“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 in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and Yemen…
For victims of gun violence, especially those who died in recent shootings in Nashville and Louisville…
For legislative bodies to summon the courage to enact meaningful gun safety laws…
For vulnerable families and adults who are losing their Medicaid and SNAP benefits…
For coastal communities threatened by rising sea levels…
For all facing the effects of natural disasters, including the volcano eruption and earthquake in eastern Russia…
For victims and those grieving following military airstrikes in Myanmar…
For all migrants, and especially for rescue operations of two migrant boats in the Mediterranean Sea…
For the work of Lutherans Caring for Creation, and for all organizations that advocate for sustainable practices…
For Muslims, Jews, Christians, and Orthodox Christians in the midst of holy observances…
Events and observances:
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (month of April)
Earth Month (month of April)
Ramadan (Islam, March 22-April 21)
Passover (Judaism, April 5-13)
Vaisakhi (Sikhism and Hindusim, April 14)
Orthodox Easter (April 16)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
Resources for responding to gun violence and national distress:
Prayer for Lament (ACS p. 61)
Service After a Violent Event (ACS p. 64)
Prayers for Civic Life, Government, and the Nations (ACS p. 48-50)
A prayer for stewardship of creation (ELW p. 63)
Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth, we humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the fruitfulness of the land and the seas; and may prosper all who labor therein, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
A prayer for creation, the earth (ACS, p. 47)
God, whose Spirit moved over the deep: We thank you for the gift of water – the waters on the earth, and under the earth, the waters above us, and within us. Make us mindful of the care of all the planet’s water, that it may richly sustain life for us and for those who come after us; through Jesus Christ, source of living water. 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.
