“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 all victims of violence, and especially victims of race-based violence…
For those facing storms in northern Europe and along the east coast of the United States…
For safety for all in the path of Typhoon Khanun…
For recovery efforts following floods and landslides in Slovenia and Austria…
For those fighting wildfires in Portugal…
For students, teachers, and parents preparing for the beginning of the school year…
For staff and volunteers of daytime drop-in homeless shelters and cooling centers…
For construction workers, farmers, and others who work outside exposed to heat and weather…
For immigrants and refugees, especially those without shelter, and for nonprofits in cities providing for their needs…
For new parents, especially those struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, and giving thanks for doctors, mental health professionals, family members, and friends who support them…
For the creativity of scientists, engineers, and technicians and their progress toward cleaner, more sustainable energy sources…
For peace in areas of war and conflict, especially in Ukraine, Haiti, and Palestine…
Events and observances:
Monthly Observances in August: National Black Business Month, World Cancer Support Month
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People – August 9
Lawrence, deacon, martyr, died 258 (August 10)
Clare, Abbess of San Damiano, died 1253 (August 11)
International Youth Day (August 12)
World Organ Donation Day (August 13)
Florence Nightingale, died 1910; Clara Maass, died 1901; renewers of society (August 13)
Mary, Mother of Our Lord (August 15)
Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, died 1153 (August 20)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for the gifts of agriculture (ELW p. 78)
God, our creator, you have ordered seedtime and harvest, sunshine and rain. Give to all who work the land fair compensation for the work of their hands. Grant that the people of this and every nation may give thanks to you for food, drink, and all that sustains life; may use with care the land and water from which these good things come; and may honor the laborers who produce them; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A prayer for the care of children (ACS p. 53)
Holy God, loving parent of the child Jesus, we pray for children around the world. Alert us to the struggles that many children endure. With your generous and tender care, grant to all children compassionate adults who will shield them, feed them, and help them to grow strong and skilled, joyful and free. Empower family members and all caregivers with adequate resources and a daily renewal of wisdom and patience, and assure them of their holy vocation as guardians of your dear ones, for the sake of our protector, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 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.
