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:

+ Especially during this Black History Month, we give thanks for the gifts, accomplishments, influence, and witness of our African-descent neighbors and siblings in Christ—we stand together to glorify God as partners in the gospel, doing God’s work in the world together. Though unified as siblings in Christ, we ask God to lead us to individual and community reflection and action in pursuit of racial justice, socioeconomic equity, racial reconciliation and an end to hatred and mistrust. (Watch the weekly ELCA African Descent Talks on elca.org/talksatthedesk for gems & words of wisdom)

+ We pray for those places, people, animals, and land affected by the devastation of natural disasters: drought, flooding, earthquakes, winter snow storms, and fires. 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.

+ We pray for the safety and well-being of those directly impacted by war, violence, and climate. We pray for peace, wisdom, justice, repentance, and reconciliation. We give thanks for the assistance provided by Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and our partners and companion churches. 

(Support our new neighbors - Lutheran Community Services NW - lcsnw.org/ and Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service) www.globalrefuge.org

+ We lift up those who have survived hate crimes - and those whose lives have been lost. We ask God to renew and strengthen our commitment and courage to face the painful truth of racism, homophobia, hate, and violence in our country. We lift up in prayer those mourning the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict. May we be makers of peace through our words, actions, and advocacy.



+ We pray for all first responders, firefighters, police, national guard members, and EMTs. We give thanks for their ministry of care for others in moments of great danger and difficult crisis. God, grant them wisdom in their actions and keep them safe.

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.

+ Grant wisdom and compassion to those who are struggling in their relationships. We pray for comfort and healing for those who are mourning the end of a relationship.

+ We lift up the family of Janice "Jan" Sorensen (widow of Rev. Reuben Sorensen) following her recent death. (Memorial service will be this Saturday, February 24 at 2pm at University Lutheran Church, Seattle)

We pray for all who are in need of healing and strength:

+ We pray for those who are facing ongoing health concerns: Abi (daughter of Rev. Eric Griffith), Rev. Paul Feiertag, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Rev. Ron Melver, Rev. Maynard Atik, and Ruben (father of SALM Edward Reyes), Rev. Erik Kindem, Raja and Ilyas (brothers to Ministry Candidate Nisar Stephen).

+ We hold Rev. Marjorie Lorant (retired) in prayer as she prepares for surgery later this month.

+ We hold Rev. Joanne Engquist (Gethsemane, Seattle) in prayer as she undergoes shoulder surgery today.

+ We hold Rev. Malcom Brown (Morning Star, Monroe) in prayer as he continues to recover from surgery to repair a detached retina.

+ We pray for all who are facing health challenges that keep them homebound. May your love flow through us as we visit and support them.

+ We pray for those who are experiencing memory loss and dementia, their loved ones, and those who provide care. May your love and peace provide comfort.

We pray for your church:

+ We pray for the creative and collaborative ministries across the synod and country that accompany and serve neighbors in need through community gardens, meals, food pantries, homeless shelters, counseling, disaster response, neighborhood renewal, day care for children and adults, educational opportunities, and connecting volunteers with ecumenical partners and community organizations.

+ We lift up the anti-racism teams in our congregations - and those who are in process of developing such teams - grant them wisdom and endurance in their efforts to educate and make changes within their communities. We hold in prayer our synod's Strategic Team for Authentic Diversity as they seek to provide leaders with education and resources that enable us to dismantle white supremacy in ourselves, our congregations, and the wider church.

+ From our prayer calendar, we pray for these ministries and their rostered leaders: 

-- Grace Lutheran Church (Des Moines) and Rev. Chad Johnson and Rev. Rachel Swenson;

-- Zion Lutheran Church (Ferndale) and Rev. Rebecca Langholz;

-- for our Synod Hunger Team as they gather on Thursday at 5pm for their online meeting;

-- for the people of Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Bellevue) as they hold their final estate sale of their holy closure process this Saturday;

-- for the Ministry Candidates of our synod discerning and working toward ordination as deacons and pastors in our church - and the Candidacy Committee as they journey alongside them;

for our Companion Synod: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in European Russia;

-- for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod and their bishop, the Rev. Kurt Kusserow.

+ We give thanks for the many years of service of our retired pastors & deacons. This week we celebrate these retired ministers: Rev. Karen Hanson, Rev. Jimmy Hao, and Rev. Diane Hastings.

+ We pray for ministries and leaders in transition.

-- 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 celebrate with Our Savior Lutheran Church (Issaquah) as they install their new pastors this Saturday at 11am - Rev. Kristin-Luana Baumann and Rev. Olaf Baumann - God bless this new ministry partnership!

-- we lift up Rev. Verlon Brown as he prepares to enter retirement. May Pastor Verlon and his many years of faithful service be well-celebrated this Sunday and may his journey's next steps be filled with joy! (Service and celebration at Central, Seattle on Sunday, Feb. 25)

-- we lift up in prayer Rev. Wendy Cheung and the congregation of Grace Chinese Lutheran Church (Seattle) as she concludes her time of service there this Sunday. We give thanks for this fruitful partnership and ask God's blessings as she continues serving as a mission developer with Grace Chinese Sammamish - and ask for God's guidance as Grace Chinese Seattle continues in their time of pastoral transition.

-- 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. 

Email susan@lutheransnw.org if you have a prayer petition or update.

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