SAMPLE NON-DENOMINATIONAL SCOUT WORSHIP SERVICES

1.  FOR WORSHIP IN THE OUTDOORS

CALL TO WORSHIP  - 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.'

OPENING HYMN -`Morning Has Broken''

           Morning has broken like the first morning,

           Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

           Praise for the singing, Praise for the morning,

           Praise for them, springing, fresh from the word.

           Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven,

           Like the first dewfall on the first grass,

           Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,

           Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

           Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning,

           Born of the one light Eden saw play.

           Praise with elation, praise every morning,

           God's recreation of the new day.

RESPONSIVE  READING: - ``Canticle of the Sun''

All:               O most high, almighty, good Lord God, to you belongs

                     praise, glory, honor and all blessing.

Leader:         Praised be my Lord God with all his creatures, and

                     especially, our brother, the sun, who brings us the day

                      and who brings us the night; fair is he,

                     and shines with a very great splendor; O Lord, he signifies

                     You to us.

Response:     Praise be my Lord for our sister the moon, and for the

                     stars, which He has set clear and lovely in the heaven.

Leader:         Praised be my Lord for our brother the wind, and for the

                     air and clouds, calms, and all weather by which you uphold life

                     in all creatures.

Response:     Praised be my Lord for our sister, water, who is very

                     serviceable to us, and humble and precious... and very clean.

Leader:         Praised be my Lord for our brother, fire, through whom you

               give us light in the darkness; he is bright and pleasant  

               and very mighty and  strong.

Response:     Praised be my Lord for our mother, the earth, which       

               sustains us and keeps us, and brings forth grass and

                     diverse fruits and flowers of many colors.

All:               Praise and bless the Lord, and give thanks to Him and serve

               Him with great humility.

SILENT PRAYER

PRAYER

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 immensity’s 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.

OFFERING - For the World Friendship Fund

CLOSING HYMN - " This is My Father's World"

           This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears,

           All nature sings, & round me rings the music of the spheres.

           This is my Father's world. I rest me in the thought

           Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,

           His hand the wonders wrought.

           This is my Father's world. The birds their carols raise,

           The morning light, the lily white, declare the Maker's praise,

           This is my Father's world. He shines in all that's fair;

           In the trusting grass I hear him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.

BENEDICTION -  (sung to the tune: Edelweiss)

           May the Lord, Mighty Lord, bless and keep you forever;

           Grant  us peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor.

           Lift up your eyes and see His face, and His grace forever.

           May the Lord, Mighty Lord, Bless and keep you forever.

                                                                                        Excerpted from Cub Trainers' Wood Badge

                                                                                                                NE-CS-12 (1983)

2.  FOR WORSHIP IN THE OUTDOORS

Call to Worship

Eternal God, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your glory.

Opening Song

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For Amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties,

Above the fruited plain!

America!  America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood,

From sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for patriot dream,

That sees beyond the years,

Thine alabaster cities gleam,

Undimmed by human tears.

America!  America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood,

From sea to shining sea.

Scripture reading:  Psalm 8:3-9 (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Read responsively)

Leader:   O God, our God, when I look at your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you created - who are we that you should be mindful of us, that you should care for us?

Scouts:   You have made us little less than the gods and crowned us with glory and honor.  You have given us rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under our feet; all sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field; the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

All:     God, our God, how glorious is your name over all the earth!

Meditation and Sharing

Take a few moments now for personal silent reflection about how God works in creation and in your personal life. 

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

Prayer of Thanks

Leader:  Let us pray together:  We thank you, O God, for this day, for morning sun and evening star; for flowering of trees and flowing of streams, for life-giving rains and cooling breeze; for the earth's patient turning, the changing of the seasons, the cycle of growth and decay, of life and death.  When our eyes behold the beauty and grandeur of your world, we see the wisdom, power and goodness of its Creator.  We awake and, behold!  It's a great day!  AMEN

Morning has Broken

Morning has broken like the first morning, blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

Praise for the singing!  Praise for the morning!  Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight!  Mine is the morning!  Born of the one light Eden saw play!

Praise with elation, praise every morning, God's recreation of the new day

Morning has broken like the first morning, blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

Praise for the singing!  Praise for the morning!  Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!

Benediction - FOUR WINDS BLESSING

O Great Spirit, Bless us form the north with the cool winds that calm our passions.  Bless us from the east with the winds that bring and renew life.  Bless us form the south with the warm wet winds that invite growth.  Bless us from the west with the winds that lead us through this life to the next.  Fill the sky so that we might sense your presence.  And bless us from mother earth from which we've come and to whom we shall return.