For What Shall We Pray?
Prayer prompts:
For an end to war and conflict, especially in Gaza, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, South Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and Ethiopia…
For victims of sexual assault and violence…
For earthquake victims in eastern Afghanistan…
For landslide victims in the Darfur region of Sudan…
For wildfires in California…
For safety amidst protests in Indonesia…
For students, families, and school personnel beginning the new school year…
For all professional fields, vocations, and jobs of any kind, and for fair and equitable labor policies…
Events and observances:
September Observances: National Literacy Month, Suicide Prevention Month, Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 to Oct 15)
Peter Claver, priest, missionary to Colombia, died 1654 (Sept 9)
John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, died 407 (Sept 13)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for teachers in the church (ELW p.74)
O God of wisdom, in your goodness you provide faithful teachers for your church. By your Holy Spirit give all teachers insight into your holy word, lives that are examples to us all, and the courage to know and do the truth; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A prayer for faithful living in society (ACS p.50)
Gracious God, we pray for our public servants, that they do their work in a spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice. Inspire them to use their authority to serve faithfully and to promote our common life. Guide our leaders to govern in such a way that all people enjoy a peaceful and just society. In Jesus’ name we pray. 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 and prayers in response to wildfires
Worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land
Worship resources for the Eastern Europe Crisis
Worship resources for and following national elections
“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.