“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 between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine…
For peaceful resolution to post-election clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo…
For relief and recover efforts following storms in eastern Australia…
For all victims of human trafficking worldwide…
For areas of the United States facing winter storms, heavy rains, and other weather events…
For ongoing holiday celebrations during the season of Christmas and during the days of Kwanzaa…
For a renewed sense of hope and possibility at the start of this new calendar year…
Events and observances:
Monthly Observances in December: Universal Human Rights Month, World AIDS Awareness Month
Kwanzaa (Dec 26-Jan 1)
John, Apostle and Evangelist [transferred] (Dec 27)
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs (Dec 28)
New Years Eve (Dec 31)
New Years Day (Jan 1)
Name of Jesus (Jan 1)
Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, renewer of the church, died 1872 (Jan 2)
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 social justice (ELW p. 79)
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may move every human heart; that the barriers dividing us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; and that, with our divisions healed, we might live in justice and peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A prayer for those who suffer abuse and violence (ACS p. 53)
Mighty Jesus, living Word, soothe the bodies, souls, and minds of the victims of [trafficking, violence, and abuse]. Bring them peace, hope, comfort, and strength. Bring abusers to justice and prevent them from causing further harm. Stir up the heart of your church gathered here and around the world, that we value justice and healing over silence and shame. Show us the way to your righteousness, led by the voices of those who suffer. In Jesus’ name we pray. 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.
