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:
+ During this PRIDE Month, we give thanks for the gifts, wisdom, and faith of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer neighbors and siblings in Christ. We ask the Spirit to stir and embolden us to better advocate for laws, practices, values, and institutional and social change that address injustice, bias and exclusion. We give thanks for the support, resources, and leadership of our partners at ReconcilingWorks and Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries.
+ We ask God to 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; and care for the perpetrators of violent acts. (As was lifted up at our recent synod assembly, in 1994 the ELCA adopted the social message Community Violence, calling for advocacy to end the cycle of violence in the U.S. Twenty-eight years later, this message is still relevant and is a resource for our journey. Find more information and resources HERE.)
+ Our prayers arise for the fear, loss, and devastation in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. May a wise peaceful path be found and followed soon. We pray for all who are in danger and all who have had to flee their homes. We pray for those families who have lost loved ones. Loving God, may your peace reign.
+ We pray for those who are without home or shelter. We lift up the ministries in our synod working to help create and provide better access to shelter and care.
+ We remember in prayer those students, teachers, and school staff members who are concluding their academic years. May the summer be filled with continued curiosity, learning, adventures, and rest.
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 pray for all who are in need of healing and strength:
+ We pray for those who are facing ongoing health concerns:
Pr. Christine Finsand, Abi Griffith (daughter of Pr. Eric Griffith), Dn. Nan Beth Walton, Pr. Ron Melver, Pr. Mikkel Hustad, Pr. Al Bruck, Brenda Kidd (wife of Pr. Tom Kidd), and David Hillesland, father of Pr. Ivar Hillesland (Church of the Apostles, Seattle).
+ We pray for the Sierra Pacifc Synod following the resignation of their bishop. Surround the leadership, staff, and members of the synod with your peace, wisdom, and hope.
+ We pray for our neighbors who are fearful or in danger in their relationships. Sustain those who protect, support, and advocate for people who are experiencing domestic violence. (Reach out here for help: https://wscadv.org/get-help-now/)
We pray for your church:
+ We pray for our synod congregations and ministry starts as they prepare for mission trips, service-learning experiences, and local community ministries taking place this summer. May their efforts exemplify compassion, respect, mutual relationship, intentional partnership, and our call to love and serve our neighbor as Christ loves and serves us.
+ Guide us to recognize our prejudices and empower us take action to eliminate the persistent institutional racism that permeates our world, country, communities, courts, church, and hearts.
+ We lift up all who gathered for our Synod Assembly last Saturday. Thank you for your guiding Spirit. May we continue to be a people seeking to live into your Abounding Hope.
+ From our prayer calendar, we pray for these ministries and their rostered leaders:
-- Echoes (Bellingham) and Mission Developer the Rev. Emma Donohew;
-- Our synod's LiVE Project, the Rev. Dr. David Hahn, and their planning team;
-- our Companion Synod: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in European Russia;
-- Northern Illinois Synod and their bishop, the Rev. Jeffrey Clements.
+ We give thanks for the many years of service of our retired pastors & deacons. This week we celebrate these retired ministers: Conrad Tollefson, Kirby Unti and Fred Vonderlage.
+ We give thanks for these rostered ministers celebrating milestones in the month of June:
15 years: Pr. Kacey Hahn
25 years: Pr. Deanna Wildermuth and Pr. Hector Garfias-Toledo
30 years: Pr. Arda Skinner
35 years: Pr. John LaMunyon and Deacon Cathy Mutschler
40 years: Deacon Madelyn Busse, Deacon Elizabeth Steele, and Pr. Jack Sack
65 years: Pr. Herb Siefkes and Pr. Jack Hustad
(Watch this celebration video, featuring all 2022 anniversary folks shown at our recent synod assembly - apologies to Dn. Busse - the correct number of years is 40, not 25 as in video!)
-- we pray for the leaders who are guiding ministries in a time of transition: transition teams, call committees, transition ministers, care pastors, congregation staff and lay leaders, and synod staff;
-- we pray for our Synod Administrator, Traci Hall, as she concludes her time on synod staff this week. May her new position and move to Nevada bring her deep joy. We hold the remaining synod staff in prayer as they enter a time of transition and seek a new administrative partner.
-- we celebrate with Pr. Jim Killough and the people of Central Lutheran Church (Everett) as he is installed as their pastor this Sunday at 10am - may God bless this ministry partnership;
-- we lift up in prayer Pr. John Michael Barich and the people of Glendale Lutheran Church (Burien) as they share their final service together this Sunday. May God bless them as they enter a time of transition. Grant them wisdom and grace in their times of discernment.
-- 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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