DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR DAVE FEBRUARY 9, 2023

The Ministry of Scouting

This Sunday, February 12, we will be celebrating the ministry of scouting at Signal Crest. Traditionally, the second Sunday in February is observed as Boy Scout Sunday, and the second Sunday in March is observed as Girl Scout Sunday (maybe because more cookies are available then!). Some of the scouts who participate in the groups that meet here at the church will be helping to lead both of our worship services this Sunday.

Signal Crest has been a longtime supporter of scouting ministries. Boy Scout Troop 116 was chartered by the Cherokee Council here in February 1960, just three years after the church started. Ralph McNichols and Allen Broyles were among the youth leaders who built the “scout cabin” with telephone poles from their work with the telephone company, and the cabin has been expanded and enhanced since then.

Troop 116 is currently chartered by the Signal Mountain Lions Club, but we are honored to continue to serve as their home base. This year, Troop 116 has 36 youths and 15 adult leaders. They have become one of the largest and most active troops in the Cherokee Council, and many Eagle Scout badges have been awarded across the years, including current church members Russell Hill and Hamp Kling.

We also host Cub Scout Pack 3116 here at Signal Crest. This is for boys and girls in kindergarten through fifth grade. This year they rechartered with 74 youths and 17 adult leaders. A few weekends ago they held their annual Pinewood Derby in the Crest Center, along with the Girl Scouts that also meet here.

The mission of the various scouting organizations aligns well with the mission of the church in preparing young people to make good choices throughout their lives. I have often compared the values in the Scout Law with the “fruit of the Spirit” that Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23.

Let’s lift up the young people involved in the ministry of scouting and their parent and adult leaders in our prayers, in the words of the prayer composed by Mark Trotter which is found in our United Methodist Book of Worship (1992, p. 437).

O God, your will is that all your children should grow into fullness of life..

We lift to you the ministry of scouting.

We offer you thanks for camping, to teach us that the world is our great home;

for study and work, to build character;

for service, to see our responsibility to those in need;

for encouragement in genuine patriotism and vital faith.

Bless the work of scouting, in this place and around the world,

that, through its efforts, the young may, like our Lord,

increase in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with you and all people.

Amen.

This is a photo of my dad when he received his Eagle Scout in 1944.