These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod.
Intercession prompts:
For the continued influx of asylum seekers entering the United States …
For the family of Tyre Nichols and the city of Memphis as they experience the trauma of police brutality…
For the city of Jerusalem as it mourns those killed in the recent synagogue shooting…
For the victims of shootings in California and Georgia, and for all victims of mass shootings and gun violence…
For all grieving amidst celebrations of the Lunar New Year…
For all affected by blackouts in South Africa…
For those suffering acute or long infections with Covid-19, especially as cases surge in China…
For those grieving victims of a worship bombing in the Democratic Republic of Congo …
For protesters in South America…
Other notable events and observances:
Black History Month (Month of February)
Presentation of our Lord (February 2)
Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, died 865 (February 3)
Suggested hymns & prayers:
A prayer for the human family (ELW p. 79):
O God of all, with wonderful diversity of languages and cultures you created all people in your image. Free us from prejudice and fear, that we may see your face in the faces of people around the world; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Hymns for discipleship and community
Build a Longer Table (ACS 1062)
Guide My Feet (ACS 987)
Faith Begins by Letting Go (ACS 1004)
ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement
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Additional topical prayers are found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (pp. 72–87) and All Creation Sings (pp. 46–55), as well as in other resources provided in print and online at sundaysandseasons.com.
Follow this link to access resources to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in Eastern Europe. Several prayers are provided that could be used during the prayers of intercession or at other times, in public worship or for devotional use at home or in other settings.
Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession
Crafted intercessions for every Sunday and festival are provided in the Sundays and Seasons worship planning guide published in-print and online by Augsburg Fortress.
Prayer Ventures, a daily prayer resource, is a guide to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world.
