Jay,

It depends on the service; I've been to some where the tartans are brought forward to the chancel/altar, some where they are collected on a silver tray, others where tartan banners are laid accross the altar, and some where everyone stands and the tartans are blessed "en masse" -- it really depends on the layout and size of the church and numbers attending.

One quick historical note (yeah, right!) -- the Kirkin' is not an ancient Scottish tradition, as some in the Scottish American community would believe; some believe the Kirkin service orginated at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in DC; the pastor, the Rev. Peter Marshall, was a Scottish immigrant who held services for British war relief in WWII entitled "The Kirkin' of the Tartans". Over time, a legend has grown up concerning the failed '45 rebellion and hiding scraps of cloth to be blessed, but there's little historical evidence for it. My personal opinion is that the Kirkin' draws much more from the outdoor worship services called Conventicles of the Covenanting Presbyterians of Lowland Scotland in the 1600's.

Regards,

Todd