“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 and reconciliation among the nations, especially in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Mali, South Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, Ukraine, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Venezuela…
For all living through climate disasters and for relief from dangerous wildfires in Washington, Japan, Canada, and throughout Europe…
For all who mourn a mass shooting in Idaho and for an end to all gun violence…
For those in Cuba who continue to live without electricity after a grid collapse…
For states holding primary elections this week and in the weeks to come…
Events and observances:
August Observances: National Black Business Month, National Back to School Month, International Peace Month
Purple Heart Day (August 7)
Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) (August 8)
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (August 9)
Lawrence, deacon, martyr (August 10)
Clare, Abbess of San Damiano (August 11)
Florence Nightingale, Clara Maass, renewers of society (August 13)
Maximilian Kolbe, Kaj Munk, martyrs (August 14)
Mary, Mother of our Lord (August 15)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for faithful living in society (ACS p.50)
Sovereign God, your Son Jesus lived within the structures of society even as he spoke truth to those in power and challenged systems of oppression. Empower us to be courageous disciples and responsible citizens. Grant that our life in the public realm be grounded in love for our neighbors, care for the most vulnerable in our midst, and respect for the common life we share, following the example of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
A prayer for time of conflict, crisis, disaster (ELW p.76)
O God, where hearts are fearful and constricted, grant courage and hope. Where anxiety is infectious and widening, grant peace and reassurance. Where impossibilities close every door and window, grant imagination and resistance. Where distrust twists our thinking, grant healing and illumination. Where spirits are daunted and weakened, grant soaring wings and strengthened dreams. All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship Resources for the US Semiquincentennial July 2026
Worship resources in a time of war
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis
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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.