Calendar

Sept. 17, Wednesday: Beta Sigma Phi, 6-8pm

AUGUST PRAYERS

1 We are church for the sake of the world, celebrating the abundant life that has been promised by God and fulfilled in Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Pray for the Spirit to guide and inspire the discussions, decisions and work of the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, that our church will proclaim and exemplify the grace we have in Jesus.

2 Give thanks for those who participated in the Churchwide Assembly and ask God to protect them as they return to their faith communities.

3 Pray that when our interest is drawn to specific issues in our communities and the world, we will not lose sight of other issues that persist but have slipped away from public awareness.

4 Pray for worship leaders and musicians gathering for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians conference in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., that their passion, creativity and skills for leading music will grow as a means of expressing faith and sharing the gospel.       

5 Give thanks and praise to God for the joy, freedom and new life we have in Jesus Christ and for the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Hallelujah!

6 Pray for lasting and resilient peace where there is conflict and war in the world, especially in Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East. Pray that we will not grow weary in supporting and caring for those who continue to live in uncertainty and suffering amid violence, injustice and displacement from their homes and communities.

7 Praise God that our new life in Christ empowers us to renew ourselves in the image of the Creator and to oppose and cleanse ourselves of anger, hate, slander, abusive language, racism, dishonesty, self-centeredness and greed.

8 Thank God for the ELCA’s special relationship with the Moravian Church in America, a full communion partner since 1999. Pray for the church, its members and its leaders, that together we will find strength and resources for the work of sharing the gospel and serving our neighbor.

9 Pray for local, state and national leaders, that they will respect and respond to our neighbors on the fringes of society, including people who suffer poverty and hunger, who need shelter, who live with illnesses and conditions requiring constant care, and whose rights and protections have diminished. Pray for compassion, strength and persistent courage to advocate and care for our neighbors in need.    

10 Pray for the Spirit’s guidance and wisdom in understanding the parables Jesus shared over two thousand years ago, and for insight into the admonitions and wisdom they offer us today.

11 Pray for our missionaries and Young Adults in Global Mission who accompany global partners in 10 European countries, serving in ministries that provide education, pastoral leadership, social services and care for vulnerable populations.

12 International Youth Day  Half the people on our planet are age 30 or younger. Pray for every nation to honor the gifts of young people, address the challenges they face and provide easy access to resources that contribute to their physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual and economic well-being.

13 Ask God to bless those who have chosen to use their gifts, faith and time in long-term volunteer service with Lutheran Volunteer Corps, Urban Servant Corps, Holden Village or other domestic ministries.

14 Open our hearts and minds to see problems in the world as opportunities to encourage and care for one another, to seek new paths toward justice and peace, and to share the good news of God’s mercy and love for humanity.

15 “Go my children, with my blessing, never alone. Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own. In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever” (WOV 721). Praise God for being ever present in our lives and the world — in times of turmoil, peace, fear, joy, failure and achievement.

16 Pray for students attending ELCA colleges, universities and seminaries, and other institutions of higher education, that they will grow in faith, knowledge, wisdom and commitment to serve others.

17 Ask the Spirit how we might align ourselves with the commandments, desires and priorities of God, the very things Jesus made clear to us through his life, suffering, death and resurrection.

18 Pray for the church leaders gathering for the Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics, and Management for an Economy of Life in Seoul, South Korea. Organized by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation and other ecumenical organizations, the school helps leaders to bridge theology and economics and to advocate for a global economic system that meets the needs of humanity and responds to the crises we face today.

19 Give thanks to God that, through our collective generosity, our church provides grants and scholarships to support the ministries of individuals, communities, congregations, synods, and ELCA partners and companion churches.

20 “Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23-24). Give thanks that God sees all evil and deception in the world, and promise to be vigilant and discerning so that we might uplift our neighbors and please God.

21 Pray for the work of Sumud, an initiative of our church that works for justice in Palestine and Israel, proclaiming that all humans are beloved children of God who deserve safety, security and dignity.

22 Give thanks for the ELCA New Congregations ministry and for the 340 new-start congregations and ministries under development in the United States and the Caribbean, supported by local leaders and their synods’ bishops and directors for evangelical mission.

23 Pray for congregational leaders and volunteers who are preparing fall programs and community ministries to share the gospel, nurture faith, serve neighbors in need and equip people of all ages and abilities to do God’s work in the world.

24 There is no convenient or more suitable time to respond to the suffering of our neighbors. Pray that we will be mindful of those around us — near and far — and promptly respond with respect, kindness, generosity, sustainable solutions and concern for their short- and long-term needs.

25 Pray for teachers, student teachers, administrators and other school staff, that their strength, knowledge, creativity and commitment to students will be nourished throughout the school year. Ask the Spirit to help us express our thanks and support them in tangible ways.

26 “Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me, and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me, and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free” (ACS 1087). Lift up praise and thanks to God!

27 Give thanks for people who play a significant role in your life, including those who inspire your faith, teach you life skills, influence your values, treat you with love and respect, and show up when you need someone to lean on.

28 Remember in prayer children, youth and adults whose lives have been touched and inspired by outdoor ministry experiences this summer. Pray that they will bring back to their home congregations their rekindled faith, enthusiasm, confidence and commitment to love their neighbors.

29 Rejoice in the daily care, support and sustenance we receive from God and our siblings in Christ. Pray that we, in turn, will freely share the same with our neighbors.

30 Each of us has a unique faith story to tell. Ask the Spirit to help us find our own way of describing our faith journey — how God works through us and how Jesus Christ defines our lives.

31 Ask the Spirit for the faith needed to be both confident and humble. Promise to focus on neighbors in need and to resist personal desires for reward, status or advantage.