Celebrating -Guide Week February 16–23, 2014 Celebrating Scout-Guide Week February 16–23, 2014

Spirituality has been one of the three main Spirituality has been one of the three main principles of around the world since principles of Scouting around the world since its inception more than 100 years ago. Scouts its inception more than 100 years ago. Scouts is proud of its commitment to diversity Canada is proud of its commitment to diversity and welcomes members of many different faiths and welcomes members of many different faiths and denominations. and denominations.

Many Lutheran congregations support Scouts and by providing leader- Many Lutheran congregations support Scouts and Girl Guides by providing leader- ship, meeting places and administering various stages of the Religion in Life Award. ship, meeting places and administering various stages of the Religion in Life Award.

Consider the ways your congregation might get involved in Guiding and Scouting Consider the ways your congregation might get involved in Guiding and Scouting as an expression of youth ministry: as an expression of youth ministry:

• Offer a prayer of thanks for the leaders in the Scouting and Guiding • Offer a prayer of thanks for the leaders in the Scouting and Guiding movements. These leaders are people who give of their time to help youth movements. These leaders are people who give of their time to help youth grow. Give thanks for their love of God, their commitment to working with grow. Give thanks for their love of God, their commitment to working with youth and the many ways they express their faith through actions. youth and the many ways they express their faith through actions.

• Send a note of thanks to your local Scout and Guide leaders. • Send a note of thanks to your local Scout and Guide leaders.

• Nominate a leader you know for the Lamb Award (contact Rev. Diegel for more • Nominate a leader you know for the Lamb Award (contact Rev. Diegel for more information: [email protected]). Through this award, the Lutheran Council in information: [email protected]). Through this award, the Lutheran Council in Canada recognizes excellence in leadership to Guiding, Scouting, and the church. Canada recognizes excellence in leadership to Guiding, Scouting, and the church.

• Support youth in achieving the Religion in Life Award (http://www.scouts.ca/ • Support youth in achieving the Religion in Life Award (http://www.scouts.ca/ vstk/pdf/ril/ril-lutheran.pdf). This award is designed to help youth explore their vstk/pdf/ril/ril-lutheran.pdf). This award is designed to help youth explore their relationship with God and their church, with requirements appropriate to relationship with God and their church, with requirements appropriate to different age levels and abilities. Through faith awareness and intentional different age levels and abilities. Through faith awareness and intentional service, this award encourages spirited discipleship. service, this award encourages spirited discipleship.

• Provide space for a Scout or Guide group. • Provide space for a Scout or Guide group.

• Become a sponsoring congregation. Following the “Mission, Principles and • Become a sponsoring congregation. Following the “Mission, Principles and Method” of Scouting, sponsors can offer a local outreach to youth. Method” of Scouting, sponsors can offer a local outreach to youth. (http://www.scouts.ca/ca/values) (http://www.scouts.ca/ca/values)

–Rev. Michael Diegel , 20th Faith Brantford ON, life member –Rev. Michael Diegel , 20th Faith Brantford ON, life member

For further information on Scouts Canada and , please visit For further information on Scouts Canada and Girl Guides of Canada, please visit their websites at www.scouts.ca and www.girlguides.ca. their websites at www.scouts.ca and www.girlguides.ca.