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 broken, lost, or frightened;
+ open our hearts and minds to hear your word and call;
+ 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 our world, nation, and local communities.
+ We lift up those communities where insecurity, violence, and fear are the norm. Help us to bring healing, wholeness, and safety to these siblings. Inspire our leaders and guide us to be better advocates for the sake of each member in our community - especially those who have little power and no voice.
+ 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 the anti-racism teams in our congregations - and those who are in process of developing such teams - grant them wisdom and strength in their efforts to educate and make changes within their communities.
+ 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 pray for those places, people, and animals affected by the devastation of natural disasters: drought, flooding, earthquakes, fire, 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 our Afghan allies who served alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and other government employees as interpreters, translators, cultural advisors, drivers, and more. Because of their service to the U.S. mission, our allies and their families are now targets of anti-American violence. May we find ways to support them in their time of crisis. (Support incoming Afghan Allies who are being evacuated to the United States. Lutheran Community Services Northwest has several links for how to help: https://lcsnw.org/ ...and...Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) through Refugees Northwest has opportunities for you to help: https://lirsconnect.org/get_involved/action_center/siv)
+ 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 hold in prayer those navigating the return to classrooms this fall: students, teachers, staff and parents. Protect, sustain, and guide them as they gather for learning and teaching.
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 grieve the death of Pr. Jeremy Fuerst (Central Lutheran in Everett). Jeremy died while hiking in Colorado on September 11. We are grateful for his smile, his sense of humor, his curiosity, his love of the outdoors, his faithfulness, his care-filled leadership, and so much more. We pray for all who mourn – we especially remember his wife Pr. Shannyn Fuerst (Faith Lutheran in Seattle), his parents, his brothers, his extended family, his friends, and the beloved community at Central Lutheran Church. Comfort us as we bear the pain of his death, receive him into your loving arms, and grant us faith and hope in the resurrection through your Son Jesus. (A local memorial service is being planned for early October. The synod office will share updates with the community as information becomes available. Cards of care may be sent to: Pr. Shannyn Fuerst; c/o Faith Lutheran Church; 8208 -18th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98115.)
+ We hold the extended family of Pr. Justin Johnson in prayer following his sudden death on September 4 at the age of 41. We pray for his family, his congregation, and his friends. (Justin served at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Bellingham early in his ministry.)
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), Deacon Nan Beth Walton, Pr. Ron Melver, Pr. Wendell Hendershott, Pr. Marc Stroud, and Bishop Michael Lozano (Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod).
+ We lift up prayers of thanksgiving for Pr. Deb Mach's husband, Jeff, now home from his hospitalization for pneumonia. Thanks be to God.
+ We hold in prayer Pr. Mikkel Hustad (St. Peter's / Clinton) as he travels this week to the Mayo Clinic for surgery and follow up care. Guide his medical team and give him strength in his recovery.
+ We mourn with our fellow siblings as this pandemic continues to claim lives and livelihoods.. Bring peace and comfort to the families whose loved ones have died. Grant healing for those diagnosed, recovering, and living with long-term effects. Protect and sustain medical workers, care providers, first responders, and chaplains. Guide those working distribute the vaccines. Sustain for those who are facing financial uncertainty due to loss of income. As our communities and churches begin to expand in-person gatherings, help us be care-filled, patient, and gracious with one another.
+ We pray for those who are awaiting diagnoses and treatment plans. Grant them peace and courage. Remind them that they are not alone.
+ 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 lift up those experiencing anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
Empower us to reach out to those who need care and support. For those who are in despair, remember you are loved. You are never beyond God's mercy, grace, and love.
1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Hotline)
1-888-628-9454 (Red Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio)
1-800-799-4889 (TTY)
1-877-574-4729 (Trevor project/ LGBTQIA+ under 24)
1-877-565-8860 (Trans Lifeline/Trans Folx)
1-800-273-8255 (Veterans Crisis Line)
We pray for your church:
+ From our prayer calendar, we pray for these ministries and their rostered leaders:
-- Grace Chinese Lutheran Church (Seattle) and Pr. Jimmy Hao & Pr. Wendy Cheung;
-- Living Stones Prison Ministry (Shelton & Monroe) and Pr. Chris Ode;
-- our Synod Council as they meet this Saturday;
-- the Southwestern Texas Synod and Bishop Sue Briner;
-- our Companion Synod: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in European Russia.
+ We celebrate the many years of service of our retired pastors & deacons. This week we give thanks for these retired ministers: Roger Claxton, Michael Clifford, and Don Cornell.
-- we lift up the leaders who are guiding ministries in a time of transition: transition teams, call committees, transition pastors, congregation staff and lay leaders, and synod staff.
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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