“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 and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Mali, South Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, Ukraine, Myanmar, and Venezuela…
For those in the path of Tropical Storm Bertha…
For relief from flooding in Texas and New York and wildfires in Canada, Minnesota, and California, and for rescue teams supporting recovery…
For those living in areas with dangerous air quality…
For the families of American service members and civilians killed in US-Iran escalations…
For wisdom and integrity for world leaders making critical geopolitical decisions…
For global health and for those continuing to navigate ebola and cyclospora outbreaks…
For safety and resolution to mass protests in India…
Events and observances:
July observances: Disability Pride Month, National BIPOC Mental Health Month
Mary Magdalene, apostle (July 22)
Birgitta of Sweden, Renewer of the Church (July 23)
James, apostle (July 25)
National Parents Day (July 25)
International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent (July 25)
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)
Johann Sebastian Bach, H. Schütz, G.F. Handel (July 28)
Olaf, King of Norway, martyr (July 29)
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany (July 29)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for those in the armed forces (ELW p.77)
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils that surround them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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.
—
The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship Resources for the US Semiquincentennial July 2026
Worship resources in a time of war
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis
—
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.
