“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 in Israel/Palestine…
For the volcanic eruption in Grindavik, Iceland…
For those injured, grieving, or displaced by earthquake in northern China, especially amid freezing temperatures…
For the cease-fire to hold and for fair elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo…
For all left without power due to storms in the northeastern United States…
For feeding ministries and those working to provide basic needs during the holiday season…
For families of all shapes and sizes, chosen families, and friendships…
For all experiencing grief, depression, loneliness, or need…
Events and observances:
Monthly Observances in December: Universal Human Rights Month, World AIDS Awareness Month
Katharina von Bora Luther, renewer of the church, died 1552 (Dec 20)
Christmas Eve (Dec 24)
Christmas Day (Dec 25)
Stephen, Deacon and Martyr (Dec 26)
John, Apostle and Evangelist [transferred] (Dec 27)
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs (Dec 28)
New Years Eve (Dec 31)
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 the Nativity of Our Lord (ELW p. 21)
Almighty God, you gave us your only Son to take on our human nature and to illumine the world with your light. By your grace adopt us as your children and enlighten us with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A prayer for those who live alone (ELW p. 83)
Gracious God, none who rust in your Son can be separated from your love. Give to those who live alone peace and contentment in their solitude, hope and fulfillment in their love of you, and joy and companionship in their relations with others; through Jesus Christ our 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.
