Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: December 19, 2021
Intercession prompts:
For relief and recovery efforts after tornadoes and storms, and for all left scared and grieving…
For the work of emergency responders and relief agencies, including Lutheran Disaster Response…
For the peace of Jerusalem, and throughout the Middle East…
For all who are facing a first Christmas without someone they love…
For all celebrating the holidays with a new perspective, new job, new home, or new family…
For musicians, volunteers, and lay leaders who enable and enhance our celebration of the incarnation…
Other notable events and observances:
Human Rights Month (Month of December)
Katerina von Bora Luther, Renewer of the Church (December 20)
Winter Solstice (December 21)
Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24-25)
Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1)
Suggested prayers and hymns:
Prayer for emergency workers (ELW p.85)
God of earth and air, water and fire, height and depth, we pray for those who work in danger, who rush in to bring hope and help and comfort when others flee to safety, whose mission is to seek and save, serve and protect, and whose presence embodies the protection of the Good Shepherd. Give them caution and concern for one another, so that in safety they may do what must be done, under your watchful eye. Support them in their courage and dedication that they may continue to save lives, ease pain, and mend the torn fabric of lives and social order; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn Suggestions after natural disaster:
ELW 785 When Peace Like a River
ACS 1022 God, Bless the Hands
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.