“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 areas threatened by tropical storms and hurricanes, and especially for recovery efforts following Hurricane Idalia and Typhoon Haikui…
For victims of gun violence, especially in Kansas City, MO; Memphis, TN; Birmingham, AL; McKeesport, PA; Silver Spring, MD
For victims of those injured or killed in vehicle accidents…
For repair and reconciliation among political leaders and governments…
For areas of the United States facing extreme weather conditions: droughts, high temperatures, and flooding…
For all who advocate for fair wages and just labor policies…
For relief and recovery efforts following flooding in Greece and Spain…
For peace in areas of war or conflict, especially in Ukraine, Myanmar, Syria, and Palestine…
For teachers, administrators, and all school staff…
For the work of first responders and all who serve the public and common good…
Events and observances:
Monthly Observances in September: National Suicide Prevention Month, Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15),
Peter Claver, priest, missionary to Colombia, died 1654 (Sept 9)
National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week (Sept 7-14)
National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept 10-16)
Patriot Day (Sept 11)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for teachers (ELW p. 78)
God of wisdom, your Son came among us as a teacher. Send your blessing on all who are engaged in the work of education: give them clearness of vision and freshness of thought, and enable them so to train the hearts and minds of their students that they may grow in wisdom and be prepared to face the challenges of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A prayer for peace (ACS p. 48)
You calm and quiet us, eternal God, as a mother holds her children close; all people have refuge in the shadow of your wings. Spread over us the shelter of your peace. Hold before us the wisdom of your cross, where we are drawn to you not by might or power, but by your boundless love and forgiveness in 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.
