Local Cub, Boy Scouts take part in Scout Sunday services

Members of Pack and Troop 672 attended Christ Church Episcopal on Feb. 12 in Gardiner. From left are 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

Cubs and Scouts recently attended local Scout Sunday services in Skowhegan, Augusta, Gardiner, China and Camden.

Scouting encourages each youth and adult to develop a strong, personal relationship with God without, as an organization, putting any one faith above another. Scout Sunday services were therefore held in many different churches representing different faiths, according to a news release from Chuck Mahaleris, district chairman for the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting.

“Scout Sunday aligns with the anniversary of the birthday of Scouting,” said Pine Tree Council Vice Chairman Dr. Scott Valcourt, who also chairs the Diocese of Portland’s Catholic Committee on Scouting. “The tenets of every religion have some connection to the Scout Oath and Scout Law.”

In Augusta at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, front from left, are Mack and Landon Demers; second row from left are the Rev. Nathan March, Kevin Bryant and Tom Carey; third row from left are Kevin Bibeau and Anthony Fortin; and back row from left are Josh Demers and Michael Fortin. Submitted photo

On Feb. 5, Scouts from Pack 684, Pack 603 and Troop 603 were at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, greeting worshippers as they entered, handing out bulletins, taking part in the collection, and bringing the gifts to the Rev. Nathan March, an Eagle Scout himself.

Other Scouts from Troop 603 attended Scout Sunday at the South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta. Gardiner area Scouts did likewise at Christ Church Episcopal on Feb. 12.

Scouts took part in nearly every part of the programs at the China Baptist Church and at First Congregational Church at Camden, United Church of Christ where Gavin Moore, a member of the Butter Patrol in Troop 200, read from the Gospel of Luke “The Parable of the Good Samaritan.”

Members of Pack 200 and Girl Scout Troop 1341 fulfilled their “Duty to God,” and other members of Troop 200 led other parts of the worship service, including Scoutmaster Ed Weber, who provided the sermon.

Webelos Scout Joshua Gilpin, left, from Pack 485 in Skowhegan received his Parvuli Dei Catholic Religious Emblem at Scout Sunday on Feb. 5 at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in the Parish of Christ the King in Skowhegan. Dr. Scott Valcourt, chair of the Diocese of Portland’s Catholic Committee on Scouting, pinned the award on Gilpin. Submitted photo

In Skowhegan, Webelos Scout Joshua Gilpin from Pack 485 in Skowhegan received his Parvuli Dei Catholic Religious Emblem at Scout Sunday on Feb. 5 at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church in the Parish of Christ the King in Skowhegan. Valcourt pinned the award on Gilpin.

Gavin Moore, a member of the Butter Patrol in Troop 200, read from the Gospel of Luke “The Parable of the Good Samaritan” during Scout Sunday observance Feb. 12 at First Congregational Church of Camden, United Church of Christ. Submitted photo

Gorham’s Cressey Road United Methodist Church also celebrated Scout Sunday with representatives from Gorham Maine Boy Scout Troop 73, Pack 85, both of Gorham, and Girl Scouts USA Troop 29, of Hollis. Another one of Webelos Scouts celebrated with his faith Family at Galilee Baptist Church in Gorham. In Scarborough, Scouts in Troop and Pack 47 cooked and served a pancake breakfast to the members of the First Congregational Church.