For what shall we pray?
“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, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, Ukraine, Myanmar, and Venezuela…
For all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers…
For health and safety for all experiencing extreme heat and weather events, especially storms and tornadoes in central China and areas facing typhoon threats…
For continued relief and rescue work following earthquakes in Venezuela…
For those wounded by explosions in Damascus, Syria…
For an end to human trafficking,
For those killed and injured over the holiday weekend and communities impacted by gun violence…
Events and observances:
July observances: Disability Pride Month, National BIPOC Mental Health Month
Benedict of Nurisa, Abbot of Monte Cassino (July 11)
Nathan Söderblom, Bishop of Uppsala (July 12)
Bartolomé de Las Casas, missionary to the Indies (July 17)
Mary Magdalene, apostle (July 22)
James, apostle (July 25)
Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A prayer for those who suffer abuse and violence (ELW p.53)
Mighty Jesus, living Word, soothe the bodies, souls, and minds of the victims of human trafficking. Bring them peace, hope, comfort, and strength. Bring abusers to justice and prevent them from causing further harm. Stir up the heart of your church gathered here and around the world, that we value justice and healing over silence and shame. Show us the way to your righteousness, led by the voices of those who suffer. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
A prayer after 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.
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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 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
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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.
