A Scout Is Reverent

 

 

 

Calls To Worship and Invocations

For

 

Troop 180

 

 

Boy Scouts of America

Tampa, Florida

 

 

 

 

Assembled by

W. Hunter Eubanks, MD

Woodbadge WM 62-2-98

Table of Contents

 

Church Service Openings

 

1.  This is the Day                                                                                             1

2.  Call to Worship                                                                                           1

3.  Psalm 100: 1-3                                                                                            1

4.      Watch Over Us                                                                                          1

5.      Lord Stay With Us                                                                                     1

6.      Prayer Of Thanksgiving                                                                               1

7.      God of the Open Air                                                                                   2

 

Church Prayers

 

1.      A Scout is a Friend To All                                                                          3

2.      Thanks for the Beauty of Children                                                               3

3.      For Harmony Amongst Ourselves                                                               3

4.      Leadership                                                                                                 3

5.      To Be Scoutlike                                                                                          3

6.      For the Joy of the Year                                                                               4

7.      A Scouts Prayer                                                                                         4

8.      Prayer for Peace                                                                                         5

9.      Sioux Prayer                                                                                               5

10.  Opening Thanks                                                                                         5

11.  Please Help Us                                                                                           5

12.  Great Spirit Prayer                                                                                      6

13.  An Indian Prayer                                                                                        6

14.  Oh Great Spirit                                                                                           7

15.  Camper’s Prayer                                                                                        7

16.  Opening Prayer-1                                                                                       7

17.  Opening Prayer-2                                                                                       7

18.  Opening Prayer-3                                                                                       8

19.  The Lords Prayer                                                                                       8

20.  Opening Prayer-4                                                                                       8

21.  Prayer-6                                                                                                     8

22.  Pastoral Prayer                                                                                           9

23.  Thanksgiving for Scout Brotherhood                                                           9

 

Hymns and Songs

 

1.  Amazing Grace                                                                                            10

2.      America the Beautiful                                                                                  10

3.      Church in the Wildwood                                                                             10

4.      Faith of Our Fathers                                                                                   11

5.      For the Beauty of the Earth                                                                         11

6.      God Bless America                                                                                     11

7.      Holy, Holy, Holy                                                                                        11

8.      How Great Thou Art                                                                                  12

9.      Kum Ba Ya – Scout Version                                                                      12

10.  Kum Ba Ya                                                                                                13

11.  Michael Row the Boat Ashore                                                                    13

12.  Morning Has Broken                                                                                  14

13.  This is My Father’s World                                                                          14

14.  On Top Of Old Smokey (Scout Version)                                                    14

15.  He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands                                                     15

 

Scripture Lessons

 

1.      Isaiah 40:31                                                                                                16

2.      Psalm 8:3-9                                                                                                16

3.      Psalm 8                                                                                                      16

4.      A Psalm for Thanks Offering                                                                       17

 

Responsive Readings

 

1.      A Scout is Reverent                                                                                    18

2.      Canticle of the Sun                                                                                      18

3.      Scout Law Reading                                                                                    18

4.      On My Honor                                                                                            19

5.      Hear Our Prayer                                                                                         20

6.      The Boy Scout Promise                                                                              21

7.      Scout Law Responsive Reading-2                                                               21

8.      A Responsive Prayer for Scouters                                                               22

9.      Scout Law Responsive Reading-3                                                               23

 

Messages

 

1.      A Thought for Scout Sunday                                                                       25

2.      Big Thunder                                                                                                25

3.      Bird’s Morning Song                                                                                  26

4.      Drama                                                                                                        26

5.      John Wayne: What the Scout Law Means to Me                                         29

6.      Just For Today                                                                                           30

7.      Kindergarten Messages                                                                              30

8.      Quiet Truth                                                                                                 31

9.      Scouts Own                                                                                               31

10.  Success – Living It                                                                                      32

11.  The Deck of Cards                                                                                     32

12.  The Eagle                                                                                                   33

13.  Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding                                                     34

14.  Yarn – Leader                                                                                            35

 

Closings

 

1.      The Four Winds Blessing                                                                            36

2.      Closing 1                                                                                                    36

3.      Closing 2                                                                                                    36

4.      Closing 3                                                                                                    36

5.      Closing Ceremony Thoughts                                                                       37

6.      A Closing Prayer – 4                                                                                  37

7.      Closing 5                                                                                                    37

8.      Closing 6                                                                                                    37

9.      Closing 7                                                                                                    37

10.  Live Together in Love                                                                                 38

11.  Lord We Thank You                                                                                  38       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Church Service Openings

 

1.      This is the Day

 

Leader This is the day the Lord has made.

All Let us rejoice and be glad.  

 

 

2. Call to Worship

 

   Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!

   Serve the Lord with gladness!

   Come into his presence with singing!

   For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,

          and his faithfulness to all generations.

 

 

3.      Psalm 100: 1 – 3

 

``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.''

 

 

 

4.      Watch Over Us

 

O Great Spirit! Watch over us as we begin this day. Protect us as we live in your 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.

--American Indian

 

 

 

5.      Lord Stay With Us

 

Lord, stay with us as we come together; let all the earth keep silence in your presence.

 

 Dear Lord, bless all those everywhere who contribute to shape the hearts, minds, and bodies of young people. Let us remember what they have taught and apply it daily.

When facing deceit and dishonesty, let us be Trustworthy. If we see hypocrisy and faithlessness, let us be Loyal. Where disregard of others and mere materialism prevail, let us be Helpful. In an atmosphere of ill manner, let us be Courteous. Where some measure manliness in brutality and crudeness, let us be Kind. Though lawbreaking and rule-scoffing are common, let us be Obedient. While others grumble and grouch, let us be Cheerful. In an environment blighted by waste and extravagance, let us be Thrifty. When confronted with danger and temptation, let us be Brave. As we see filth and pollution everywhere, let us be Clean. While witnessing impiety and irreligion, let us remember to be Reverent.

In short, in a world that has for generation after generation lamented the lack of good examples, let us, as Scouts, stand out, grow up, and be real adults.

 Amen

 

 

6.      Prayer of Thanks Giving

 

We thank you today

For the adventure of Scouting,

For the unselfishness of parents,

For the patience of teachers

And for the encouragement of friends.

 

 

7.      God of the Open Air

 

God of the open air, we kneel reverently in this temple not made with hands.

The tall pines lift our thoughts above us to the Source of all this beauty.

The singing of the feather-throated choir puts a melody in our hearts, a song of joy and praise and trust.

All the discordant notes of the world are muted; all the problems of life are forgotten.

We are filled with an inner peace and know that here we have found Thee.

As we leave this hallowed spot, may the reality of Thy presence go with us to give us courage and strength for our daily tasks.

 Amen.


Church Prayers

 

1. A Scout is a Friend to All

 

Fill us, 0 Lord, with Your spirit that we may observe Your command, "Love one another, even as I loved you." May we know the love that sees only the good and is patient and forbearing; that grows stronger when difficulties increase; and that overleaps the barriers of class, of creed, and of country. Help us to love the neighbor we know so that we may learn to love our fellow-men whom we have not seen. Strengthen the bond between Scout and Scout in our Group, in our land, and throughout the World. So may we further the coming of Your Kingdom of goodwill and love; following the example of Jesus Christ. Amen

 

 

 

2.      Thanks for the Beauty of Children

 

We give thanks for the beauty of children and their joy in all beautiful things. For their mirth and laughter, and for the joy and light they bring into the world. For their enthusiasm, their abounding energy and their love of the heroic and adventurous. For their candid generous trust in those around them, and for their quick response to calls of love and service.

                                    Amen.

 

 

 

3.      For Harmony Amongst Ourselves

 

Father, we pray for harmony; as we seek to preserve in our Scouts the natural spirit of mutual good will, help us to show them a true example. Grant that the relations between all Scouters may ever be those of hearty cooperation and true affection. Let no class, race or policy divide us. Let personal ambition be far from us, and may we ever regard it as our chief privilege to serve You in this holy labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

                                    Amen

 

 

 

4.      Leadership

 

O Lord, grant that we may so carry out in our lives the spirit of the Scout Law that we may teach it to others by living it ourselves. Grant also, 0 Lord, that we may understand the true meaning of Service for others, and humbly follow the great example of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                     Amen.

 

 

 

5. To Be Scoutlike

 

Grant to us, Lord, the spirit to think and to think and to do always such things as be Scoutlike; that we, who cannot do any good thing without You, may by You be enabled to live according to our Promise and Law; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

                                    Amen.

 

 

 

 

6. For the Joy of the Year

 

Our Lord and creator,

We thank You today for the beauty of our world.

For sunshine and flowers,

Storm-cloud and starry nights,

For the first radiance of dawn

And the last glow of sunset.

 

We thank you for physical joy,

For clear water to swim in,

For the fresh smell of rain on dry ground,

For hills to climb and work to do together.

 

Make our hearts wide open to these gifts,

And help us to live in thanksgiving to You,

Our Lord and our creator.

                                    Amen

 

7. A Scouts Prayer

 

We have hiked along life's pathway,

Our packs upon our backs,

We have pitched our tents and rested

Here and there along the tracks.

We have used our compass wisely

To guide us on our way

And hope to reach the campsite

Of our Great Chief Scout some day.

 

We have tried to be trustworthy -

Kept our honor high and bright

We have been as loyal as any

To our Country and our might

We have done our best at all times -

Kept our Promise - been prepared,

And hope our good deeds please Him

When at last our souls are bared.

 

We have lightened others' burdens,

With our smiles along the way,

We have kept our hand in God's hand,

Walked beside Him day by day.

And when our span of life runs out,

We'll make this gentle plea -

May we sit around His Campfire

At the Final Jamboree.

 

 

 

8.      Prayer for Peace

 

God, make me an instrument of Your Peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy;

That I may seek to console, rather than to be consoled,

To understand rather than to be understood,

To love rather than to be loved:

For it is in giving that we receive,

In self-forgetfulness that we find our true selves,

In forgiving that we are forgiven:

God, make me an instrument of Your Peace.

 

 

 

9.      Sioux Prayer

 

      Ho! Great Spirit, Grandfather, you have made everything and are in everything. You sustain everything, guide everything, provide everything, and protect everything, because everything belongs to you. I am weak, poor and lowly; nevertheless, help me to care, in appreciation and gratitude to you and for everything.

 I love the stars, the sun and the moon, and I thank you for our beautiful mother, the Earth, whose many breasts nourish the fish, the fowls and the animals, too. May I never deceive Mother Earth; may I never deceive my people; may I never deceive myself; and above all, may I never deceive you.

 

 

 

10.  Opening Thanks

 

Leader: Let us give thanks for all our blessings.

 

All :God, our Father; we thank you for the

beauty of the earth, for the food we eat and for

the comforts we enjoy. Help us to love others

more, to be concerned with the problems of our

day, and to understand Your will in our actions.

Grant us the strength to live wisely and well, to

be worthy users of Your creation and ready and

willing workers for the causes of goodness.

Amen.

 

 

 

11. Please help us ....

 

To be good sportsmen, fair and honest in work as in play and in everything we do.

To find ways of serving you by helping other people as best we can

To be worthy of our uniform and loyal to our promise,

Behaving as true brothers to all mankind

To look after your creation and keep this world as lovely a place as you intended it to be

To help all children who are not so lucky as we,

Especially those who are hungry or lonely, sick or sad

To be loving and caring as we grow older and to do our

Best to repay your blessings in every way we can.

 

 

12. Great Spirit Prayer

 

"Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind, Whose breath gives life to all the world.    Hear me; I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.    Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.

Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of helping others. Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me.

  I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy

- Myself.

 

 

 

13. An Indian Prayer

by H. Kent Craig

 

My grandfather is the fire, My grandmother is the wind. The Earth is my mother, The Great Spirit is my father. The World stopped at my birth and laid itself at my feet and I shall swallow the Earth whole when I die and the Earth and I will be one.

 

Hail The Great Spirit, my father, without him no one could exist because there would be no will to live.

 

Hail The Earth, my mother without which no food could be grown and so cause the will to live to starve.

 

Hail the wind, my grandmother for she brings loving, life-giving rain nourishing us as she nourishes our crops

 

Hail the fire, my grandfather for the light, the warmth, the comfort he brings, without which we be animals, not men

 

Hail my parent and grandparents without which not I, nor you, nor anyone else could have existed.

 

Life gives life which gives unto itself a promise of new life

 

Hail the Great Spirit, The Earth, the wind, the fire praise my parents loudly for they are your parents, too

 

Oh, Great Spirit, giver of my life please accept this humble offering of prayer this offering of praise this honest reverence of my love for you.

 

 

 

14.  Oh Great Spirit

 

O Great Spirit,

Whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me! I am small and        weak, I need Your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things You have made, and my ears sharp to hear Your voice.

Make me wise so that I may understand the things You have taught my people.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy; myself.

Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.

So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to You without shame.

 

15. 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 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 wouldst 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

 

 

 

16. Opening Prayer-1

 

Dear Father, you are the Alpha and Omega.  The beginning and the end.  Through You all children will have great hearts and walk in the path of righteousness.  Help us to walk in Your ways.

Amen

 

 

17. Opening Prayer 2

 

Leader:  And God traveled on the wings of the wind. God touches all of creation. God caresses

the pines with the wind.

 

All: Help me, God, to hear Your song and to understand that You are with me, even in the

wilderness. Amen.

 

18. Opening Prayer 3

 

O Lord, you have given us the great hope that your kingdom shall come on earth,

and your Son has taught us to pray For its coming. Make us ready now to give

thanks for the signs of its dawning, and to pray and work for that perfect day

when your will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. We ask this in the name

of Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

19. The Lord's Prayer

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy

will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And

forgive us our trespasses, as we Forgive those who trespass against us. And lead

us not into temptation, bur deliver us from evil. for thine is the kingdom, and the

power, and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

 

20. Opening Prayer 4

 

Let us start our Scouts Own with a prayer:

Great Spirit, you are everything, and yet above everything.

You are first and always have been.

Through you our children will have strong hearts and they will walk the straight path in a sacred manner

Help me to walk the sacred path of life with my mind and heart continually fixed on you!

Amen.

(A Lakota Prayer)

 

 

21.  PRAYER 6

 

God, sometimes I hold something small in my hand... a piece of moss or a budding twig, and - peering closely at this tiny world - I feel a sudden wonder. Help me to remember that you made these worlds, and countless others, and...in remembering...come closer to you. O God, we thank Thee today for the world in which you have placed us; for the universe whose vastness is revealed in the blue depths of the sky; whose immensities are lit by shining stars beyond the strength of mind to follow. We thank you for the beauty of our earth, for the sweetness of the flowers, the solemnity of the stars, the sound of streams and swelling seas, for stretching lands and mighty mountains which rest and satisfy the soul, the purity of dawn which calls us to holy dedication, and the peace of the evening which speaks of everlasting rest. Above all, we thank you for the dignity you have bestowed upon every human being as the crown of your Creation. Give us the grace to let the light of your glory shine through us, in our action, words and thoughts.

Amen.

 

 

22.  Pastoral Prayer

Almighty God, creator of us all; grant us the patience to wait and listen to your voice. Help us not to seek the answers in the silence of prayer, but rather let your thoughts, God, travel to us and through us as we dare to ascend your mountain of law, your holy hill of truth.

0 God, how thankful we are that you have come into our lives through the Holy Spirit. You know, Lord, that we're not perfect, that we want to improve. Show us where we can.

We pray today for God's children-all the children of the world. May they find peace and love in their families and schools and learn the love of Jesus Christ for each and every one of them through our lives as we interact with them on a daily basis. We also pray for our young people, who are seeking a cause which is worthy of their life's commitment and a leader who is deserving of their devotion. We know that our youth must deal with a host of options. So, we pray that they may choose Jesus Christ.

We pray you will be with our Scouts as they continue to follow the Scout law and work toward being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

 

 

23.    Thanksgiving for Scout Brotherhood

 

O Lord, we give You thanks for the gift of Scouting. We thank You for the wisdom and foresight of our Chief, whose first camp on Brownsea was the forerunner of our Brotherhood. We thank You for the enthusiasm and self-sacrifice of those, his immediate followers, to whom the early guidance of our Movement was entrusted. Above all, 0 Lord, we thank You that You have permitted us, Your servants to take our share in the service of the boyhood of our country; and for all the inspiration and happiness that Scouting has brought into our own lives.

We ask for Your blessing on our Chief, upon the boys whom we are privileged to lead, and upon the Brotherhood of Scouts throughout the world.

May we go forward re-dedicated to this, Your service, and in humble gratitude for Your many mercies.

Grant this, 0 Lord, for the sake of Your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hymns and Songs