For What Shall We Pray?
In the coming weeks, those in the United States will mark two significant anniversaries: five years since the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 25, 2020) and ten years since the murder of the Emanuel Nine at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina (June 17, 2015). Click here to access prayer resources for these anniversaries.
Prayer prompts:
For justice and peace among nations where war and violence rage, especially Ukraine and Russia, Palestine and Israel, Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Yemen, India and Pakistan…
For victims of gun violence, especially members of the Israeli embassy staff in Washington D.C. and those killed in Waterbury, Connecticut…
For the aftermath of the glacier collapse in Blatten, Switzerland…
For those in need of affordable and accessible health care and food resources…
For immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees…
For international students seeking to pursue their education in the United States…
For LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities at the outset of Pride Month…
For synods of the ELCA as they gather in their assemblies, that the Spirit would enliven and guide them…
Events and observances:
May Observances: Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
June Observances: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
Jiri Tranovsky, hymnwriter, died 1637 (May 29)
Ascension of Our Lord (May 29)
Visit of Mary to Elizabeth (May 31)
Justin, martyr at Rome, died c.135 (June 1)
The Martyrs of Uganda, died 1886 (June 3)
John XXIII, Bishop of Rome, died 1963 (June 3)
Boniface, martyr, died 754 (June 5)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for the visit of Mary to Elizabeth (ELW p.56)
Mighty God, by whose grace Elizabeth rejoiced with Mary and greeted her as the mother of the Lord: look with favor on your lowly servants that, with Mary, we may magnify your holy name and rejoice to acclaim her Son as our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A prayer for those facing poverty (ELW p.79)
God of compassion, whose Son became poor for our sake: Help us to see the face of Christ in those who are poor, and in serving them to serve you. Give us generous hearts so that those living in poverty may have adequate food, clothing, and shelter. By your Spirit move us to affirm the dignity of all people and to work for just laws that protect the most vulnerable in society, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
“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.
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.
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.