God of life and breath, you are our source of hope:
+ We give thanks for your gifts of life and love;
+ sustain us when we are feeling weary, broken, lost, or frightened;
+ open our hearts and minds to hear your word and call;
+ reform in us what needs reforming;
+ inspire us to be your hands and voice in your world;
+ strengthen us to take action to seek justice for our neighbors;
+ grant us courage and creativity to joyfully share your Good News.
We pray for your world and your people:
+ We pray for the grieving families and community devastated by the murders at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas yesterday. We pray for all students going to school. We pray for all teachers and school staff. We pray for all parents. We pray for all mental health care workers. We pray for changed hearts of our community members and elected leaders. In the depths of pain and anger, we come before you, O God. Renew and strengthen our commitment and courage to face the painful truth of gun violence in our country — to prevent gun violence; attend to individuals, families and communities traumatized by it; advocate for common-sense gun safety laws. Make us instruments of your peace.
+ We pray for those who are hungry. Stir us to action to lift up our neighbors and seek policies that support them. We give thanks for our Synod Hunger Team and our partnership with ELCA World Hunger - helping us collaborate our efforts, find sustainable solutions to end hunger, and provide nourishment domestically and abroad.
+ We lift up all in our communities who provide emergency services - those who respond first to bring aid: emergency medical workers, firefighters, community volunteers, and police. Grant them wisdom and safety in their work.
+ We deeply grieve the violence occurring and we pray for the wellbeing and flourishing of all peoples in the Holy Land. As in the United States, we are aware that structural and systemic racism, violence, colonialism and imperialism are factors in this ongoing conflict. We pray for justice and we pray for peace. We pray for our siblings in the ELCJHL (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land), for those serving and being served at Augusta-Victoria Hospital, and all those affected by this violence. May the three pillars of the ELCA’s Peace Not Walls strategy come to fruition – accompaniment, awareness-building, and advocacy. May Christ’s true peace come to this land and peoples. (Join us for a Living Forward Conversation tomorrow at noon. Learn more here.)
+ We pray for the safety and well-being of those directly impacted by the war in Ukraine — both the people inside its borders and the nearly 4 million who have left the country. Pray for peace, wisdom, justice, repentance and reconciliation. We give thanks for the assistance provided by Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and our partners and companion churches in Ukraine and across Eastern Europe. (Support our new neighbors - Lutheran Community Services NW - lcsnw.org/ and Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service - lirsconnect.org/get_involved/action_center/siv)
+ We pray for those places, people, animals, and land affected by the devastation of natural disasters: drought, flooding, earthquakes, fire, and storms. Grant safety in the midst of chaos and fear; grant strength to those affected as they recover and rebuild. Help us to be generous partners with Lutheran Disaster Response and encourage our mindful work in disaster preparedness with our regional partners at www.region1beprepared.org.
We pray for those who are grieving:
+ Gracious God, wrap your arms of love and hope around all who are experiencing any kind of loss, disconnection, or brokenness;
+ We lift up Pr. Scott Brents (Camano Lutheran) and his family following the death of his sister, Jan. Cards of care may be sent to: 850 Heichel Rd, Camano Island, WA 98282.
We pray for all who are in need of healing and strength:
+ We pray for those who are facing ongoing health concerns:
Abi Griffith (daughter of Pr. Eric Griffith), Dn. Nan Beth Walton, Pr. Ron Melver, Pr. Mikkel Hustad, Brenda Kidd (wife of Pr. Tom Kidd), and David Hillesland, father of Pr. Ivar Hillesland (Church of the Apostles, Seattle).
+ We are mindful that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We pray for people living with mental illness - and those who care for and support them. Encourage and strengthen all who work to improve access to mental health care. Enliven us to each combat the stigma of mental illness.
We pray for your church:
+ During this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we praise God for the Asian and Pacific Islander members, congregations, and ministries of our synod and the ELCA. We are grateful for God’s rich gifts of culture, language, and heritage. Continue to open our ears and eyes in the ways to welcome, honor, partner, and advocate for these beloved neighbors. (We lift up this blog post, shared by our Director of Evangelical Mission, Pr. Herb Shao.)
+ We pray for our Rostered Ministers who are taking sabbatical leave this summer. May this time bring a sense of rest and renewal for them, for their families, and their congregations. We give thanks for those who are stepping into pulpit supply, pastoral care coverage, and leadership roles to support these important leave-taking endeavors.
+ From our prayer calendar, we pray for these ministries and their rostered leaders:
-- our Companion Synod: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in European Russia;
-- the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod and their bishop, the Rev. Michael Rinehart.
+ We give thanks for the many years of service of our retired pastors & deacons. This week we celebrate these retired ministers: Paul Sundberg, Mike Swain, and Sharon Swanson.
-- we pray for the leaders who are guiding ministries in a time of transition: transition teams, call committees, transition ministers, care pastors, congregational staff and lay leaders, and our synod staff;
-- we pray for all who are in discernment and/or awaiting call.
May our prayers rise before you as incense.
+ Your mercy is everlasting and your faithfulness endures from age to age;
+ Sustain, uplift, and encourage us as we live into your calling;
+ Trusting in your mercy and grace, we lift our prayers to you.
Amen.
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Please note: direct permission is needed prior to inclusion.
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