Welcome back to the Scarf Program. Remember, this program is meant to challenge you to accept responsibility in different areas of your life, according to your age and/or grade. All members of the Scarf Society progress through the colors by thoughtfully and prayerfully choosing to accept the challenge for which they are ready.
 

If you received a Gray Scarf, you accepted the challenge to be a good citizen and a helpful camper. If you received one shield, you added the challenge of being a true friend. If you received two shields, you added the challenge of being a good example to others. If you received three shields, you accepted the challenge to accept some responsibility to be a leader. If you received four shields, you were introduced to Jesus’ summary of the law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself”. When you received your Blue Scarf, you accepted the challenge to be loyal to God, oneself, and others. If you received the Green Scarf, you accepted the challenge to rededicate yourself to the Christian way of life. When you received your Brown Scarf you accepted the challenge of Christian Service. If you received your Gold Scarf you accepted the challenge of understanding and concern for others. When you received your Red Scarf you accepted the challenge of sacrifice of time, talent, and personal will. When you received the Purple Scarf you accepted the challenge of high and noble living in whatever Christian service opportunities that come your way. In trying to do these challenges, you built the necessary foundation for accepting the next challenge, the challenge of the White Scarf.

Even if you did not take all these challenges, you may want to think about these areas of your life as you prepare yourself to accept the Challenge of the White Scarf.

As you prepare to accept the challenge of the White Scarf we would like you to think about the following:

The White Scarf challenges you to “dedication a part of your life to Christian Service, especially with children.” Working in your church community, helping children through school and camp programs, or working to better the plight of the homeless and poor all could be part of your White Scarf Challenge.
 
What does “dedicate” mean to you? How can you serve as a Christian? Does your life include working with children? How does Christ fit into your work and play? As you prepare, we would like to provide some additional ideas:
 

1) TO BE WRITTEN:
 

Sermonette. Prepare a brief talk which embodies your philosophy of life and motivation in accepting the White Scarf (be prepared to orally present the sermonette during the Scarf Ceremony; it may be read).

2) Scripture Readings:
 

Choose one or more of the following scripture lessons to be read at your Scarf Ceremony:
 

1. Matthew 5:1-16 (Sermon on the Mount): “…Blessed are they…”
2. Matthew 6:19-34 (Sermon on the Mount): “…Store not up treasure for yourselves on earth…”
3. Matthew 7:1-12 (Sermon on the Mount): “…Judge not, that ye not be judged…”
4. Romans 8:15-30 (Paul’s letter to the Romans): “…We are God’s heirs, and Christ’s fellow-heirs…”
5. 1 John 4:7-21 (Christ the giver of life): “…Salvation is of the Jews…”
6. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 (Personal religion and the ministry): “…We have been entrusted with this commission…”
 

If you have another passage, which is important to your goals in life, you may choose that passage. Let your Scarf Director know which passage you wish to be read.
 

3) Pledge of Dedication:
 

I believe that service to one’s fellowman, in the spirit of Jesus Christ, is man’s highest calling. I now humbly dedicate myself, my interests, my efforts, my time, my talents, and my worldly possessions, to such service with the help of Almighty God.
 

As a member of the White Scarf of St. Andrew’s, I pledge myself to join with all its members around the world in a common and united crusade to “build Christian personality and a more Christian society.”
 

Recognizing that the strongest influence on people is the power of personal example, I shall strive ever so to live that my life may help the Christian growth of others.
 

I shall highly prize those opportunities for friendship which Christian service affords and will seek to be ever worthy of the esteem and regard which such friendships engender.
 

Remembering that “without vision the people perish,” I shall seek to retain humility, conviction, and direction by constant endeavor to discover God’s will in my daily living through prayer, Bible study, worship, and meditation.
 

I shall stand by the Christian growth of those whom I am privileged to serve as the final test of my service. AMEN.
 

4) Know the Scarf Anthem:

 

I would be true, for there are those who trust me;
I would be pure, for there are those who care;
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer;
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.

I would be friend to all – the foe, the friendless;
I would be giving, and forget the gift;
I would be humble, for I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift;
I would look up, and laugh, and love and lift.