| Scout troop celebrates 50 years PRINCE FREDERICK  When Scout Troop 426, sponsored by Trinity UMC, celebrated its 50th anniversary March 29, church member Margaret Smith was there to help tell the story. She wrote the troops history recounting its chartering in 1952, and subsequent move to Trinity in 1955. Her son, Dennis Smith, was one of the first Scouts to attain the rank of Eagle Scout in Calvert County. Troop 426 has produced 34 Eagle Scouts from among its more than 400 Scouts during the past 50 years. A lot has changed in 40 years, Dennis Smith said. Instead of having a project, as Eagle Scout aspirants do today, the Scouts had to earn merit badges. Smith earned 23 badges for his Eagle. Merit badges give you different flavors of life that stick with you and help you along the way, he told the Calvert Recorder. Christianity at risk in Holy Land WASHINGTON, D.C. The Rev. Frank Trotter welcomed 55 Christian clergy, including 10 United Methodists to Metropolitan Memorial UMC May 8 for a symposium on the plight of Christians in the Holy Land. Sponsored by the non-profit organization, Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, its president, Rateb Rabie, said, We found that many clergy are not aware of the risk that Christianity might be extinguished in the land of its birth. The speakers sensitized me to a reality I knew existed but hadnt thought about, said the Rev. Don Burgard from Wards Chapel. The only way for peace in the future is to forgive one another. For information, contact HCEF, 6935 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 214, Bethesda, MD 20815, (301) 951-9400 or see www.hcef.org. Church woman is Good Samaritan GAMBRILLS Anne Arundel County and the YWCA of Annapolis recently presented the Good Samaritan Award to Lillian Hawkins, a member of Mt. Tabor UMC, for her volunteer services to church and community, according to The Capital. Hawkins  is a committed, dedicated, determined woman, according to the newspaper. She is often seen in the kitchen at the church, preparing food for special occasions such as the Easter sunrise service and Fathers Day breakfasts. Affectionately referred to as Grandma, by the children at the vacation Bible school each summer, she prepares hot meals each day for them and their teachers. Hawkins also sings in the churchs Angelic Choir, is a member of the finance committee and distributes food to elderly community residents as part of Mt. Tabors SHARE program. Church gift saves the day LOCH RAVEN Members of Loch Raven UMCs mission group wanted to express their concern for those serving in the Iraq war. They donated three 25-pound cartons of items such as foot powder, baby wipes and chap stick which they sent to the Marines. In response to the gift, Capt. A. M. Cross wrote Sharon Neumann, a member of the missions committee who organized the project, a thank-you note she shared in the church newsletter, The Spire. Dated March 17, the letter said in part: Whether or not you agree with what we are doing here, know that there are thousands of Marines here following orders and missing home and family. On the particular day two of the three boxes arrived, we were having a foot odor problem in our tent. You all saved the day!
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