“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, conflict, and uncertainty, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For protection, compassion, and dignity for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For strained diplomatic relations between nations in the United States, Canada, and Cuba…
For victims and all affected by the Tahoe avalanche…
For areas of the nation affected by winter storms…
For victims of gun violence, especially recent shootings at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia and a youth hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island…
For all who are impacted by high winds and wildfires across the Plains…
For those preparing for baptism at Easter and for their sponsors…
For the spiritual renewal of all participants and teachers undertaking new faith formation studies this Lent…
For the convergence of holy days and celebrations this week – the beginning of Lent, the beginning of Ramadan, and the Lunar New Year…

Events and observances:
February Observances: Black History Month, American Heart Month, National Cancer Prevention Month, Ramadan

Ramadan (Islam, beginning eve of Feb 17)
Lunar New Year (Feb 17)
Ash Wednesday (Feb 18)
Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546 (Feb 18)
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, died 156 (Feb 23)
Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, died 1921 (Feb 25)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for those in diaconal ministry (ELW p.73)
God of compassion, your Son came among us not to be served but to serve. We give you thanks for the women and men whom you have called to the diaconal ministry of word and service [especially name/s ]. Give them faith to serve you with gladness; sustain them with a living hope, especially in the time of despair; and kindle in them your love, so that they see in every neighbor the face of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

A prayer for interreligious cooperation and understanding (ACS p.51)
God of creation, we give you thanks for our wonderfully diverse human family. We pray for the well-being of all people, including our neighbors of other religions and worldviews. Grant that, together with them, we will find ways to cooperate for the common good of all, as you desire. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

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.

“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, conflict, and uncertainty, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For protection, compassion, and dignity for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For all victims of gun violence, especially in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia…
For strained diplomatic relations between nations in the United States, Canada, and Cuba…
For those grieving the death of Hallie Tobler, daughter of Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson…
For all victims of domestic violence and abuse, and all victims of sexual abuse and exploitation…
For those affected by severe cold weather, especially those without access to adequate heat and other resources…
For the continued safety of athletes, reporters, and others participating in the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy…
For the conclusion of the Buddhist monks’ Walk for Peace, ending in Washington DC this Tuesday…
For affirmation, dignity, and celebration of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities…
For pastors, deacons, church administrators, and musicians preparing for Lent…

Events and observances:
February Observances: Black History Month, American Heart Month, National Cancer Prevention Month

Cyril, monk, died 869; Methodius, bishop, died 885; missionaries to the Slavs (Feb 14)
Valentine’s Day (Feb 14)
Presidents’ Day (Feb 16)
Ash Wednesday (Feb 18)
Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546 (Feb 18)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for peace among the nations (ELW p.76)
Gracious God, grant peace among nations. Cleanse from our own hearts the seeds of strife: greed and envy, harsh misunderstandings and ill will, fear and desire for revenge. Make us quick to welcome ventures in cooperation among the peoples of the world, so that there may be woven the fabric of a common good too strong to be torn by the evil hands of war. In the time of opportunity, make us be diligent; and in the time of peril, let not our courage fail; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for refugees, migrants, and immigrants (ACS p.51)
Holy God, as you have accompanied your people through times of captivity, wilderness, and exile, shelter and sustain all those who flee persecution, oppression, warfare, violence, hunger, and poverty. Open our hearts and homes, our gates and doors, so that they find safety, peace, and welcome—a place to live in freedom and without fear; through Jesus Christ, our refuge and our hope. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

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.

Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources and events from other organizations and institutions. These Lutheran and ecumenical partner organizations work alongside the ELCA to support worship leaders, worship planners, musicians, and all who care about the worship of the church. ELCA Worship also features resources from Augsburg Fortress Publishers in a monthly blog post.

The Hymn Society

The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada encourages, promotes, and enlivens congregational singing by building supportive relationships and enabling networking and ecumenical cooperation which providing experience in performance practices to help in the introduction and leading of the congregation’s song.

Hymn Society Annual Conference
Rebirth: Singing Death, Singing Life
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J.
July 19-22

For eighteen years, we have seen Lutherans lead ecumenical worship with theological depth and musical excellence. This tradition continues at The Hymn Society’s 2026 Annual Conference in Princeton, NJ, from July 19–22.

The event features a strong Lutheran roster, including Marcell Silva Steuernagel, Gracia M. Grindal, Maren Haynes Marchesini, Lola Bobrow and Adan Fernandez. From veteran scholars to rising students, our voices are shepherding this year’s song.

Join your colleagues for a week of professional growth and spiritual renewal. Let’s show up and sing together. Watch this video announcement and visit The Hymn Society website to register. Information about registration fees, accommodations, meal plans and other important details are available on the website.

Early registration through March 15
Advance registration through June 1
Regular registration starting June 2

Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival

Transforming and connecting lives through faith and music since 1981.

Youth musicians from across the country are headed to St. Olaf College this year for the 2026 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM). Students in grades 8-12 will be immersed in a supportive community that nurtures their musical growth, and invites them to share their musical gifts in performance and in worship. The Standard Enrollment deadline is March 1, and spots are filling fast. Do you know young musicians who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today at LSMacademy.org/nominate, or remind them to submit a free application by March 1 at LSMacademy.org/apply.

Institute of Liturgy Studies

An ecumenical conference on liturgical renewal for the church today.

The Feast of Creation – liturgy as creation groans
Valparaiso University, Ind.
April 13-15, 2026

Registration is now is open.
Regular Registration: $450
See website for other registration categories.

The 77th meeting of the Institute of Liturgical Studies will consider the possibilities of such a festival and season. We will reflect on creation, incarnation, and Jesus’s death and resurrection, all received by us through the created materiality of our sacramental life together. Furthermore, we will examine how petroleum culture has influenced our sacramental life and begin to envision ways to counter its impact. A model lectionary will be used, and sample liturgies will be celebrated.

The schedule, plenary speakers and workshop information are now available.

To receive notifications when new information is added to the site, add yourself to the mailing list here.

Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

ALCM nurtures and equips musicians to serve and lead the church’s song.

ALCM  2026 Conference “Now and Forever”
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.
Celebrating the 1986 ALCM Constituting Convention
Overlapping with Lutheran Summer Music’s Festival Week!

The emphasis of this conference is on practical skill-building. Check out the nearly complete list of presenters and workshops on the conference website. Reasonably-priced, air-conditioned dormitory housing is still available and can be booked at time of conference registration or at a later date. Register now and make plans to envision the future of Lutheran Church music. And Featuring Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Bach Collegium Valparaiso, Christopher M. Cock, artistic director. (Made possible through generous support provided by Pauline and John Kiltinen.

Registration is open.
Early Bird registration deadline is March 17!

Music that Makes Community

Rooted in Christian contemplative and activist traditions, Music That Makes Community envisions a liberative culture that empowers individuals and communities to claim and use the power of singing to heal our spirits, nurture our common lives, and work for justice.

To see more scheduled events, go to the MMC website and view the calendar and “Workshops and Retreat” links.

Sign up for Monthly Newsletter for regular updates on resources and events.  Read recent issues here.

Center for Church Music
offers 2026 Awards for College and Seminary Students. . .

THE 2026 WILLIAM WOLFRAM STUDENT AWARD IN LITURGICAL ART
Recognizes student artists who evidence:
* Commitment to Christian faith and practice
* Excellence in artistic expression
* Commitment to creating pieces purposed for use within worship settings
$1,000.00 prize

Deadline: May 1st, 2026  Submit a single PDF with quality images of your work, one full image and one or two detail images along with title, media, dimensions, year created, and anything else you want the judges to know.  Send to  Barry.Bobb@CUChicago.edu   (Recent grads—since May 2024—may also apply.)

THE 2026 RICHARD HILLERT AWARD IN STUDENT COMPOSITION
Submitted piece must be a church music composition (3-5 minutes in length) – suitable for a liturgical service.
$1,000.00 prize

Deadline: June 1st, 2026   Submit two copies (one with your name and one unattributed). Recordings are encouraged but not required. Send to Barry.Bobb@CUChicago.edu   (Recent grads—since May 2024—may also apply.)

“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, conflict, and uncertainty, especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For victims of violence and abuse and for those who tend to their physical, emotional, and psychological wounds…
For protection, compassion, and dignity for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For those who were killed and injured in a bus accident during the pilgrimage of Our Lady of Candeias in northeastern Brazil…
For the safety of athletes, reporters, and others who travel to and participate in the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy…
For pastors, deacons, church administrators, and musicians preparing for Lent…
For congregations and their leaders in the midst of annual meeting season…

Events and observances:
February Observances: Black History Month, American Heart Month, National Cancer Prevention Month

The Martyrs of Japan, died 1597 (Feb 5)
Cyril, monk, died 869; Methodius, bishop, died 885; missionaries to the Slavs (Feb 14)
Valentine’s Day (Feb 14)
Ash Wednesday (Feb 18)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for congregational ministries (ELW p.76)
Almighty God, your Holy Spirit equips the church with a rich variety of gifts. Grant that we may use them to bear witness to Christ in lives that are built on faith and love. Make us ready to live the gospel and eager to do your will, so that we may share with all your church in the joys of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

A prayer for those who suffer abuse and violence (ACS p.53)
Mighty Jesus, living Word, soothe the bodies, souls, and minds of the victims of sexual abuse, sexual violence, domestic violence, or gender-based violence. Bring them peace, hope, comfort, and strength. Bring abusers to justice and prevent them from causing further harm. Stir up the heart of your church gathered here and around the world, that we value justice and healing over silence and shame. Show us the way to your righteousness, led by the voices of those who suffer. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

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.

Augsburg Fortress is the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Each month ELCA Worship highlights resources from Augsburg Fortress Publishers that support worship leaders, worship planners, musicians, and all who care about the worship of the church. ELCA Worship also features resources from other partners in a monthly blog post.

See Me, Believe Me: An Updated Guide to Deepen Allyship with Congregational Leaders of Color

In this updated edition of See Me, Believe Me, Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers offers an honest and unflinching look at the challenges faced by leaders of color in the predominantly white ELCA. The book contains a new chapter reflecting on the ground-breaking election and leadership of ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry and includes excerpts from her interview with him.  Her insights and concrete suggestions for action illustrate how seeing and believing leaders of color are essential steps in the journey of allyship. Chapters beckon readers to acknowledge ignorance, respect boundaries, join in celebration and lament, offer reparations, and continue doing their own work to dismantle racism and live into the fullness of loving God and neighbor.

Lutheran Study Bible, Second Edition (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Lutheran Study Bible, Second Edition, features the NRSVue translation and introductions, notes, and articles written by more than seventy Lutheran pastors and teaching theologians. Explore the Bible and its message through solid background material, unique Lutheran insights, and questions for reflection and discussion. Reader-friendly, inviting, and engaging, this is the perfect study Bible for those who want to encounter scripture and dwell in God’s word!

Kids Celebrate Lent and Easter, Young Reader

For grades 1 – 3. Engage your young church-goers in the passion story with activities and explanations for young readers. A perfect size for pews, activity bags, or home use. Quantity per package: 12.

Augsburg Organ Library Series 2 Lent

Augsburg Organ Library: Lent, Series II, contains 43 pieces for worship or recitals based on Lent hymn tunes.  The Augsburg Organ Library is a highly acclaimed multi-volume series that reflects the twentieth century renewal of the organ and its music.

“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, conflict, and uncertainty especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Ukraine, Iran, and Venezuela…
For an end to violence and especially political violence…
For protection, compassion, and dignity for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For those evacuated and displaced by landslides in Sicily…
For those targeted by violence at the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in New York City…
For all facing winter weather and storms, especially those still without power…
For newly-confirmed Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally…
In memory and commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster…

Events and observances:
January Observances: National Blood Donor Month, National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Poverty in America Awareness Month, Mental Awareness Month
February Observances: Black History Month, Boy Scout Anniversary Week (Feb 1-7), American Heart Month

Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe, witnesses to the faith (Jan 27)
Thomas Aquinas, teacher, died 1274 (Jan 28)
Presentation of Our Lord (Feb 2)
Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, died 865 (Feb 3)
The Martyrs of Japan, died 1597 (Feb 5)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for interreligious cooperation (ACS)
God of creation, we give you thanks for our wonderfully diverse human family. We pray for the well-being of all people, including our neighbors of other religions and worldviews. Grant that, together with them, we will find ways to cooperate for the common good of all, as you desire. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A prayer for those in civil authority (ELW)
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, bless public servants in the government of our nation and states, that they may do their work in a spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice. Help them use their authority to serve faithfully and to promote our common life; through your Son, 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 for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis

—

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.