Scout Sunday Service Ideas
Hey, listen up—it's February, and that means it's time to recognize Scout Sunday! Whether you're celebrating on the first Sunday of the month (this year falls on the 6th) or the last, Scout Sunday is the perfect time to join your community in faith and fellowship. As we have done since our inception more than a century ago, we must remember to take a moment and reflect on our faith—the founding pillar of the Boy Scouts of America Scouts BSA program. In other words: on Scout Sunday, we are reverent. To help you honor your faith and enjoy a triumphant experience, here are some tips to make sure things run smoothly.
How to Prepare for Scout Sunday
Scout Sunday, Scout Sabbath, or Scout Jumuah is a special day intended to help you honor your faith. It's also an excellent opportunity to share your love of Scouting with members of the community who might not know what we do at Scouts BSA. Before you visit a house of worship with your pack or troop, keep a few questions in mind to help you prepare for the memorable day!
Here are three quick things to consider:
Have you already scheduled your service date?
Your pack or troop has most likely already scheduled Scout Sunday, but if not, keep in mind that the celebration can be honored on any Sunday in February. You can also check out the Scouts BSA Calendar of Religious Observances with all the important dates for 2022!
Will your pack or troop be presenting?
During or after service, members of your community may have additional questions about Scouting. If so, that's great! It means your love of Scouting has piqued their interest, and hopefully, they too can get in on all the outdoor fun as a member or volunteer in the Scouts BSA family. Your participation is super important whether you're leading a prayer or supporting a part of the service because it shows your support for the community and how important our faith is to us in Scouting.
Has your pack or troop made announcements yet?
For leaders, social media has made it easier than ever to reach members of your community. Make sure to spread the word about Scout Sunday.
Pro tip: Take time to thank the congregation for their support on social media!
Have you ordered your 2022 Scout Sunday Emblems? If not, order them right here!
How Do You Announce Scout Sunday to the Community?
To help leaders make that important announcement, here’s a template you can use that’s also available on Scouting.org:
The Scouting program at (name of the congregation) is more than just an activity for our youth to learn about the outdoors. Scouting provides fun, fellowship, and training to our youth and youth in our community. It emphasizes honesty, self-reliance, and respect. A year-round program affects character, citizenship, and personal fitness. But the success of our Scouting depends on our volunteers, who serve in a variety of leadership roles so that our young people may benefit from our Scouting ministry. As the Boy Scouts of America celebrates its anniversary, we salute the splendid volunteers who serve as Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Venturing Advisors, and other leadership positions. Our Scout unit(s) would like to invite you and your family to participate in their program.
(Unit contact person/information)
We love Scouting.org because it’s easy and convenient, with all the resources you need at your fingertips. With the help of this template, you can spread the message on your congregation’s newsletter or bulletin.
What Are Some Scout Sunday Service Ideas?
Whether it’s your first or fourth year, making sure your Scout Sunday experience runs as smoothly as possible can feel like a big ordeal. With the last few years being challenging to navigate due to Covid-19 (you can find Covid-19 FAQs here), we’ve scraped together a list of some more common service ideas for in-person or virtual services!
- Lead a prayer
- Serve as greeters or ushers.
- Present the religious emblems to youth and awards to adults.
- Commit to some act of service to the congregation in advance of the celebration.
- Recite the Scout Oath and Law.
- Presentation of religious emblems.
- Do a PowerPoint presentation of Scouts in action or having fun and show it to the congregation during worship, after service, or social media.
- Have the Scouts and their leaders pre-record a video and stream it to the congregation.
- Incorporate your message into your faith-based organization’s virtual bulletin.
- Invite members of the community to join or volunteer.
- Create opportunities for service to the congregation on Saturday or Sunday.
Pro tip: Holding a Scouting for Food drive at your place of worship is the perfect way to do a good turn and protect yourself and others during Covid-19.
Got some great Scout Sunday ideas? Share them on our social channels using #ScoutShopBSA!
Do You Need Scout Sunday Supplies?
Now that you have some ideas for the ceremony, make sure you have the right supplies to distribute to the congregation. Fortunately for you, Scout Shop has all the handbooks, pamphlets, and emblems you need to help you celebrate Scout Sunday.
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