Published Friday, July 25, 2008

Scouts earn God and Country emblems at Cokes Chapel

By Religion Staff

The Times-Herald

A large number of Scouts have earned their God and Country Awards at Cokes Chapel United Methodist Church near Sharpsburg.

The Scouts worked on the religious emblems project this spring -- spending their their Sunday afternoons fulfilling requirements for the God and Country Awards. Scouts voluntarily choose to enroll in the God and Country program.

In making the commitment, a Scout chooses to go beyond the regular expectations of the church experience to become involved in an intentional and personal study program. The program requires a commitment of both time and energy to study and to act out their faith, along with an expectation to seek continued religious growth.

The young scouts seeks to follow the example set by Jesus, for it was written, "that he who grew and became strong, he was full of wisdom, and God's Blessings were upon him." (Luke 2:40)

First-third graders completed the requirements of study and service for the God and Me Award under the direction of counselor and Pack 2293 Cubmaster Jim McCarthy. Fourth-fifth graders earned the God and Family Award under the direction of counselor Nancy Ponzio, a member of Cokes Chapel.

Participating scouts have earned the right and privilege of wearing a special religious emblem in recognition of their accomplishment on their uniforms. Scouts completing the religious emblem program at Cokes Chapel are:

* from Cub Pack 2293: Nolan Keohane, Corey McCarthy, Sean McCarthy, Aaron Ponzio and Derek Higginbotham.

* from Cub Pack 55: Connor Reid, Brendan Reid and David Gardner.

* from Cub Pack 897: Mitchell Hoeve

* from Cub Pack 570: John Taylor and Bruce Cobb

* from Girl Scout Troop 548: Cassidy Powell, Jennifer Linrille, Lindsey Jackson and Avery Grillo.

* from Girl Scout Troop 202: McKenzie Artman.

* from Girl Scout Troop 143: Jessica Stubbs.

* from Girl Scout Troop 397: Victoria Neundorfer and Megan Ponzio.