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.

Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival

Transforming and connecting lives through faith and music since 1981.

LSM 2026 Musical Advent Calendar: Nov. 29 – Dec. 24
Celebrate the Advent season with the sixth-annual Musical Advent Calendar from Lutheran Summer Music, November 29 through December 24. Featuring selections from the LSM summer performances, each video offers a daily opportunity for reflection and inspiration throughout Advent and for Christmas. Visit LSMacademy.org/advent or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube.

Institute of Liturgical Studies 2027

An ecumenical conference on liturgical renewal for the church today.

The Feast of Creation – Liturgy in times of crisis.
April 5-7, 2027
Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind. 

Registration opened Nov. 1. Early registration closes on Jan. 31, 2027.

Last year, the institute reflected on creation and the incarnation as experienced through the materiality of our sacramental life as a way of framing the Feast. This year, they will deepen our understanding of the place of creation in the Biblical text as well as consider the role of the liturgy in times of crisis. And also consider the current conditions and possible future of artificial intelligence – the latest form of uncritically engaged extraction – as it relates to the work of the Church.

Information about the schedule, plenary speakers, and workshop information are now available.

Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

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

2027 National Worship and Music Conference
June 28 – July 2, 2027
St. Louis, Mo.

Registration is now open!
Early registration closes Jan. 15, 2027
Regular registration closes March 15, 2027
Scholarships are available to current university and seminary students and to church musicians who have graded within the past five years. Information about the schedule, workshops, plenaries, and exhibitors is available as well as information about accommodations, venue, and travel is also available on the website.

2027 Hearts ­ Hands ­ Voices Events
Pulling Stops and Raising Voices
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Portage, Mich., Jan. 30, 2027, 9 a.m. — 12 p.m.
Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Carmel, Ind., Feb. 20, 2027, 9 a.m. — 12 p.m.
All Saints Lutheran Church, Worthington, Ohio, https://alcm.org/hhv-events/March 6, 2027, 9 a.m. — 12 p.m.
To register and for more information:visit www.alcm.org/hhv-events

ALCM Fall Webinar Series
October 23: Recruiting a Choir in a Post-COVID World
November 13: Choosing Music for Smaller Ensembles, Dr. Marin Jacobson
December 4: Choral Rehearsal Techniques for Aging Voices, Andrew Peters
Register at ALCM.com. Member and non-member registrations available. 

“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 all those affected by war and armed conflict around the world, especially in Iran, Gaza, Ethiopia, Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Myanmar…
For elections, political transitions, and for all who hold political office…
For the families of those killed in the Florida Learjet crash…
For ongoing protests and demonstrations in Germany, France, and other places around the world…
For energy infrastructure concerns in Sudan…
For political stability in Poland…
For support for all facing mental health challenges, and especially postpartum depression and anxiety…
For those impacted by flooding in Florida and California…

Events & Observances:
November Observances: Indigenous Peoples’ Month (National Native American Heritage Month), Transgender Awareness Month, Men’s Mental Health Month, National Adoption Month

Martín de Porres, renewer of society, died 1639 (Nov 3)
Election Day (USA, Nov 3)
John Christian Frederick Heyer, died 1873; Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, died 1719; Ludwig Nommensen, died 1918; missionaries (Nov 7)
Diwali (Hinduism, Nov 8)
Martin, Bishop of Tours, died 397 (Nov 11)
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, teacher, died 1855 (Nov 11)
Veterans Day-USA/Remembrance Day-Canada (Nov 11)

Prayers from ELCA Resources:
A prayer for those in civil authority (ELW p.77):
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, bless the public servants in the governments of our nations and local communities, 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.

A prayer for the public church (ACS p.47):
Mighty and merciful God, lover of justice and equity, you call us to support the weak, to help those who suffer, and to honor all people. By the power of your Holy Spirit, make us advocates for your justice and instruments of your peace, so that all may be reconciled in your beloved community; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

A variety of worship resources related to the recent national election season are available here.

—

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.

Hold My Hope: Songs of Ana Herández

Hold My Hope: Songs of Ana Hernández contains short songs for worship, meditation, and prayer. This engaging collection provides a wide variety of musical styles, including simple melodies, rounds, call-and-response tunes, echo songs, canons, zipper songs (fill-in-the-blank songs), and mashups. These songs encourage participation and improvisation from both the leader and the assembly in order to deepen our connection with God, each other, and the world around us. Additional notes provide tips for how to lead these songs in your context.

Ana Hernández is a composer, arranger, workshop facilitator, activist, song leader, and author. She travels around collaborating with groups small and large to deepen community and create beautiful liturgies in many different styles. Ana’s work aims to bring each of us to a sustainable place where we can show up, be present, and listen generatively, in order to remember how beloved we all are.

Luther’s Small Catechism App

Luther’s Small Catechism / El Catecismo Menor de Lutero has been recreated as a web app that is now available for access. View Luther’s explanations in the Small Catechism, along with other catechetical helps and prayers in this progressive web app designed for mobile devices, tablets, and computers.

Kids Celebrate

Engage kids in worship with these rich booklets that invite kids to explore and engage with the themes in worship and All Creation Sings. Designed to be used as an activity book during and after worship, this resource encourages kids to explore the hymnal and record their learnings.

Booklet Themes: Creation, Hymns and Songs, The Trinity, and Worship.

Speaking on Anger: Preaching That Embodies Texts and Contexts

In Speaking on Anger, Cas Wepener shows how preachers can incorporate anger responsibly into liturgy and sermons as expressions of God’s love. Wepener argues that preachers become agents of redemptive interruption as they confront injustices using anger with sensitivity. This book speaks to readers who value prophetic preaching and healing worship.

“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 all those affected by war and armed conflict around the world, especially in Iran, Gaza, Ethiopia, Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Myanmar…
For ongoing protests and demonstrations around the world…
For flooding in southern California and all those impacted by coastal flooding…
For those impacted by the Jordan church attack and all impacted by religious violence….
For those injured in the shooting at Florida A&M, and for an end to gun violence…
For victims of the high-speed train crash in Spain…
For free and fair elections around the world…

Events & Observances:
October Observances: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Filipino American History Month, National Bullying Prevention Month, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, LGBTQ History Month

James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62 (Oct 23)
Reformation Sunday (Oct 25)
Philipp Nicolai, died 1608; Johann Heermann, died 1647; PaulGerhardt, died 1676; hymnwriters (Oct 26)
Simon and Jude, Apostles (Oct 28)
Reformation Day (Oct 31)
All Saints Day (Nov 1)
Martín de Porres, renewer of society, died 1639 (Nov 3)
Election Day (USA, Nov 3)
John Christian Frederick Heyer, died 1873; Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, died 1719; Ludwig Nommensen, died 1918; missionaries (Nov 7)
Diwali (Hinduism, Nov 8)

Prayers from ELCA Resources:
A prayer for peace (ELW):
O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for faithful living in society (ACS):
Eternal God, your Word brought forth creation, and your Spirit brings order out of chaos and confusion. You breathe upon us, and we are able to hear one another with language we can understand. Pour out your Spirit upon us now, that even when we disagree on the way forward, we may remain united in Jesus Christ, in whom we are known and accepted with a single love. Amen.

A variety of worship resources related to the upcoming national election season are available here.

—

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 all those affected by war and armed conflict around the world, especially in Iran, Gaza, Ethiopia, Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Myanmar…
For ongoing protests and demonstrations in France, India, Albania, and Serbia…
For rescue and recovery efforts in Tibet following an earthquake…
For all victims of gun violence, especially in Bend and Happy Valley, OR; and Karak, Jordan…
For elections and political transitions around the world…
For interfaith cooperation and understanding…

Events & Observances:
October Observances: Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15), Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Filipino American History Month, National Bullying Prevention Month, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, LGBTQ History Month

James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62 (Oct 23)
Reformation Sunday (Oct 25)
Philipp Nicolai, died 1608; Johann Heermann, died 1647; PaulGerhardt, died 1676; hymnwriters (Oct 26)
Simon and Jude, Apostles (Oct 28)
Reformation Day (Oct 31)
All Saints Day (Nov 1)

Prayers from ELCA Resources:
A prayer for peace (ELW p.63):
Almighty God, all thoughts of truth and peace come from you. Kindle in the hearts of all your children the love of peace, and guide with your wisdom the leaders of the nations, so that your kingdom will go forth in peace and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. AMen.

A prayer for victims of gun violence (ACS p.49)
God, our healer and our refuge, we pray for all who suffer from gun violence. With your mercy, bind up their wounds, restore their bodies, and heal their hearts. Comfort the mourners and embrace the lonely. With your might, empower us to change this broken world. Make us advocates for a stable society, alive with hope in you. We ask this through the one once wounded for our transgressions and now standing with us in our sorrows, Jesus CHrist, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

A variety of worship resources related to the upcoming national election season are available here.

—

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 all those affected by war and armed conflict around the world, especially in Iran, Gaza, Ethiopia, Syria, South Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, and Myanmar…
For midterm elections and for democratic elections around the world…
For ongoing student protests in France, Albania, and India…
For Christa Pike and all those impacted by the death penalty…
For victims of a school roof collapse in Pakistan…
For Pope Leo XIV and his cancer diagnosis…
For those in the path of Hurricane Simon and all those affected by natural disasters…
For all those affected by gun violence, sexual violence, and race-based violence…
For the ongoing courage and renewal of the church, led by the Holy Spirit…

Events & Observances:
October Observances: Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15), Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Filipino American History Month, National Bullying Prevention Month, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, LGBTQ History Month

Teresa of Avila, teacher, renewer of the church, died 1582 (Oct 15)
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (Oct 15)
World Food Day (Oct 16)
Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, martyr, died around 115 (Oct 17)
Luke, Evangelist (Oct 19, transferred)
James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62 (Oct 23)
Reformation Sunday (Oct 25)

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 those who are incarcerated (ACS p.52)
Mighty God, merciful and just: we pray for our jails, prisons, and detention centers, that they be places of fair and humane treatment for all. Lead us to end solitary confinement and other cruel and demeaning practices. Guide police and corrections officers, attorneys and judges to use wisely the power entrusted to them. Inspire prison worshiping communities and chaplains. Rouse us to eradicate racism, corruption, and greed in the criminal justice system. By your Spirit, transform our society, that the dignity and worth of every incarcerated person be honored. We ask this through your resurrected Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A variety of worship resources related to the upcoming national election season are available here.

—

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.