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The following prayer
was contributed by Stan Krieger (smk@summit.novell.com) of Summit,
NJ. It is a slight rewrite of the Prayer for Our Country, as translated
in the Siddur Sim Shalom (the prayerbook used in many Conservative
Jewish congregations).
Among the principles
of Scouting are Duty to God and Duty to Country. These are expressed
in the following reading:
Our God and God of
our fathers, we ask Your blessing for our country, for its government,
for its leader and advisors, and for all who exercise just and rightful
authority. Teach them insights of Your Law, that they may administer
all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and
prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst.
Creator of all flesh,
bless all the inhabitants of our country with Your spirit. Then citizens
of all races and creeds will forge a common bond in true brotherhood,
to banish all hatred and bigotry, and to safeguard the ideals and
free institutions which are our country's pride and glory.
May this land under
Your Providence be an influence for good throughout the world, uniting
all men in peace and freedom. Amen.
The following reading
was contributed by Stan Krieger (smk@summit.novell.com) of Summit, NJ.
It is from a compilation of readings used by Sisterhood (the women's
group of many Conservative synagogues).
One of the objectives
of Scouting, duty to others, is readily expressed in the following
writing:
- Our Friendship
to those who need it.
- Our Love to those
close to us.
- Our Thanks to those
who deserve it.
- Our Encouragement
to those who are unsure.
- Our Support to
those who seek it.
- Our Respect to
those who have earned it.
- Our Understanding
to those whose views differ.
- Our Comfort to
those who suffer illness.
- Our Consolation
to those who grieve.
- Our Time to causes
we deem worthy.
These are gifts we
can all afford to give. None is beyond our means, none has to be gift-wrapped,
and none needs to be exchanged for size or color preference.
A gift of oneself
is precious not only to the recipient, but enriches the giver as well.
by Greg
Gough
Thy song sings in my heart
Thy voice whispers in the wind.
Thy beauty is shown in all things.
Magnificent & steadfastis your presence.
Thank you for reminding
us of How great you are.
by Rabbi
Nachman of Bratslav (1722-1811)
The following prayer
was contributed by Paul S. Wolf (aa854@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu) who is
Sysop of The Freenet Scouting Center and a member of the Greater Cleveland
Council.
Master of the Universe
Grant me the ability to be alone;
May it be my custom to go outdoors each day
Among the trees and grass, among all living things.
And there may I be alone, and enter into prayer,
To talk with the one to whom I belong.
May I express there everything in my heart,
And may all the foliage of the field
(All grasses, trees, and plants)
May they all awake at my coming,
To send the powers of their life into the words of my prayer
So that my prayer and speech are made whole
Through the life and the spirit of all growing things,
Which are made as one by their transcendent source.
The following was contributed
by Ted Brown, District Chairman of Tioga District, Baden-Powell Council.
Ted indicated that he had gotten it from someone else and it had originally
come from a New York City committee on Scouting and religion.
SETTING: Twelve Scouts
or Scouters in a line, each with a white candle. A center candle (possibly
a different color) is used to ignite the first of the twelve. Each
participant in turn lights his candle from the one before him. Each
recites a point of the Scout Law while lighting his candle and then
recites or reads the short description. The closing statement can
be given by the last person, the leader, or all twelve in unison.
A SCOUT IS TRUSTWORTHY
Please give us the
guidance and insight to love and to trust one another and help us
be good Scouts and always worthy to "Do a Good Turn Daily."
A SCOUT IS LOYAL
May we keep in mind
our families, whose time we have often sacrificed to help make a difference
in our communities. Please support them in our absence.
A SCOUT IS HELPFUL
Give us the strength
to be helpful not only to those that we can easily help, but also
let us learn to reach out to others that are forgotten and neglected.
A SCOUT IS FRIENDLY
Let us be thankful
for the friends we have, and let us be wise enough to know when to
lean on our friends when we need help.
A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS
Please give us the
patience and tolerance to work with others and to respect their points
of view.
A SCOUT IS KIND
Let us strive each
day to treat each other kindly. Treat others as we would like to be
treated.
A SCOUT IS OBEDIENT
Please let us never
forget the important lesson that to be a great leader, one must be
a great follower.
A SCOUT IS CHEERFUL
Let us be cheerful
for what you have given us and let us appreciate each new day as a
new opportunity to make a positive difference.
A SCOUT IS THRIFTY
Help us learn to save
so we can share with others. Let us always be mindful of our environment
and treat your earth in the correct manner.
A SCOUT IS BRAVE
Please give us the
courage to speak up for what is just and proper and the tenacity to
make the world a better place in the midst of trials and tribulations.
A SCOUT IS CLEAN
Let us keep our minds
and our bodies: physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
A SCOUT IS REVERENT
For we in Scouting
believe that through the programs and volunteers in the Boy Scouts
of America we are doing your ministry.
May the Great Scoutmaster
watch over us and protect us until we meet again. Amen. Thank you
and have a safe trip home.
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