They give up comforts so we can live in freedom. They leave their families behind to protect ours. They return changed by their experiences and are in need of our love and support.
As you celebrate Veterans Day, giving compassion to those who serve and their families, think about how your congregation can find opportunities to support them year round.
Below you'll find tips and ideas for honoring and supporting veterans and military families on Veterans Day and beyond.
Worship Resources
Our free Veterans Day resource bundle includes sermon starters, an order of worship, worship graphics, a direct mail poster and bulletin covers that can be used for a Sunday service or an off-site celebration/commemoration service. Download»
"Welcome Home: A Veterans Day Worship Packet" is filled with ideas to enhance your worship experience. Features include a sample order of worship, a sermon starter, small group discussion questions, as well as many more ideas on how to include veterans and soldiers in the service, and how to engage the congregation before, during and after the worship service. Download»
Free Graphics to Download
- Graphics bundle: This zipped file contains 2 bulletin covers, worship graphics and a postcard.
- Promotional flyers: Color and black & white available in this PDF.
Get Involved
The list below includes information from other United Methodist agencies regarding Veterans Day and military support. Explore each to learn more and collect more ideas to use locally.
- Veteran's Day: A Time to Remember and Support Bulletin Insert/Flyer is an interfaith resource full of suggestions of what faith communities can do to support veterans and their families. This resource is also available in Spanish.
- Visit the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry for Worship Resources, including guidelines for multifaith prayer services, mental health ministries and services of healing.
- Browse through the United Methodist Church's military portal for ideas on how to stay involved year-round.
- Visit the Discipleship Ministries' page with further suggestions for observing Veteran's Day in worship.
- We Honor Veterans is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization that works veterans and their families, community providers, in partnership with VA staff, to meet their unique needs and accompany and guide them in providing end-of-life care.