his home in Inverness, Scotland. He lived in Seattle for 12 years before moving to Iowa.

McKenzie also played “Amazing Grace” and gave a brief rundown of the history of the bagpipes in his native land. He said he has played at weddings, funerals, birthday parties, sporting events and even on TV shows.

“It’s always great to do a surprise party because of the look on people’s faces,” he said.

McHolm, who holds master’s degrees in biblical studies and pastoral ministry, doesn’t know how long he and his wife will be staying in Iowa. He said the sabbatical that Granchie took could be anywhere from six months to a year.

Regardless, he said he has enjoyed his time here in the Midwest, even when the mercury dips below zero, like it did Sunday.

“It was a rush walking to church,” laughed McHolm, talking about the kilt he was wearing that left his legs exposed to the harsh winter wind. “Please don’t get the idea that we dress like this all the time in Scotland.”