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.
Responding to recent acts of violence
All Creation Sings includes several for lament including “Lamenting Gun Violence” (Leaders Edition, p. 107) and “Service after a Violent Event” (Pew Edition p. 64-66, Leaders p. 110-113) as well as several collect prayers including the one below. This content is also available on SundaysandSeasons.com in the Library. (All Creation Sings/Prayers, Thanksgivings, and Laments/Resources for Lament)
Lord Jesus Christ, your own mother looked on when your life ended in violence. Our hearts are pierced with grief and anger at the [death of / mass shooting in_________]. We commend the slain to your wounded hands, and their loved ones to your merciful heart, trusting only in the promise that your love is stronger than death, and that even now, you live and reign forever and ever. Amen. (ACS, p.49)
Intercession prompts:
For victims and all grieving the attack on St Francis Catholic church in the town of Owo, Nigeria…
For victims, response units, and investigators in Berlin, after a car crashed through a crowd of pedestrians…
For those reeling from recent mass shootings and for advocates calling for solutions to gun violence…
For infants, parents, and other caregivers affected by the nationwide shortage of baby formula…
For Bishop Eaton, the synodical bishops, and all pastors and deacons in the ELCA…
For recent and upcoming synod assemblies…
For the church and the spirit-filled work of truth-telling with vision, dignity, and creativity…
For leaders of nations, both new and established, especially those leading nations through conflict, war, or violence…
Other notable events and observances:
Pride Month (month of June)
Holy Trinity (June 12)
Commemoration of Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Macrina (June 14)
Flag Day (June 14)
Commemoration of the Emmanuel Nine (June 17) – follow this link to worship materials and resources for the day
Suggested prayers and hymns:
A prayer for the leaders in the church
Almighty and merciful God, you built your church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and you instituted the offices of word and sacrament and word and service so that apostolic and prophetic work might continue through the ages. Grant that pastors, deacons, and bishops [especially ___________] may carry out this ministry faithfully in the power of your Spirit; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (ACS pg. 46)
A prayer for those affected by gun violence
God, our healer and our refuge, we pray for all who suffer from gun violence. With your mercy, bind up their wounds, restore their bodies, and heal their hearts. Comfort the mourners and embrace the lonely. With your might, empower us to change this broken world. Make us advocates for a stable society, alive with hope in you. We as this through the one once wounded for our transgressions and now standing with us in our sorrows, Jesus Christ, our Savor and Lord. Amen. (ACS pg. 49)
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.
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.
