Worship resources for Veterans Day

November 3, 2022 Brian Flatgard

A worship resource for Veterans Day includes prayers, hymn suggestions, and other ideas. Both PDF and Word versions are available at elca.org/Resources/Worship#Liturgy.

The following prayer and worship resources may be used and adapted as needed for Veterans Day observances or in weekly worship on the Sunday closest to November 11. To learn more about caring for returning veterans, resources are available from the ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries.

Additional Prayers

The following prayers may be found in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Prayer Book for the Armed Forces.

Almighty and ever-living God, we give you thanks for the men and women who have served and defended our country and the values of freedom and justice we hold so dear. Help us be mindful of the sacrifices they made and the hardship endured by their families and friends, so that we never take for granted the privileges they have secured for us. Hear us, we pray, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (PBAS, p. 66)

Almighty and everlasting God, whose providence guides your people in diligent service, bless the officers and enlisted women and men of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard as they perform their duties of their calling. Give them not only true love of country but also love of you and an understanding of your love for all people; so that, relying upon your guidance, they may courageously defend our nation from every foe, promote justice, honor, and unity among our people, and be a means of fostering mutual respect and understanding among all peoples of the world; through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord. Amen. (PBAS, p. 63)

Almighty God, let your protection be upon all those who are in the service of our nation. Guard them from all danger and harm; sustain and comfort those at home, especially in hours of anxiety, loneliness, and sorrow. Prepare the dying for death and the living for your service. Uphold those who bear arms on land and sea and in the air; and grant unto us and all nations a speedy, just, and lasting peace, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. (PBAS, p. 65)

Eternal God, we give thanks for all those who have shown the greatest love by laying down their lives for others. We especially thank you for those in our military throughout history who have sacrificed their lives for their fellow citizens and for us who came after. As we remember their service, keep us mindful of all those for whom this day is a burden, and send your spirit of comfort to them. Be present with all the women and me who are serving in the military today. [Though they are at war] let them live for the peace known only from you. Help us to be worthy of their legacy, and keep us mindful of their service, that in all things we may live our lives in praise and thanksgiving to you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (PBAS, p. 65)

Merciful God, you grieve amid the pain, fear, and suffering of your children. Look with compassion on all who endure the miseries of war. Be mindful, too, of those who day and night face peril in defense of our nation. Guide them in their duties as they seek justice of our nation. Guide them in their duties as they seek justice for those subjected to tyranny and liberty for those who are oppressed. Eternal Protector of the helpless, hear the cry of the distressed and grant speedy deliverance in a new day of peace and concord. Amen.

(PBAS, p. 65)

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils that surround them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (ELW, p. 77)

A Litany for Veterans

On this day, we remember those who have served in our armed forces

Pause for silent reflection

Prince of Peace, even as we pray for an end to war,

We give thanks for our soldiers’ courage, for their love of country, and for their work to bring peace to our world.

Healer of All, bind up the wounds of all who have served

Show us how to comfort those who are hurting.

Merciful God, all suffer the cost of war.

We remember widows and widowers, orphans, and all those separated from those they love.

We pray, Gracious God,
that swords will be turned into plowshares and that peace will reign.
We give thanks for all who have served. Shield from danger those who bravely protect us. With them, may we glory not in war, but in your love and righteousness. Strengthen us to be your peacemakers in the world. Amen. 1

Other Ideas for Worship

 Following the Hymn of the Day, include the Affirmation of Baptism for Returning Veterans. This is found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship Prayer Book for the Armed Forces, p. 125ff.

1 Adapted from “A Litany for Veterans,” The Rev. Tom Williams Whitefish Bay, Wis. Used with permission and reproducible for one-time congregational use with proper attribution.

This document may be reproduced for use in your congregation as long as the copyright notice appears on each copy. Permission is granted to reproduce this material for local, non-sale use only

 Following the Prayer after Communion, prior to the Blessing, include the Affirmation of Christian Vocation. This is found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 84. Invite all veterans forward or to stand where they are.

 Set-up a world map somewhere in the worship space or fellowship hall, invite people to place the name of service man or women who is currently serving and pin their name to the location of their service. This could be done during the prayers of intercession and offering a prayer for each of those persons and places.
 Purchase in advance and dedicate in worship copies of the Prayer Book for the Armed Services to be shipped to those in the congregation serving in the military or to our ELCA military chaplains around the globe and afloat. (Copies may be ordered online or by calling Augsburg Fortress at 800-328-4648.)
Suggested Hymns and Songs

ELW 700 ELW 705 ELW 709 ELW 710 ELW 711 ELW 713 ELW 716 ELW 717 ELW 753 ELW 765 ELW 887 ELW 893 ACS 1009 ACS 1017 ACS 1022 ACS 1023 ACS 1024 ACS 1025 ACS 1026 ACS 1035 ACS 1037 ACS 1052 ACS 1055 ACS 1085

Bring Peace to Earth Again
God of Grace and God of Glory
When Our Song Says Peace
Let Streams of Living Justice
O Day of Peace
O God of Every Nation
Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace
Let Justice Flow like Streams
Dona nobis pacem
Lord of All Hopefulness
This Is My Song
Before You, Lord, We Bow
Come Bring Your Burdens to God / Woza nomthwalo wakho Come to Me, O Weary Traveler
God, Bless the Hands
God Alone Be Praised
Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand / Kwake Yesu nasimama
If We Live, We Live to the Lord
In the Midst of Earthly Life
Though the Earth Shall Change
Christ, Our Peace
When Our World Is Rent by Violence
Ayúdanos, oh Dios / Oh, Help Us, Save Us
Hope of the World

This document may be reproduced for use in your congregation as long as the copyright notice appears on each copy. Permission is granted to reproduce this material for local, non-sale use only

RESOURCES

Resources Available from Augsburg Fortress:

Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Prayer Book for the Armed Forces. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2013.

All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2020

All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement, Leaders Edition. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Pew Edition. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2006. Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Leaders Desk Edition. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2006.

OTHER RESOURCES

https://pres-outlook.org/2019/11/prayer-for-veterans-day/

https://www.elca.org/Resources/Federal-Chaplains#Congregation