United Methodists support veterans, active duty military and their families through a variety of different ministries and programs. Support can take many forms, whether it means hosting a special worship service, starting a Sunday school class or support group for veterans or spouses of deployed military or paying funeral expenses for veterans whose families cannot afford it. Watch as local churches sharing the ways they honor veterans and active military.
Script
Alpharetta First United Methodist in Georgia collects Oreo cookies and handwritten notes for U.S. troops all over the world. Over a decade, they’ve shipped 30 tons of Oreos!
Boy Scouts at St. Mark’s United Methodist in Lincoln, Nebraska, set up 100 American flags around the church and take them down at dusk on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Patriot Day and Veterans Day.
Some churches encourage their congregations to foster the pets of deployed military men and women through organizations like Dogs on Deployment.
The Rev. Will Shewey and Shades of Grace United Methodist Church in Kingsport, Tennessee, pay burial expenses and offer funerals for homeless veterans.
Members of Coraopolis United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania deliver Thanksgiving meals to first responders and those working the holiday at the nearby Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station.
St. Paul United Methodist in Abilene, Texas, has a special Sunday school class for veterans. Lead pastor the Rev. Felicia Hopkins is a veteran herself.
How does your church support veterans and active members of the military?
This video was produced by United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Media contact is Joe Iovino, [email protected].
Originally published on Oct. 31, 2019.
Read the Terms of Use
View more at umc.org/videos
Additional Resources
- 12 ways to care for military members and their families
- Suggestions for observing Veterans' Day in worship
- How to support the military on Veterans Day and beyond
- Honoring veterans in worship (West Virginia Conference)