Prompts for Prayers of Intercession: 2/19/2023
Responding to Turkey/Syria Earthquakes
The ELCA Worship blog has complied a set of Prayer Resources in Time of Earthquakes.
Intercession prompts:
For continued relief and recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria…
For families and communities experiencing grief, anger, and despair at the tens of thousands of deaths following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria…
For the victims of the shooting at Michigan State, for their loved ones, and for campus ministries that are supporting students…
For all hearts longing to see a day when tools of rage are not seen as more important than the lives they take…
For those who will revel in the unfettered joy of carnival celebrations this week in every corner of our world…
For contrite hearts and hopeful spirits as we end the season of Epiphany and prepare for Lent…
For stability and civility amidst leadership transitions in world governments…
In lament over all lives lost in the past year of war between Russia and Ukraine…
For resolve and power for those fighting for climate justice, especially in another year of Antarctic ice decline…
Other notable events and observances:
Black History Month (Month of February)
Cancer Prevention Month (Month of February)
Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546 (February 18)
President’s Day (February 20)
Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras (February 21)
Ash Wednesday (February 22)
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, died 156ce (February 23)
Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, died 1921 (February 25)
Suggested prayers & hymns:
A prayer of intercession for God’s people (ELW p. 74):
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work or watch or weep, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, comfort the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
Hymns for the journey of discipleship
When we are Living / Pues si vivimos (ELW 639)
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus (ELW 802)
Come Thy Font of Every Blessing (ELW 807)
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.