For What Shall We Pray? 11/7/2023
Prayer prompts:
For peace in our world…
For access to humanitarian aid amidst conflicts in Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, and all places of war and violence…
For all refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers…
For clean air and for the health of those living under pollution, especially in India…
For relief efforts following earthquakes in Nepal…
For areas affected by wildfires in West Virginia…
For peaceful elections and transitions in government, and for the repair of community relationship…
For all who are tasked with serving nations as members of the military, and for those who support and love them…
For the spiritual and emotional impact of changing seasons…
Events and observances:
Monthly Observances in November: American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month
John Christian Frederick Heyer, died 1873; Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, died 1719; Ludwig Nommensen, died 1918; missionaries (Nov 7)
Election Day (USA, Nov 7)
Martin, Bishop of Tours, died 397 (Nov 11)
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, teacher, died 1855 (Nov 11)
Remembrance Day (Canada, Nov 11)
Veterans’ Day (Nov 11)
Diwali (Hindu festival, Nov 12)
Elizabeth of Hungary, renewer of society, died 1231 (Nov 17)
Prayers from ELCA resources:
A set of worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land is now available on ELCA.org. Several prayers are provided that could be used during the prayers of intercession or at other times, in public worship or for devotional use at home or in other settings. Additions may be made to these resources in the coming days and weeks. PDF DOC
A prayer for those in the armed forces (ELW p. 77)
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the [members] of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils that surround them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
A prayer for responsible citizenship (ELW p. 77)
Lord God, you call your people to honor those in authority. Help us elect trustworthy leaders, participate in wise decisions for our common life, and serve our neighbors in local communities. Bless the leaders of our land, that we may be at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth; 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.