Call to Worship
``Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God. It is He that made us, and we are His;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.''
Opening Hymn
GOD BLESS AMERICA
God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains,
To the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home sweet home!
God bless America,
My home sweet home!
Invocation
CAMPER'S PRAYER
God of the mountains and hills, make me tall and strong;
Tall enough and strong enough to right some wrong.
God of the stars, make me steadfast and sure;
God of every lake and stream, flow through my life and make it clean;
Let me do nothing base or mean.
God of the trees and woods, keep me fresh and pure;
God of the rain, wash from my life all dirt and stain;
Pure and strong let me remain.
God of the seed and soil, plant in my heart thy love;
God of the darkness and day, through shadows or light, be my stay.
Guide thou my way.
God of the radiant sun, light thou my life;
God of the glorious dawn, make each day a fresh start.
God of the evening peace and quiet, keep me free from fear & strife.
God of the gay, free birds, sing in my heart.
God of the surging waves and sea, wide horizons give to me;
Help me to see the world as thou would have it be;
God of the lovely rose, make me lovely, too;
God of the morning dew, each day my faith renew.
God of all growing things, keep me growing, too.
--- George Earle Owen
Hymn
Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I one was lost but now I'm found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Was grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers
Toils and snares I had already gone
'Tis grace that led me safe this far
And grace will lead me home.
Responsive Reading
(Psalm 46)
(L) God is our refuge and strength,
(P) A very present help in trouble.
(L) Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,
(P) And though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea.
(L) Though it's waters rage and foam,
(P) The Lord of hosts is with us.
(L) The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Meditation
When night ends...
"How can we determine the hour of dawn - when the night ends and the day begins?" the rabbi asked of his students.
"When, from a distance, you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep?" one of his students suggested.
"No" the teacher answered.
"Is it when you can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?" another student asked.
"No" he replied.
"Please tell us the answer, then" said the students.
"It is when you can look into the face of a human being and have enough light to recognize in him your brother," the wise teacher replied.
"Until then, it is night, and the darkness is still with us."
Message
"WE LEARNED IT ALL IN KINDERGARTEN"
Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox. These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some, and draw and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap in the afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up, and nobody really knows why, but we are all like that. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you ever learned, the biggest word of all:
LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The golden rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living. Think of what a better life it would be if we all had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations always to put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.
Benediction
Prayer Composed By Chief Yellow Lark, A Blackfoot Indian
Oh, Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me.
I come before you,
one of your many children.
I am weak and small.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset;
my ears sharp so I may hear your voice.
Make me wise, so I may learn the things you have taught my people,
the lessons you have hidden under every rock and leaf.
I seek strength, not to be superior to my brothers,
but to be able to fight my greatest enemy--myself.
Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes,
so whenever life fades, like the fading sunset, my spirit will come to you without shame.
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Call to Worship
Great Spirit! Watch over us as we begin this day. Protect us as we live in you care. Give us bounty and hold us from harm. We are your children and wish only to please you. We hold our Mother Earth close to our hearts and wish her goodness. We thank You for your love.
Invocation
A Leader's Prayer
Put me in touch with the heart of a boy,
Let me study his doubts and his fears.
Let me try to show him the way of life
And help him avoid its tears.
For the heart of a boy in its buoyancy,
Is one that is pure and free;
So put me in touch with the heart of a boy,
The heart of the man to be.
Opening Hymn
GOD BLESS AMERICA
God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains,
To the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home sweet home!
God bless America,
My home sweet home!
Camper's Prayer (All read)
God of the mountains and hills, make me tall and strong;
Tall enough and strong enough to right some wrong.
God of the stars, make me steadfast and sure;
God of every lake and stream, flow through my life and make it clean;
Let me do nothing base or mean.
God of the trees and woods, keep me fresh and pure;
God of the rain, wash from my life all dirt and stain;
Pure and strong let me remain.
God of the seed and soil, plant in my heart thy love;
God of the darkness and day, through shadows or light, be my stay.
Guide thou my way.
God of the radiant sun, light thou my life;
God of the glorious dawn, make each day a fresh start.
God of the evening peace and quiet, keep me free from fear and strife.
God of the gay, free birds, sing in my heart.
God of the surging waves and sea, wide horizons give to me;
Help me to see the world as thou would have it be;
God of the lovely rose, make me lovely, too;
God of the morning dew, each day my faith renew.
God of all growing things, keep me growing, too.
--- George Earle Owen
Message "WE LEARNED IT ALL IN KINDERGARTEN"
Most of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox. These are the things I learned:
· Share everything.
· Play fair.
· Don't hit people.
· Put things back where you found them.
· Clean up your own mess.
· Don't take things that aren't yours.
· Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
· Wash your hands before you eat.
· Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some, and draw and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
· Take a nap in the afternoon.
· When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
· Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up, and nobody really knows why, but we are all like that. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup - they all die. So do we.
· And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you ever learned, the biggest word of all: LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The golden rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living. Think of what a better life it would be if we all had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations always to put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.
Meditation
When night ends...
"How can we determine the hour of dawn - when the night ends and the day begins?" the Holy man asked of his students.
"When, from a distance, you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep?" one of his students suggested.
"No" the Holy man answered.
"Is it when you can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?" another student asked.
"No" he replied.
"Please tell us the answer, then" said the students.
"It is when you can look into the face of a human being and have enough light to recognize in him your brother," the wise teacher replied.
"Until then, it is night, and the darkness is still with us."
Closing Prayer
Please God grant me-
The spark to imagine
The daring to innovate
The discipline to plan
The skill to do
The will to achieve
The commitment to be responsible
The leadership to motivate
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SCOUTS OWN SERVICE
CALL TO WORSHIP (Chaplain Aide):
ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO POUREST OUT YOUR BLESSINGS ON ALL, DELIVER US THIS DAY FROM COLDNESS OF HEART AND WANDERINGS OF MIND, THAT WITH STEADFAST THOUGHTS AND KINDLED AFFECTIONS, WE MAY WORSHIP YOU IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
OPENING PRAYER (All):
THE LORD IS MY SHEPARD; I SHALL NOT WANT.
HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES; HE LEADETH ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS. HE RESTORETH MY SOUL; HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE.
YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I SHALL FEAR NO EVIL FOR THOU ART WITH ME. THY ROD AND THY STAFF COMFORT ME.
THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES; THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP RUNNETH OVER.
SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, AND I SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.
SONG: AMERICA (All)
MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE
SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY
OF THEE I SING.
LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED
LAND OF THE PILGRIMS' PRIDE.
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE,
LET FREEDOM RING.
RESPONSIVE READING: THE SCOUT OATH
PEOPLE: ON MY HONOR I WILL DO MY BEST
CHAPLAIN AIDE: OUR HONOR IS A QUALITY WE POSSESS BECAUSE OF OUR DIGNITY AS
HUMAN BEINGS AND CHILDREN OF GOD. OUR 'BEST' MEANS TO GIVE ALL WE HAVE.
IT MEANS TO KEEP STRIVING TO DO WHAT WE KNOW IS RIGHT, AND IN THE OATH
IT MEANS WE WILL TRY TO BE GOOD SCOUTS BY FULFILLING OUR SCOUT DUTIES AS
EXPRESSED IN THE SCOUT LAW.
PEOPLE: TO DO MY DUTY TO GOD AND MY COUNTRY AND TO OBEY THE SCOUT LAW.
CHAPLAIN AIDE: OUR DUTY TO GOD AND COUNTRY MEANS CHIEFLY TWO THINGS: OBEDIENCE AND LOYALTY. THE DUTIES WE OWE TO GOD, TO OUR COUNTRY, TO OUR PARENTS, TO ONE ANOTHER, AND TO OURSELVES COME FROM SOME COMMAND OF GOD. THE SCOUT LAW SUMS UP ALL THE QUALITIES A SCOUT SHOULD HAVE AND WITHOUT
WHICH HE CANNOT BE A GOOD SCOUT.
PEOPLE: TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES
CHAPLAIN AIDE: OUR LORD TOLD US THAT LOVE OF NEIGHBOR WAS LIKE THE FIRST LAW OF LOVE OF GOD. THE FIRST CHILDREN OF GOD WERE KNOWN BY THE LOVE THEY HAD FOR ONE ANOTHER. REAL HUMAN CHARITY OR LOVE PROMPTS US TO WANT TO HELP OTHERS AT ALL TIMES. OUR SCOUT TRAINING WILL GIVE US SKILLS AND
KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL PUT US IN A BETTER POSITION TO DO THIS.
PEOPLE: TO KEEP MYSELF PHYSICALLY STRONG, MENTALLY AWAKE, AND MORALLY
STRAIGHT.
CHAPLAIN AIDE: SCOUTING OFFERS US MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW PHYSICALLY. TO BE ALERT AND READY REQUIRES US TO GIVE SPECIAL CARE TO THOSE GIFTS OF SOUL
- INTELLECT AND WILL - THAT MAKE US UNTO GOD. 'MORALLY STRAIGHT' MEANS
WE MUST TRY TO KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT AND TRUE, AND TO LOVE WHAT IS GOOD AND
CHOOSE IT.
HYMN: OH BEAUTIFUL (All)
OH BEAUTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIES,
FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN,
FOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIES,
ABOVE THE FRUITED PLAIN.
AMERICA, AMERICA. GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE,
AND CROWN THY GOOD WITH BROTHERHOOD,
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA.
PRAYER (Chaplain Aide):
"GREAT SPIRIT, WHOSE TEPEE IS THE SKY AND WHOSE HUNTING GROUND IS THE
EARTH,
MIGHTY AND FEARFUL ARE YOU CALLED.
RULER OVER STORMS, OVER MEN AND BIRDS AND BEASTS,
HAVE YOUR WAY OVER ALL,
OVER EARTHWAYS AS OVER SKYWAYS.
FIND US THIS DAY OUR MEAT AND CORN,
THAT WE MAY BE STRONG AND BRAVE.
AND PUT ASIDE FROM US OUR WICKED WAYS AS WE PUT ASIDE THE BAD
WORKS OF THEM WHO DO US WRONG.
AND LET US NOT HAVE SUCH TROUBLES AS LEAD US INTO CROOKED ROADS,
BUT KEEP US FROM ALL EVIL,
FOR YOURS IS ALL THAT IS THE EARTH AND THE SKY;
THE STREAMS, THE HILLS AND THE VALLEYS, THE STARS, THE MOON,
AND THE SUN, AND ALL THAT LIVE AND BREATHE.
WONDERFUL, SHINING, MIGHTY SPIRIT."
BENEDICTION (Chaplain Aide):
"AN OLD IRISH BLESSING"
MAY THE ROAD RISE TO MEET YOU,
MAY THE WIND ALWAYS BE AT YOUR BACK,
MAY THE SUN SHINE WARM UPON YOUR FACE,
THE RAIN FALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELDS,
AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,
MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.
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SCOUT'S OWN SERVICE
Call to Worship
Great Spirit! Watch over us as we begin this day. Protect us as we live in you care. Give us bounty and hold us from harm. We are your children and wish only to please you. We hold our Mother Earth close to our hearts and wish her goodness. We thank You for your love.
Innvocation
The Iroquois Prayer
------------------------------------------------------------------------
O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives
life to the world, hear me.
I come to you as one of your many children. I am small and weak. I need
your strength and your wisdom.
May I walk in beauty. Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple
sunset. Make my hands respect the things that you have made and my ears
sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may know the things you have taught your
children, the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
Make me strong, not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to
fight my greatest enemy, myself.
Make me ever ready to come to you with straight eyes, so that when life
fades as the fading sunset, my spirit comes to you without shame.
Opening Hymn
GOD BLESS AMERICA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains,
To the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home sweet home!
God bless America,
My home sweet home!
Responsive Reading
Leader: "The person who is dishonest shall not live in My house; the person who is untruthful shall not stand before My eyes." Psalms 101:7
People: A SCOUT IS TRUSTWORTHY
Leader: "Do not beg me to leave you or to return from following after you, for where you go I will go; and where you stay, I will stay." Ruth 1:16
People: A SCOUT IS LOYAL
Leader: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Lev. 19:18
People: A SCOUT IS HELPFUL
Leader: "Can two walk together unless they agree?" Amos 3:3
People: A SCOUT IS FRIENDLY
Leader: "Honor you Father and your Mother." Exodus 20:12
People: A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS
Leader: "With hold not good from the person to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it." Prov. 3:27
People: A SCOUT IS KIND
Leader: "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge." Prov. 3:12
People: A SCOUT IS OBEDIENT
Leader: "A glad heart is good medicine." Prov. 17:22
People: A SCOUT IS CHEERFUL
Leader: "Precious treasure remains in a wise person's dwelling, but a foolish person uses it up." Prov. 21:20
People: A SCOUT IS THRIFTY
Leader: "Be strong and of good courage." I Chron. 28:20
People: A SCOUT IS BRAVE
Leader: "Who shall ascend the mountain of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? the person who has clean hands and a pure heart." Psalms 24:3-4
People: A SCOUT IS CLEAN
Leader: "It has been told to you what is good, and what the Lord requires of you; Only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8
People: A SCOUT IS REVERENT
Meditation
Our Spiritual Compass
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Scouts on a hike or canoe trip, a compass is an important tool. Because it gives you a stable reference point (magnetic north), you can set a course and follow it. As long as your compass is accurate and you don't damage it, it will serve you faithfully. If you trust it.
Our faith or spirituality is something like that. We have a point of reference that does not change, God. And we have a compass, so to speak, in our relationship with God. It's something we have learned and continue to learn about, just as we learn to use a compass properly.
We use our spirituality and faith to get us through this grand journey we call life. If we are prepared to trust the things we have learned about God and creative living, our spirituality can guide us through the joys and temptations of life. We can use it to show us what service we may give and what potential dangers to stay away from. We can use it to guide us in our friendships, in our work, in what we say to people and about people, and in how we treat our natural world.
Hymn
Scout Vesper
(Tune: Oh Tannenbaum)
Softly falls the light of day,
While our camp-fire fades away;
Silently each Scout should ask
'Have I done my daily task?'
'Have I kept my honour bright?'
'Can I guiltless sleep tonight?'
'Have I done and have I dared,
Everything to be prepared?'
Closing Prayer
Please God grant me-
The spark to imagine
The daring to innovate
The discipline to plan
The skill to do
The will to achieve
The commitment to be responsible
The leadership to motivate