Korean War Veterans Memorial, photo by Agamitsudo via Wikimedia Commons

Version One of the Prayer Litany for Veterans Day concludes with congregational singing. Version Two concludes with a congregational prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.

Prayer Litany for Veterans Day – Version 2
VOICE ONE:
We gather this Veterans Day with persons all over our nation to remember those who make great sacrifices and to pray for God’s promised peace.

You are invited to stand as you are able and say your own name or the name of someone you know who is currently serving as active duty military or as a reservist.
Pause as persons respond.

You are invited to stand if you are a family member of someone who is currently serving. Pause as persons respond.

Please lay a hand of blessing and support on those who are standing.

VOICE TWO:
Jesus we hear your words, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NRSV)

Almighty God, we are grateful for those who are willing to sacrifice and to serve. Strengthen the men and women mentioned here today and all who risk their lives to protect others. Help all military personnel to serve with honor, wisdom, and compassion. Guard them from hard heartedness, despair, and evil. Strengthen and bless their families, especially when they are separated one from another. Surround them with your protection, your grace, and your peace.

VOICE ONE:
You may be seated.

Now let us remember those who have served in the past: those who are living, those who have died, and especially those who have died while serving.  Please stand as you are able and speak their names. Pause as persons respond.

You are invited to stand if you are a family member of someone who has served in the past. Pause as persons respond.

Please lay a hand of blessing and support on those who are standing.

VOICE TWO:
Merciful God, we recognize these and thousands more who put the welfare of others ahead of their own safety. We are grateful and humbled by their actions. Bless them. Bring help and healing to all who still struggle in body and mind because of what they have experienced. Strengthen and comfort the family members as well, especially those who continue to grieve loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice.

VOICE ONE:
You may be seated.

Hear these words of promise and hope from the prophet Micah (Micah 4:1-4 NRSV)
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

ALL:
God of Love, it is your will for the nations to seek you and to know you.
It is your will for us live together in peace, provision and equity.

End the selfishness.
End the mistrust and misinformation.
End the violence.

Bring wholeness and hope to every system, relationship and person broken by war.

Show us where we can join you in your great work of peace.
Give us courage to act and your wisdom to know what to do.

We ask this in the strong name of Jesus
Our Savior, our Lord
The Prince of Peace
Who taught us to pray…

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer

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Prayer Litany for Veteran’s Day © 2012 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution. Please contact Lisa for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Click Here for a thoughtful and powerful prayer by Steve Garnaas Holmes entitled Veterans Day

For more information on the art and the use of this prayer in other settings, please refer to the copyright information page.