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 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 Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service - lirsconnect.org/get_involved/action_center/siv)

(A set of worship resources for the crisis in the Holy Land is now available on ELCA.org. Several prayers are provided that could be used during the prayers of intercession or at other times, in public worship or for devotional use at home or in other settings.)

+ We lift up those whose lives have been lost to gun violence. We ask God to renew and strengthen our commitment and courage to face the painful truth of racism, hate, and gun violence in our country. 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.

+ November is National American Indian Heritage Month. We praise God for our Indigenous neighbors (Native American, Alaska Native, Hawaiian Native and affiliated Island communities.) We give thanks for the rich diversity of gifts, backgrounds, tribes, regions, communities, and congregations, and whose history long predates the colonization of North America. We lift up in prayer the work of ELCA Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations as we seek justice and reconciliation for all people, celebrating diversity within Christ’s unifying love and supporting Native congregations and ministries.

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 the family of Rev. Michael Lee Meier following his death on September 25. We give thanks for his many years of ministry - including serving on the Region One Staff in the area of Stewardship Education in the 1990's. (Cards of care may be mailed to his wife: Toni Meier; 4650 SW Hollyhock Cir Apt 132; Corvallis OR 97333-1599. A Celebration of Life service is planned for November 19, at 2pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Corvallis. Live stream will be HERE . Read more here.)

+ Monday is Trans Day of Remembrance. God of love, you weep with us in our grief and fear. Enfold in your loving embrace all those in our trans community lost to death this year. You see each one as your beloved, and call them by their chosen name. You claim them as your children. Give comfort to those who mourn. Give courage to our trans communities in the face of cruelty and harassment. Bring to justice those who perpetrate this violence. Challenge us, O Holy One, to speak out for those who are silenced, to stand with those who are bullied, and to go with those who face danger. (Salt House and Holy Spirit Lutheran Churches invite you to a Trans Day of Remembrance Service on Monday, Nov. 20 at 6:30pm at Holy Spirit in Kirkland - to remember, honor, and grieve the trans folx lost to anti-queer violence in the past year. All are invited to join us in an evening of queer lament and solidarity with our trans siblings. Visit this link or contact Zach for more information.)

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

+ We pray for those who are facing ongoing health concerns: Rev. Conrad Tollefson, Abi (daughter of Rev. Eric Griffith), Rev. Paul Feiertag, Rev. Ron Melver, Rev. Philip Maakestad, Deacon Sharon Lone Browder, Deacon LaVonne Johnson, and Rev. Deb Butler (Celebration, Anacortes).

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: 

-- Family & Friends Gathering (Everett) and Rev. Deb Squires;

-- Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (Maple Valley) and Rev. Andy Arnold;

-- for Ministry Candidates in our synod as they study, learn, and discern their calling;

-- for our First Call Ministers attending the First Call Theological Education Event at Camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d' Alene this week;

-- for our Synod Council as they gather this week;

-- for all who will gather at the LiVE Retreat on Saturday (learn more and register here);

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

-- for the La Crosse Area Synod and their bishop, the Rev. Felix Malpica.

+ We give thanks for the many years of service of our retired pastors & deacons. This week we celebrate these retired ministers: Deacon Cliff Bronson, Rev. Al Bruck, and Rev. Kathryn Buffum.

+ 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 lift up Rev. Gretchen Mertes and the people of Our Redeemer's, Seattle, as they share their final worship service together this Sunday, Nov. 19. Rev. Mertes will be relocating closer to family later this year. Surround her and the congregation as they celebrate faithful ministry together - and as they begin the next steps in their journeys;

-- we pray for congregations discerning their future sustainability and legacy options;

-- for Central Lutheran Church in Bellingham as they gather for their Holy Closure service on 11/26 at 3pm - and for Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Lake Stevens as they gather for their Holy Closure service on 12/3 at 4pm. We give thanks to God for the legacies of these two congregations - who have richly blessed their communities by sharing God's love with one another and their neighbors. Loving God, hold them in your care as they celebrate their many years of ministry. Sustain them as they mourn - and inspire them as they discover where the Spirit will lead them next.

-- 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.

+ + + + +

Please note: direct permission is needed prior to inclusion. 

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

+ + + + +