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 those mourning loss of life, home, and livelihood in the aftermath of the recent earthquake in Indonesia…
For the loved ones of those killed and for others who were injured in the shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs on Saturday night, and for our siblings in the LGBTQIA+ community…
For the ordination and consecration of Bishop Shannon Rogers Duckworth as the 12th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and our full communion partners in the Episcopal Church…
For students, teachers, seminarians, professors, and support and administrative staff preparing for the end of the fall semester…
For an end to the continued war in Ukraine and all places of war and conflict…
Other notable events and observances:
Note: This past Sunday was Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance dating back to 1999 as a day to honor the memory of transgender persons whose lives have been lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. As a church body publicly committed to eradicating gender-based violence (see “Faith, Sexism, and Justice: A Call to Action” [2019]), we deeply regret and apologize for this omission in last week’s prompts for prayers of intercession.
American Indian Heritage Month (November)
Andrew, Apostle (November 30)
Francis Xavier, missionary to Asia, died 1552 (December 3)
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)
John of Damascus, theologian and hymnwriter, died around 749 (December 4)
Suggested hymns & prayers:
Prayer for greater understanding and accompaniment of persons with disabilities (ACS p. 52):
Creator God, you made us all in your image. Help us to embrace one another as you do, beloved and blessed; not in need of fixing, but need of authentic welcome. Bring healing where it is desired, affirmation where it is lacking, and awareness to all. Open our hearts to receive the gifts and needs of all people, and to become communities where everyone can find a place. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. (ACS, p. 52)
Hymn suggestion for a time of lament:
When Our World Is Rent by Violence (ACS 1052)
Hymn suggestions for a time of lament, especially appropriate for Advent:
Lost in the Night (ELW 243)
Each Winter As the Year Grows Older (ELW 252)
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.
