+ We hold in prayer all those places in your world, including our own communities, experiencing discrimination, violence, and fear;
+ Help us to recognize the way our words and actions - or inaction - harm others;
+ We give thanks for and celebrate siblings of all sexual orientations and gender identities. During this Bisexual Visibility Week, we lift up our bisexual siblings. As
people of faith, encourage us to better understand, care, and advocate for all of our LGBTQIA+ family.
+ We pray for all of our elected and appointed leaders: grant them compassion, strengthen their knowledge, and help them be ever-mindful of the
needs of our communities, global neighbors, and environment in their
listening, decision making, and actions.
Provide comfort and healing for those struggling with health concerns:
+ Continued healing for Jinghsio Lee, father of Pastor Wendy Cheung (Grace Chinese, Sammamish) and grandfather of Mission Developer Will Cheung (New Fruit), as he now recovers at home following a recent hospitalization;
+ Pastor Paul Anderson (retired) now recovering at home following heart procedures;
+ Deacon Erma Lee (retired, former ELCA Region 1 staff member and faithful prayer warrior) recovering at Shoreline Health and Rehab Center following a fall;
+ Frederica Hall, mother of Pastor Marjorie Lorant (Hope, Lynden) in hospice care;
+ Esther, daughter of Miri and Pastor Paul Ko (Seattle Covenant Community Fellowship);
+ Those living with mental illness;
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During this National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we remember those who live with the isolation and despair of mental illness and those who question the value of their life. We pray the healing love of God displaces the darkness and that we learn to better recognize the pain of people around us and respond with skillful care and the embrace of community (www.lutheransuicideprevention.org/);
+ We lift up care providers: family members, friends, caregivers and medical workers.
Grant health and strength to those who are receiving treatment for cancer:
+ Franklin Chu (Synod Council member);
+ Retired Pastor Phil Petrasek;
+ Richard Jennings, brother of Pastor Marjorie Lorant (Hope, Lynden);
+ Retired Pastor Wayne Bacus;
+ Deacon Nan Beth Walton;
+ Suzanne Morris, spouse of Pastor Larry Morris (Holy Spirit, Kirkland);
+ During this Childhood Cancer Awareness month, we lift up those young ones who are facing and fighting this disease;
+ Grant wisdom to those who are working toward effective treatments and cures;
+ Lead us to better fund research and advocate for government policies that make it easier for all to get quality care and support for patients and their families.
Comfort those who are grieving - may they feel God's love and comfort:
+ Enable us to be present for those who are suffering any kind of loss;
+ Strengthen those who tend to the sick and dying: medical caregivers, social workers, home health aides, chaplains, grief support counselors, and family members.
We give thanks for our retired rostered ministers (pastors & deacons).
May we find inspiration in their years of faithfulness and witness.
This week we lift up Pastors Anne Hall, Jim Leistikow, and Jan Nesse.
Be with our congregations and candidates who are in the call process.
+ Strengthen and encourage the leaders who guide us during times of transition: Transition Teams, Call Committees, Interim Pastors, current congregational staff, and synod staff.
+ We lift up our synod as we officially install our new Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Shelley Bryan Wee, this Saturday, September 23 at 3pm at St. John United, Seattle. May God bless this new partnership.
We give thanks for the congregations and ministries across our synod and the ELCA.
This week we remember these faithful ministries, their leaders, and members:
+ and the people and ministries of the SE Iowa Synod.
Loving God, may our prayers rise before you as incense.
Amen.
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Please note that we do not include names unless they have given permission.
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