St. John's United Church of Christ celebrates local Boy Scouts past and present

 

[January 13, 2025] 

On Sunday, January 12, during the worship service at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Boy Scout Troops 6 and 1102 were presented with plaques listing scouts’ names.

These Boy Scout troops have assisted St. John’s United Church of Christ building and ground with clean-up of the property and sodding the sunken garden. They also help with decorating the church at Christmas.

Troop 6 began in 1912 with Walter Neihbur as its first scoutmaster. By 1936, Troop 6 was discontinued for many years with the boys transferring to other troops. This troop was later reestablished and continued until recent years then disbanded. Until 2019, the troop met at First United Methodist Church in Lincoln.

In 2019, Troop 1102 began meeting at St. John’s United Church of Christ with Scoutmaster Jason Maxheimer leading them.

All scouts present at the service were asked to stand and be recognized.

The scouts then said the Boy Scout Oath, which states:

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Next, the scouts recited the Scout’s Law, which says:

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

Jason Maxheimer far left

Jason Maxheimer, who is one of the Scoutmasters, thanked the church for taking the scouts and being so helpful. Maxheimer congratulated the boys who have worked hard on their merit badges and requirements for Eagle Scout projects. He said he looks forward to seeing what the younger scouts are going to do.

Former Scout leader Ray Papach next talked about skills the scouts learn. He spent several years working with the troop before moving away and said the troop has an amazing group of young men. As the plaques show, several scouts have passed through the ranks to Eagle Scout.

Before achieving the highest rank, Papach said there is a lot that goes into this progression. Even those who do not attain the rank of Eagle Scout still learn skills that will go with them the rest of their lives.

Papach’s son became an Eagle Scout, but Papach said it got more challenging for his son as they ventured up North. His son travelled back and forth for a while to keep connections in Lincoln and finish the Eagle Scout project. Papach’s son is currently in college finishing a degree in Graphic Design.

Papach said his son had once looked at scouting as something his dad wanted him to do and felt he would get through it. Now, his son looks at it as a time he learned a lot and got to do a lot.

Scouts have been able to go across the country. Papach said some have even travelled around the world to go on different adventures. Some scouts go to activities where they learn information the average person does not get a chance to learn.

As Papach said, there are so many opportunities with scouting. He thanked the church for sponsoring and partnering with the scout troop. Papach said it can be difficult to find sponsors, and in some places, troops are having to close down.

Papach then thanked the church for partnering with the scouts and helping them have opportunities that will go with them for the rest of their lives. He reminded church members that the seed they have planted does prosper.

Troop Committee Chair Kristen Green thanked the church for their partnership and relationship with the troop. Green then read a synopsis of what it takes to become an Eagle Scout.

Eagle Scout is the highest ranking a scout can achieve. The rank was created in 1911. Green said since that time, just 2.5 million scouts have been awarded the Eagle Scout rank in the United States, which is just four percent of scouts.

To become an Eagle Scout, Green said a scout must earn 21 merit badges, fourteen of which are mandatory. The scout must also demonstrate the scout spirit that is in the scout law and have an ideal attitude based on the law and oath.

In addition, Green said the scout must hold an office and demonstrate leadership to their troop.

The scout must complete an extensive service project that the scout plans, organizes, leads and manages. Green said they initially have to make a detailed plan for the project that is reviewed by a scout executive. After the project is completed, Green said there is a rigorous examination process to make sure the scout’s project meets the standards of being an Eagle Scout. Everything for the Eagle Scout project must be done by the scout’s 18th birthday.

Green said Eagle Scouts are expected to set an example for other scouts. She said many Eagle Scouts are disproportionally represented in the military, higher education and academia, business and politics. There is a higher number of Eagle Scouts than [there are from] the general population who serve in those capacities.

Something else Green said Eagle Scouts are more likely to do is volunteer for religious and non-religious organizations. She said Eagle Scouts have closer relationships with family, demonstrate more leadership at work and in the community and donate to charitable groups.

Next, Green read a list of well-known people who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The list included astronaut Neil Armstrong, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Massachusetts Governor and presidential runner Michael Dukakis and 40th United States President Gerald Ford. Other well-known people on the list include Microsoft founder Bill Gates, filmmaker Stephen Spielberg and Walmart founder Sam Walton.

Green expressed her heartfelt thanks both to the church for sponsoring the boy scout troop and to the leaders and assistant leaders who help make everything possible.

Pastor David Marquardt and church member Leland Semple then were presented with the plaques. Semple said there are numerous projects the scouts have helped the church with, and the church members really appreciate this help.

Semple said the church enjoys having the scouts present and hopes the co-op can continue for a long time.

Pastor Marquardt closed this part of the service with a prayer saying, “Gracious God, you know those of us who grow a little older and a little grayer often worry and wonder about future generations and how they will uphold standards and lead our country. It is when we see young people like this [the scouts] that we can take a deep breath and know that we and our country will be in good hands.”

In closing the prayer, Pasto Marguardt praised God for these young people asking him to keep them safe [and] keep their feet swift that they might answer the call God has placed on their lives.

After the morning service, the church held a social hour in the fellowship hall so everyone could visit with the scouts and scout leaders.

The fellowship hall had displays of the troop’s past history, a board with the different knots scouts learn, a special lighted display with the scout logo, a poster of the troop participating in various projects and activities around the community and an area with honors and trophies awarded to some of the scouts.

The Boy Scout troops are truly a valuable part of the community with all the projects they do such as working the grandstand at the Logan County Fair for Toys for Tots and later distributing the toys.

Some may have seen the scouts working on the community garden in Lincoln, helping with Pumpkin Smash, moving books in the Library and working with setting up the book storyboards in Latham Park. Though the scouts are not old enough to vote, they also help with election nights and help the local Woman’s Club with food pantry.

Many get their hands dirty working on the trails at Kickapoo Park or helping a group coming into Lincoln to do projects and repairs. Others may have seen them doing other community projects such as electronic recycling or document shredding.

The work the scouts do around the community is very much appreciated.

[Angela Reiners]