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 participating in ‘God’s Work. Our Hands.’ Sunday and for those they will serve…
For church musicians, faith formation leaders, and all church staff and volunteers at the start of the program year…
For those enduring extreme temperatures and power outages in California…
For those suffering and battling wildfires…
For victims and families grieving after stabbings in Saskatchewan…
For world leaders and nations in leadership transition…
For relief and recovery efforts following the earthquake in China…
For first responders and for our nation, as we remember the September 11, 2001 attacks…
Other notable events and observances:
Month of September: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Sept 11: Patriot Day (9/11 Observance)
Sept 13: Commemoration of John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople
Sept 14: Holy Cross Day
Sept 15-Oct 15: Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month
Sept 16: Commemoration of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, martyr
Sept 17: Commemoration of Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen
Suggested hymns & prayers:
Additional prayer resources for September 11 remembrances can be found here.
Additional worship and prayer resources for God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday can be found here.
A prayer for Holy Cross Day (ELW p. 57)
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross so that he might draw the whole world to himself. To those who look upon the cross, grant your wisdom, healing, and eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A prayer for church musicians (ELW p. 74)
O God of majesty, whom saints and angels delight to worship: Pour out your Spirit on your servants who, with gifts of music, enliven our praises and proclaim your word with power. Through this ministry give us a new awareness of your beauty and grace, and join our voices with all the choirs of heaven, both now and forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns for love and service
God’s Work, Our Hands (ACS 1000)
God is Love (ACS 1041)
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.
