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God of life and breath, you are our source of hope:
+ 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 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 for 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 encouragement, wisdom and safety in their work.
+ We pray for the safety and well-being of those directly impacted by war, violence, natural disasters, 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 remember in prayer our neighbors and siblings who are without safety, shelter, food or basic social services. Guide us to be tireless, creative and respectful in providing immediate and long-term care for those who are without homes or stable housing. Lead us to be bold in advocating for just laws that yield appropriate and truly affordable housing.
We pray for those who are grieving:
+ Gracious God, wrap your arms of love, peace, and hope around all who are experiencing any kind of loss, disconnection, or brokenness.
+ We lift up those whose incomes have been reduced, those whose jobs have been suspended, and all who are facing unemployment or underemployment – across all industries, companies, and positions. Draw your people together in one supportive and loving community - advocating for and sustaining those who are struggling.
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).
+ We pray for health and healing for Rev. Sarah France (retired), and Rev. Jim Killough (Central, Everett) as they recover from recent surgeries.
+ We lif up in prayer Rev. Sara Wolbrecht (Salt House, Kirkland) as she returns to work following medical leave.
We pray for your church:
+ 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.
+ We pray for programs and partners of the ELCA churchwide organization that support young adults as they grow in faith and discover who God is calling them to be in the world, including ELCA Young Adult Ministry, Young Adults in Global Mission, Young Adult Justice Network, Campus Ministry, and Outdoor Ministries.
+ From our prayer calendar, we pray for these ministries and rostered leaders:
-- Trinity Lutheran Church (Freeland) and Rev. Jim Lindus Deacon Amy Bingham;
-- Administrative Staff in our Congregations for all they do as leaders in our congregations (admins - please join our new Synod ADMINistry Facebook group HERE);
-- for the rostered ministry candidates of our synod and the Candidacy Committee;
-- for our Companion Synod: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in European Russia;
-- for the Metropolitan New York Synod and their bishop, the Rev. Paul Egensteiner.
+ We give thanks for the many years of service of our retired pastors & deacons. This week we celebrate these retired ministers: Rev. Carl Gabrielson, Rev. John Gienapp, and Deacon Clara Griffin.
+ 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 - grant them patience, wisdom, and vision;
-- for Rev. Paul Stumme-Diers and the congregation of Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Isalnd as they share their final worship service together this Sunday, Jan. 28. Prayers arising for Pastor Paul lin his retirement - and for the congregation and Rev. Erin Gray (serving as their care pastor) as they enter this time of transition.
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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