“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, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For those injured and affected by gun violence this week, in Dallas, Texas; Clarksville, Tennessee; and in the Philippine parliament in Manila…
For the health of those infected by hantavirus, and for all medical and public health professionals…
For Cuba and for all people and places affected by fuel costs and shortages…
For places that are burning and places affected by drought…
For those who serve in the armed forces…
For fair elections and fair representation…
For synods of the ELCA as they gather in their assemblies, that the Spirit would enliven and guide them…
For students finishing the academic year and those who are celebrating graduations…

Events and observances:
May observances: Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Military Appreciation Month, National Foster Care Month

Matthais, apostle (May 14)
Erik, martyr, died 1160 (May 18)
Victoria Day, Canada (May 18)
Helena, mother of Constantine, died c.330 (May 21)
Vigil of Pentecost (May 23)
Day of Pentecost (May 24)
Nicolaus Copernicus, died 1543; Leonhard Euler, died 1783; scientists (May 24)
Memorial Day, USA (May 25)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for enemies (ELW p.80)
Gracious God, your Son called on you to forgive his enemies while he was suffering shame and death. Lead our enemies and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

A prayer for faithful living in society (ACS p.50)
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.

—

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

—

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.

Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival

Transforming and connecting lives through faith and music since 1981.

All are invited to join fellow singers for a day of inspiring, community-centered music-making at the LSM Choral Gathering. Led by Dr. David Cherwien, LSM faculty member and former Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir, this event offers a welcoming introduction to the music, people, and artistic life of Lutheran Summer Music at St. Olaf College.

Invite your choir members and join us! Register today: LSMacademy.org/choral-gathering

Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission

APLM promotes the liturgical formation of the worshipping assembly for its mission in the world.

Forming the Assembly for Mission in a Chaotic World
Benedictine Center at St. Paul Monastery, St. Paul, Minn.
June 16-18

APLM will meet in St. Paul Minnesota at the Benedictine Center at St. Paul Monastery, Tues. June 16 – Thurs. June 18 under the theme “Forming the Assembly for Mission in a Chaotic Time.” In this their 80^th anniversary year, they will focus on the pressing need for liturgical formation, the practice of liturgical formation, and the relationship between liturgy and mission.

Click here for more details and the registration form.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MAY 28 to allow an accurate account for meals.

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!
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.
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.

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.

Music that Makes Community will be attending the ALCM Conference. Current and past Board members, Amy Steenson and Liesl Spitz, and a representative from The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery will present a workshop on the Sacred Lands Project partnership, a collection of paperless, aural tradition songs for community singing intended to inspire and compel communities of faith to organize alongside Indigenous communities defending sacred lands from extractive and leading rematriation efforts. Read more about the project and download it here.

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.

Advance registration through June 1
Regular registration starting June 2

On July 4, 2026, the US will mark the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Worship resources are now available for this specific occasion that both celebrate and lament this nation’s history, affirm the reality of the current moment, and seek to unite the diverse body of Christ for the life of the world. These resources may be used at a special service or on Sunday, July 5, and are available as a PDF or DOC. The resources are also available on SundaysandSeasons.com. 

These resources include liturgical texts: confession and forgiveness, prayers of the day, prayers of intercession, offering prayer, thanksgiving at the table, invitation to communion, prayer after communion, blessing, and dismissal. An Affirmation of Christian Vocation in Civic Life included in the sending rite could be used in other contexts beyond this semiquincentennial observance.

This set of liturgical texts was developed in the context of the readings appointed in the Revised Common Lectionary for Lectionary 14, year A, complementary series (Zechariah 9:9-12; Psalm 145:8-14; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30), and within the broader national context of the US Semiquincentennial. If your worshiping assembly uses the semicontinuous series of first readings and psalms, you are encouraged on this occasion to use the complementary series so that the connections among the scriptural and liturgical texts are most evident.

In addition to the liturgical texts, a preaching help will guide preachers navigating the juxtaposition of the Lectionary 14 texts with the national observance. Rev. Angela Denker poses important questions about how to meet the moment, with the important reminder to attend to the needs of your particular context alongside scripture study.

A resource for church musicians by Wayne Wold presents suggestions for assembly song, choirs, piano, and organ. But just as helpfully, it assists musicians and other worship planners to frame the choices that need to be made, asking the “why” and “how” questions. Pastors and musicians would benefit by reading Wold’s commentary together as part of their planning process.

If you access these as a Sundays and Seasons subscriber on SundaysandSeasons.com, you will see that the day texts, preaching help, and portions of the music resource are accessible in the Day Texts, Music, and Preaching tabs. Select “Lectionary 14: US Semiquincentennial” in the Planner. The full resource is also available in the Library/Other Resources.

We hope you find these new resources helpful as you consider how you might mark this occasion in your congregation. As you do so, it is good to be reminded that we are grounded in the central things: “We gather around word, water, and meal by Christ’s invitation: ‘Come to me, all you that are weary.’ Here we find rest for our souls and hope for life in the beloved community” (Introduction to the Day).

“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, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For justice for all missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, for healing for those who mourn them, and for persistence to those who raise awareness and work to dismantle racism and misogyny…
For those injured and affected by gun violence this week, especially those in Edmond, Oklahoma…
For elections and political transitions, locally and around the world…
For cruise passengers exposed to hantavirus and for all public health efforts…
For all affected by severe weather, especially tornadoes in Mississippi…
For all who celebrate Mother’s Day with great joy, and for all who observe it with complication or pain…
For synods of the ELCA as they gather in their assemblies, that the Spirit would enliven and guide them…

Events and observances:
April observances: National Alcohol Awareness Month, Arab American Heritage Month, Autism Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assualt Awareness Month
May observances: Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Military Appreciation Month, National Foster Care Month

National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (May 5)
National Day of Prayer (May 7)
Julian of Norwich, renewer of the church, died around 1416 (May 8)
Victor the Moor, martyr, died 303 (May 8)
Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, renewer of the church, hymnwriter, died 1760 (May 9)
Matthais, apostle (May 14)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer of Julian of Norwich (ELW p.87)
In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss. In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving. You are our mother, brother, and savior. In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvelous and plenteous grace. You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us. You are our maker, our lover, our keeper. Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well. Amen.

A prayer for the well-being of creation (ACS p.47)
Creator God, who lifted up the mountains and formed the dry land; whose hands shaped us out of the dust of the earth; who formed the soils and made this earth a place of beauty and abundance: We give you thanks for the gift of the land. Create in us such a sense of wonder and delight in this and all your gifts that we receive them with gratitude, care for them with love, and generously share them with all your creatures, to the honor and glory of your holy name. Amen.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources in a time of war
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.

Sundays and Seasons Year B 2027

Sundays and Seasons is your indispensable companion for planning worship with comprehensive content and ideas for liturgy, music, preaching, and visuals. A diverse group of more than 70 contributors from across the church has provided an expansive resource of daily and seasonal helps. Use Sundays and Seasons print edition together with sundaysandseasons.com for effective and efficient planning, preparation, and production of all your worship needs. Year B 2027 available now!

Sundays and Seasons: Guide to Worship Planning, Year B 2027

Sundays and Seasons supports comprehensive week-by-week worship planning with content and ideas for liturgy, music, preaching, and visuals. Shaped by the Revised Common Lectionary, the church year, and the assembly gathered around word and sacrament, it offers clarity, inspiration, and aid for worship planners. Worship planners and leaders, preachers, presiding ministers, worship committees, musicians, visual artists, sacristans and altar guilds, and those who create congregational worship folders will find an indispensable companion in Sundays and Seasons as they prepare for worship each week.

Sundays and Seasons: Preaching

Sundays and Seasons: Preaching is an annual resource in the Sundays and Seasons family that considers the sermon in the context of the day and seasons of the church year. This resource features new commentary and ideas for proclamation of word and sacrament contributed by a diverse group of contributors from across the church. This resource encourages and provides helps for lectionary preaching, taking into account all the readings for the day, in addition to the rest of the worship service and the day itself in the lectionary year, provides interpretation and helps, giving many points of connection for a diversity of worshipers and spiritual needs, and situates preaching within the larger task of worship planning.

Worship Planning Calendar: Sundays and Seasons, Year B 2027

Worship Planning Calendar serves as a planning guide, workbook, appointment calendar, and guide to daily prayer and is an important part of the Sundays and Seasons worship planning suite. Each weekly spread presents Monday through Saturday on the left-hand side and Sunday on the right-hand side, allowing space for notes about the music, liturgy, intercessions, and sermon. Includes prayer of the day, gospel acclamation, psalm refrain, preface, seasonal colors, principal festivals, lesser festivals, commemorations, observances, occasions, and more! 5⅜” x 8⅜” spiral bound.

Sundays and Seasons Print Subscription

Feeling too busy to remember to order your new Sundays and Seasons every year? Sign up for the Sundays and Seasons Print Subscription! You will receive each subsequent release of the Sundays and Seasons resources you have selected when the next volume is released. Your subscription begins with the next annual edition released in the spring.

Augsburg Fortress Music Clinics – 70th Anniversary Celebration!

Locations
Columbia, S.C. — July 24-25
Twin Cities, Minn. — July 27-28
Columbus, Ohio — August 3-4
Philadelphia, Pa. — August 6-7
Chicago, Ill. — August 10-11

More information about the event and registration for a FREE music clinic near you is available here.

“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, Ukraine, and Venezuela…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For those exposed to gun violence at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, and for an end to political violence…
For stabbing victims in north London, and for an end to antisemitism…
For flotilla personnel detained by Israeli forces…
For communities in Oklahoma and Texas in the wake of tornado damage…
For all who live with mental illness, and for all those who support them…
For those who work or live in our prisons, jails, and courts, and for an end to capital punishment…
For synods of the ELCA as they gather in their assemblies, that the Spirit would enliven and guide them…

Events and observances:
April observances: National Alcohol Awareness Month, Arab American Heritage Month, Autism Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assualt Awareness Month
May observances: Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Military Appreciation Month, National Foster Care Month

Ridván, Bahá’í, (April 20–May 2)
Catherine of Siena, theologian, died 1380 (Apr 29)
Philip and James, Apostles (May 1)
Vesak, Buddhism (May 1)
Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, died 373 (May 2)
Monica, mother of Augustine, died 387 (May 4)
Julian of Norwich, renewer of the church, died around 1416 (May 8)
Victor the Moor, martyr, died 303 (May 8)
Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, renewer of the church, hymnwriter, died 1760 (May 9)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
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 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.

—

The following topical resources are available from resources.elca.org for use in public worship and personal devotion:
Worship resources in a time of war
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.