“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 an end to war, violence, and genocide across the world, especially in Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, India, and Pakistan…
For aid and relief organizations in Gaza amid the threat of famine and a worsening humanitarian crisis…
For the safety of peaceful protestors and demonstrators…
For all victims of sexual abuse and assault…
For those who have been injured or killed and those who grieve following recent accidents, including a bus crash in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe; a plane crash in Dhaka, Bangladesh; and a capsized boat in Halong Bay, Vietnam…
For places experiencing severe weather, including heavy rains and flash flooding in Pakistan and Tropical Storm Wipha in Vietnam…
For safety in travel for all voting members, volunteers, and synod and churchwide staff traveling to Phoenix for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly…
For the Holy Spirit’s guidance and inspiration in ELCA Churchwide Assembly deliberations, and especially for those who will be elected to leadership roles…
Events and observances:
July Observances: Disability Pride Month, National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month
August Observances: International Peace Month, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month, National Black Business Month, National Immunization Awareness Month
Johann Sebastian Bach, died 1750; Heinrich Schütz, died 1672; George Frederick Handel, died 1759; musicians (July 28)
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus of Bethany (July 29)
Olaf, King of Norway, martyr, died 1030 (July 29)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer of Archbishop Desmond Tutu (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 mission of the church (ELW p. 75)
Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ into every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources and prayers in response to wildfires
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis
Worship resources for and following national elections
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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.