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PHOTO: Members of Pack and Troop 672 at Christ Church Episcopal in Gardiner Feb. 12, including Scott St Amand, Cody St. Amand, Waylon Hopkins, Delilah Howard, Avrilynn St. Amand, Sawyer Guilmette, Blake Fitzherbert, Joshua Riddle, Drew Riddle and Drew Hill. (Submitted photo)
AUGUSTA – Cubs and Scouts recently attended Scout Sunday services, which were held in many different churches representing different faiths in Augusta, Gardiner, Skowhegan, Gorham, China, Camden and Scarborough.
The religious emblem program encourages Scouts’ Duty to God, including all faiths and denominations.
“While Scouting is non-sectarian, over 100 religions offer a Scouting religious emblem that a Scout can earn,” Scott Valcourt, chair of the Diocese of Portland’s Catholic Committee on Scouting, said. “Besides meeting the Twelfth Point of the Scout Law — a Scout is reverent—the religious emblems program helps Scouts recognize how the fun they experience in Scouting is in harmony with their religious beliefs and can lead to understanding one’s purpose.”
On Feb. 5, Scouts from Augusta area Packs 684 and 603 and Troop 603 attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Augusta, greeting worshippers, handing out bulletins, taking part in the collection and bringing the altar gifts to the Rev. Nathan March, an Eagle Scout.
“Scouting was a big part of my life,” March said. “I am always happy to give back,” He stressed that one of the important teachings of Scouting that he appreciates is that we should leave the world a better place than we found it.
Scouts from Troop 603 also attended Scout Sunday at the South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta.
Gardiner-area Scouts attended Christ Church Episcopal in Gardiner on Feb. 12. Scott St. Amand, cubmaster of Gardiner Pack 672, said, “The parish in general seemed to really enjoy having the units join in. I think they did really well as Scouts. Everyone was respectful and well behaved. Pastor Kerry Mansir did a great job threading in Scouting and the history with the church into the service.”
In Skowhegan, Webelos Scout Joshua Gilpin from Pack 485 received his Parvuli Dei Catholic Religious Emblem on Feb. 5 at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church. Valcourt pinned the award on Joshua.
Shelley Connolly, scoutmaster of Pittsfield Troop 428, said that aside from completed Scout requirements, “In observance of Scout Sunday, we encourage Scouts to celebrate the day with their families.”
Scouts in Gorham from Troop 73, Pack 85 and Gril Scout Troop 29, attended Cressey Road United Methodist Church as well as Galilee Baptist Church. Scouts also took part in the program at China Baptist Church, First Congregational Church at Camden, United Church of Christ, and First Congregational Church in Scarborough on Feb. 12.
Last Fall, the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting formed a Duty to God Committee to promote Scout Sunday participation and the religious emblem program.
PHOTOS: Webelos Scout Joshua Gilpin from Pack 485 in Skowhegan received his Parvuli Dei Catholic Religious Emblem at Scout Sunday on Sunday, Feb. 5 at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church. Pinning the award is Scott Valcourt, chair of the Diocese of Portland’s Catholic Committee on Scouting. (below)
Augusta Scouts who attended St. Mary’s Church of Feb. 5 for Scout Sunday include Mack Demers, Landon Demers, Kevin Bryant, Tom Carey, Kevin Bibeau, Anthony Fortin and leaders Josh Demers and Michael Fortin, joined by the Rev. Nathan March, an Eagle Scout. (bottom)
