“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 among Israel/Palestine and Russia/Ukraine…
For resolution and reconciliation in all areas of persistent violence and conflict…
For victims of Indonesia’s Mount Marapi volcano eruption…
For victims of a drone attack in Nigeria…
For those facing excessive rain and flood threats in Seattle, WA, and for all facing winter storms…
For aid, compassion, and protection for refugees and all migrants…
For the easing of political tensions in our nation and around the world…
For Jewish neighbors and friends as they prepare for Hanukkah…
Events and observances:
Monthly Observances in December: Universal Human Rights Month, World AIDS Awareness Month
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, died around 342 (Dec 6)
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, died 397 (Dec 7)
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Dec 7)
Hanukkah (Jewish festival, evening of Dec 7-Dec 15)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8)
Human Rights Day (Dec 10)
Nobel Prize Day (Dec 10)
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12)
Lucy, martyr, died 304 (Dec 13)
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 faithful living in society (ACS p. 50)
Eternal God, your Word brought forth creation, and your Spirit brings order out of chaos and confusion. You breathe upon us, and we are able to hear one another with language we can understand. Pour out your Spirit upon us now, that even when we disagree on the way forward, we may remain united in Jesus Christ, in whom we are known and accepted with a single love. Amen.
A prayer for interreligious cooperation and understanding (ACS p. 51)
God of creation, we give you thanks for our wonderfully diverse human family. We pray for the well-being of all people, including our neighbors of other religions and worldviews. Grant that, together with them, we will find ways to cooperate for the common good of all, as you desire. In Jesus’ name we pray. 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.
