ELCA 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 an end to war, conflict, and violence especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Thailand and Cambodia, and China and Taiwan…
For immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and all who travel…
For all who rely on affordable child care, who seek accessible health care, or who rely on food assistance…
For all who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss…
For those facing storms and extreme weather…
For the close of Yule and Kwanzaa celebrations…
For continued celebrations of the twelve days of Christmas…
For celebrations of the New Year…

Events and observances:
January Observances: National Blood Donor Month, National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Poverty in America Awareness Month

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs (transferred, Dec 29)
Name of Jesus (Jan 1)
Second Sunday of Christmas (Jan 4)
Epiphany of Our Lord (Jan 6)
Orthodox Christmas Day (Jan 7)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for Epiphany (ELW)
Almighty and ever-living God, you revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of a star. Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives as the treasure we offer in your praise and for your service, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

A prayer before travel (ELW)
O God, our beginning and our end, you kept Abraham and Sarah in safety throughout the days of their pilgrimage, you led the children of Israel through the midst of the sea, and by a star you led the magi to the infant Jesus. Protect and guide us now as we set out to travel. Make our ways safe and our homecomings joyful, and bring us at last to our heavenly home, where you dwell in glory with our Lord Jesus Christ and the life-giving Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 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 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.

“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 violence especially in Gaza, South Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Eastern Congo, and Pakistan/Afghanistan…
For all victims of violence, threats of violence, and communities grieving gun violence, including the Brown University and MIT campuses, Stewartville High School, and victims of the Bondi Beach violence in Sydney, Australia…
For immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and all who travel…
For those facing extreme weather, especially blizzard and high wind threats in the Northwestern United States…
For the community of Holden Village in this season of evacuation and evaluation…
For children and families who face increased food insecurity during school breaks…
For accessible and affordable health care…
For those living with seasonal affective disorder…
For all who seek shelter…

Events and observances:
December Observances: Universal Human Rights Month, World AIDS/HIV Awareness Month, Spiritual Literacy Month

Hanukkah (Judaism, Dec 14-22)
Las Posadas (Dec 16-24)
Katharina von Bora Luther, renewer of the church, died 1552 (Dec 20)
Nativity of Our Lord (Dec 24 and Dec 25)
Stephen, Deacon and Martyr (Dec 26)
John, Apostle and Evangelist (Dec 27)
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs (transferred, Dec 29)

Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for peace between nations (ELW)
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 before travel (ELW)
O God, our beginning and our end, you kept Abraham and Sarah in safety throughout the days of their pilgrimage, you led the children of Israel through the midst of the sea, and by a star you led the magi to the infant Jesus. Protect and guide us now as we set out to travel. Make our ways safe and our homecomings joyful, and bring us at last to our heavenly home, where you dwell in glory with our Lord Jesus Christ and the life-giving Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 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.

Calendar Collection

The new year approaches – do you have your 2026 calendars needs covered? A spiral-bound wall calendar for planning with beautiful art that helps you keep time in the office, sacristy, and home (Calendar of Word and Season Year A)? Check. Single page church year calendar with specific dates, Bible readings, hymn of the day, and liturgical color for Sundays and festivals of the church year (Church Year Calendar, Year A 2026)? Check! What about a spiral-bound planning calendar that is both an appointment calendar and a workbook for preparing worship (Worship Planning Calendar: Sundays and Seasons, Year A 2026)? You got it.

In a job where you plan seasons in advance, let these resources help you find the future date you need, and then return to a reminder of what season you are in right now (hint: you are currently in Advent)!

Together by Grace

The next two Together by Grace: Bible Conversations installments are here! John and Psalms were released on Nov 3^rd and are ready to expand your small group study! Written by Rachel Wrenn (Psalms) and Katherine M. Lewis (John), this accessible and flexible study will guide your group to Gather, Dwell, and Engage with these texts.

ENDING DEC 31! Buy one Facilitator Guide and get its Participant Guide FREE. Use codes TBGROMANS, TBGMATTHEW, TBGPSALMS, and TBGJOHN to start today! (Offer good in the continental US only).

Making Melody to the Lord: A Robert Buckley Farlee Hymnary

This collection contains forty-five hymn tunes and several texts by Robert Buckley Farlee, a gifted pastor, musician, and leader of assembly song. His carefully crafted melodies excite the theological imagination of the singing assembly and encourage a fresh perspective even on well-known texts in the collection. Other text writers include Susan R. Briehl, Thomas H. Troeger, Susan Palo Cherwien, Mary Louise Bringle, Isaac Watts, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Splash! Turns 21!

For over 2 decade, Splash! has provided an easy, affordable way to connect with families of young children in your congregation. These monthly newsletters for kids from one to 36 months support caregivers of infants by helping them incorporate faith formation into the events of daily life. They include articles about child development and faith formation, ideas for Bible storytelling, prayer, worship, play, and more. The back includes a John Bush cartoon and a prompt that invites parents to think about the articles, along with the mailing panel that makes it easy to fold and mail to families. This line also carries a guide for godparents and a keepsake book for faith moments. Check them out today!

Now through the end of the year, you can receive free shipping on five or more Splash! Packs! Use the promo code STILLSPLASHING when you place your order. (Continental U.S. only).

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.

2025 LSM Musical Advent Calendar
Nov. 30 – Dec. 24

Experience the fifth annual Musical Advent Calendar from Lutheran Summer Music with daily musical meditations to inspire reflection throughout the season. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, with all videos archived at LSMacademy.org/acal.

P.S. It’s also time to nominate students for LSM 2026! Help a young musician experience a transformative summer of music, community, and faith at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Nominate them today at LSMacademy.org/nominate.

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.
Early Registration: $350, ends Jan. 31, 2026
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.
Registration is now open.

In 1986, forty years ago, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians held its constituting convention at St. Olaf College, setting out to become a professional organization that would lift up the role of church music and to equip leaders to be able to lead the church’s song.

In the midst of our 40 year celebration, ALCM finds itself back on the St. Olaf campus to recommit to the calling of Lutheran Church music, to celebrate the last forty years, and to dream together about the next 40. Timing this conference to be in conjunction with Festival Week of Lutheran Summer Music, we gather to think about how God’s voice shapes the church Now and Forever. Through workshops, discussions, worship, and hands-on learning opportunities, participants will strengthen their gifts and develop new skills in topics such as worship leadership, technology, composition, enriching assembly song and more, all the while forming connections from Generation to Generation with musicians in the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival.

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.

Training Events — Join us at the following events for continuing education, community building, professional development, and celebrating this practice of paperless communal song-sharing.

February 6-8, 2026: Two-Day Retreat in Raleigh, N.C.
Details and more in-person events are being planned. Please stay tuned!

Resources – Read the MMC blog for articles on a variety of topics. The latest presents Songs for Justice.

Job Postings on Music That Makes Community website.

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

Journey to Baptismal Living: North American Associate for the Catechumenate

An ecumenical Christian community seeking to support seekers, whether baptized or not, and those who accompany them on their journey of faith through the catechumenal process.

You are invited to visit the re-designed website to learn more about who we are and how to can assist you with resources, training, and other information about how we may work with you to connect through your commitment to the movement of faith through the sacrament of baptismal living as disciples of Christ.

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.

Unbridled Presence: Sanctuary Scribes, Series 1

Ever feel like kids’ worship activities are more distraction than devotion?

Sanctuary Scribes flips the script with interactive booklets for worship that keep kids engaged—not just entertained. Sanctuary Scribes is a collection of 40 booklets designed to engage children during worship. Each booklet contains interactive pages that invite children to draw, doodle, and write their thoughts and experiences as they listen, watch, and participate in worship. These 12-page booklets feature unique designs and activities with lively prompts to help kids connect to the readings, music, sermon, and sacraments. Illustrated by kids and designed for kids, these worship tablets will engage and inspire young worshippers.

Happy Birthday, All Creation Sings! – Birthday and Fundraising Kit

Nov 30, 2020 launched All Creation Sings, a liturgy and song supplement in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship resource family, into a world in the grips of a global pandemic and political unrest. Its refreshed, timely, and inclusive hymns, liturgies, prayers, and communion settings renewed worship spaces internationally, offering comfort and presence in difficult times. 5 years later, nearly 90,000 All Creation Sings continues to support, uplift, and walk alongside the worshippers far and wide.

Ready to add ACS to your worship space? Head over to Augsburg Fortress All Creation Sings page for previews, customer testimonials, resources for kids, and a brand-new fundraising kit!

Sundays and Seasons Mobile-Responsive

Reference on the go! SundaysandSeasons.com is now mobile-responsive, which means that it can detect the size of the display screen and adjust its layout to give you an optimal experience on your device. This applies to all areas of the site except the Planner, which most users typically access on their desktop.

Sundays and Seasons.com is not available in the various app stores, but you can add it to the home screen of a phone or tablet, giving you the convenience of accessing it with the tap of a button. Learn more in “Subscriber News” on your S&S homepage!

Advent and Christmas Candles

Advent is nearly upon us! Do you have the various candles and accoutrements that your church needs for this season? Choose from blue, pink, and purple taper candles, or even white pillar candles! Christmas Eve candlelight service? Get your master set with celebrant, usher, and congregational candles. And don’t forget the drip protectors! Stock up on peace-of-mind today!

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.