“For What Shall We Pray?” is a weekly post inviting individuals, groups, and congregations to lift up our world in prayer. This resource is prepared by a variety of leaders in the ELCA and includes prayer prompts, upcoming events and observances, and prayer suggestions from existing denominational worship materials. You are encouraged to use these resources as a starting point, and to adapt and add other concerns from your local context. More information about this resource can be found here.
Prayer prompts:
For all affected by wildfires in Canada, and especially for safety for all emergency responders…
For safety amidst an ongoing chain of earthquakes in North Carolina…
For the victims of human rights violations in the United States and around the world…
For peace in places of war and conflict, and especially for flooding following the destruction of Kakhovka dam in Ukraine…
For veterans commemorating D-Day…
For victims of violence during protests in Senegal…
For those detained during demonstrations commemorating the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre…
For the ELCA and all leaders, congregations, and members who gather for Synod Assemblies this season…
Events and observances:
Monthly observances in June: Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month; Pride Month; Gun Violence Awareness Month; African American Music Appreciation Month
D-Day (June 6)
Seattle, chief of the Duwamish Confederacy, died 1866 (June 7)
Feast of Corpus Christi (June 8)
Columba, died 597; Aidan, died 651; Bede, died 735; renewers of the church (June 9)
Barnabas, Apostle (June 11)
Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, died 379; Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, died around 385; Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople, died around 389; Macrina, teacher, died around 379 (June 14)
Flag Day (June 14)
Emanuel Nine, martyrs, died 2015 (June 17) – find more information and worship resources here
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for the mission of the church (ELW pg. 75)
Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ into every walk of life, serving together in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A prayer for emergency workers (ELW pg. 85)
God of earth and air, water and fire, height and depth, we pray for those who work in danger, who rush in to bring hope and help and comfort when others flee to safety, whose mission is to seek and save, serve and protect, and whose presence embodies the protection of the Good Shepherd. Give them caution and concern for one another, so that in safety they may do what must be done, under your watchful eye. Support them in their courage and dedication that they may continue to save lives, ease pain, and mend the torn fabric of lives and social order; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement
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.
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. Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession
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.
