Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: October 17, 2021
Intercession prompts:
For those who are afraid in their relationships or have suffered abuse or violence…
For Afghan refugees seeking resettlement and the agencies that accompany them…
For ongoing wildfires and risk of wildfires in the western United States…
For those facing hunger and food insecurity and for farmers and all food production workers…
For the work of feeding and food advocacy organizations such as ELCA World Hunger…
For those whose vocations honor St. Luke, the physician: medical personnel, caregivers, clinical support staff, and all who work in healthcare…
For those who live in fear because of homophobia, sexism, and racism…
For congregations in the midst of stewardship campaigns and ministry visioning for the coming year…
Other notable events and observances:
World Food Day (October 16)
St. Luke, Evangelist (October 18)
LGBT History Month (through October 31)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (through October 31)
Domestic Violence Awareness Month (through October 31)
Suggested hymns and prayers:
Prayer for those who suffer abuse and violence (ACS p. 53)
Mighty Jesus, living Word, soothe the bodies, souls, and minds of the victims of sexual violence / domestic violence / ______ . 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.
Prayer for festival of Luke, Evangelist (ELW p. 58)
Almighty God, you inspired your servant Luke to reveal in his gospel the love and healing power of your Son. Give your church the same love and power to heal, and to proclaim your salvation among the nations to the glory of your name, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our healer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Hymn suggestions for healing, wholeness, and lament for those who have suffered abuse or violence:
Cast Out, O Christ (ACS 1016)
In Deepest Night (ELW 699)
Sometimes Our Only Song Is Weeping (ACS 1050)
Hymn suggestions related to hunger, food justice, and stewardship:
We Come to the Hungry Feast (ELW 479)
Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ (ELW 674)
God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending (ELW 678)
Hymn suggestions for the festival of Luke, Evangelist:
Caminemos con Jesús (ACS 1061) – hymn inspired by imagery in Luke 24
Additional hymns for healing found in ACS 1013-1021 and ELW 610-617
These prompts are provided for worship leaders as they prepare the prayers of intercession for weekly worship. The prompts are prepared by several leaders in the ELCA and reflect current world and national events. You are encouraged to adapt and add other concerns for your local context, including staying informed of events and concerns in your synod.
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.