These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod.
Intercession prompts:
For all experiencing winter storms and significant weather events…
For the Colorado river as it faces continued drought and all places facing a shortage of water…
For all places in our nation and across the world without access to safe water…
For the eternal rest of Pope Emeritus Benedict and for all who mourn his death…
For those hurt and killed around the world in violent acts on New Year’s Eve…
For those grieving tragic injuries and deaths across our nation and world…
For those recovering from earthquakes in Northern California…
For the rebuilding of relationships and open borders between Colombia and Venezuela…
Other notable events and observances:
Orthodox Christmas Day (January 7)
Baptism of our Lord (January 8)
Adrian of Canterbury, teacher, died around 710 (January 9)
Suggested hymns & prayers:
A prayer of Archbishop Desmond Tutu for creation and justice (ACS p. 48)
Creator God, you have called us to be keepers of your earth. Through greed we have established an economy that destroys the web of life. We have changed our climate and we drown in despair. Let oceans of justice flow. May we learn to sustain and renew the life of our Mother Earth. We stand with indigenous people worldwide who are demanding restoration of their ancestral lands. We pray for our leaders, custodians of Mother Earth, that they may negotiate with wisdom and fairness. May they act with compassion and courage; and lead us into the path of justice for the sake of our children and our children’s children. Amen.
A prayer for the neglected (ELW Occasional Services for the Assembly)
Almighty and most merciful God, we call to mind before you all whom it is easy to forget: those who are homeless, destitute, sick, isolated, and all who have no one to care for them. May we bring help and healing to those who are broken in body or spirit, that they may have comfort in sorrow, company in loneliness, and a place of safety and warmth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns for baptismal remembrance and discipleship
Deep River (ACS 941)
Come to the Water of Life (ACS 955)
Caminemos con Jesús (ACS 1061)
ELW = Evangelical Lutheran Worship
ACS = All Creation Sings: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement
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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.
Follow this link to access resources to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in Eastern Europe. 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.
Further assistance for composing prayers of intercession can be found here: Resources for Crafting Prayers of Intercession
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.
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.
