Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: April 24, 2022
Worship resources for the crisis in Eastern Europe:
Follow this link to access resources to assist worshiping communities as they respond to the crisis in Eastern Europe. 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.
Intercession prompts:
For people facing violence in the Donbas region of Ukraine…
For Orthodox Christians celebrating Easter this week…
For interfaith peace and understanding as people of different faiths observe this holy time of year…
For wisdom and compassion to treasure and preserve our planet, God’s own beloved creation…
For our Jewish neighbors as they observe Yom HaShoah and for people facing genocide throughout the world…
Other notable events and observances:
Commemoration of Mark, evangelist (April 25)
Commemoration of Catherine of Siena, theologian, died 1380 (April 29)
Earth Day (April 22)
Yom HaShoah (April 27-28)
Ramadan (April 1-May 1)
Festival of Ridvan (April 21-May 2)
Suggested prayers and hymns:
Hymns for peace & the flourishing of creation
For the Wholeness of the Earth (ACS 1067)
Open My Heart (ACS 1079)
Bring Peace to Earth Again (ELW 700)
A prayer for interreligious cooperation and understanding
God of creation, we give you thanks for our wonderfully diverse human family. We pray for the well-being of all people, including our neighbors of other religions and worldviews. Grant that, together with them, we will find ways to cooperate for the common good of all, as you desire. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. (ACS p. 51)
A prayer for the reservation of the earth and healing from exploitation
Holy Spirit, you move through all creation with sighs too deep for words. Open our hearts to listen to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Speak through your church to rebuke the forces that seek to exploit your planet. Join our human prayers with the voices of all creation and move us to honor you by preserving the gifts of nature that reveal your glory. Amen. (ACS p. 47)
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.