“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 peace among nations, especially between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine…
For victims of violence in Myanmar, Iran, and all areas of conflict…
For ongoing protests in France…
For the Catalonia region of Spain, facing severe drought…
For those held hostage at a factory in Turkey…
For those in the path of atmospheric river storms in California…
For victims and families of those injured or killed in the hangar collapse at the Boisie, ID airport…
For victims of abuse, harassment, and trauma…
For de-escalation of tensions among nations, governments, and political parties…
For safety and compassion for refugees and all migrants…
Events and observances:
February observances: Black History Month, American Heart Month
Presentation of Our Lord (Feb 2)
Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, died 865 (Feb 3)
The Martyrs of Japan, died 1597 (Feb 5)
Lailat al Miraj (Islam, Feb 8)
Lunar New Year (Feb 10)
Transfiguration of Our Lord (Feb 11)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A set of worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land is now available on ELCA.org. 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. PDF DOC
The Churches Beyond Borders 2023 Advent Cycles of Prayers is now available. The prayer resource calls for justice and peace, especially for churches impacted by the war in the Holy Land, and for lifting up Palestinian Christian communities and ministries and the congregations and institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
A prayer for peace (ELW p. 76)
Gracious and holy God, lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth. Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
A prayer for refugees, migrants, and immigrants (ACS p. 51)
O God, as you guided the Israelites to a new land by pillars of cloud and fire, now travel alongside all people who seek safety from persecution and a better life. Provide them with what they need as they travel, and guide them to places of welcome and sanctuary. We ask this in Jesus’ name. 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.
