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 in crisis as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues…
With gratitude for the first combined heart and thymus transplant, for all advances in the field of organ transplantation, for all organ donors…
For all who suffer in the wake of deadly US tornadoes…
For the people of Peshawar, Pakistan as they mourn those killed during the bombing of a Shiite Muslim mosque in their city…
For the United Methodist Church, as it continues to grapple with divisions…
For those wrestling with Long Covid, for Covid researchers, for all those preparing now for the rise of future variants…
For all unsafe in their own homes, for all without a home…
Other notable events and observances:
Women’s History Month (Month of March)
Purim (March 16-17)
Holi—A Hindu festival that welcomes spring and a new harvest in India (March 17-18)
Commemoration of Patrick, bishop, missionary to Ireland, died 461 (March 17)
Commemoration of Joseph, guardian of Jesus (March 19)
Suggested prayers and hymns:
A Prayer of Patrick (c. 389-461)
Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that see me,
Christ in every ear that hears me;
for salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Let your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
Amen.
Hymns for commemoration of Patrick, bishop, missionary to Ireland
ELW 450 – I Bind unto Myself Today
ELW 793 – Be Thou My Vision
ACS 1043 – Spirit, Open My Heart
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.
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.
