You are invited to join people from throughout the ELCA in prayer this month! God is listening, love you and never leaves you!
¨ Pray for situations and people who are on your mind today, be they cause for celebration and joy or concern and healing.
¨ We remember people, communities and regions affected by recent flooding and widespread wildfires and pray for their safety, recovery and rekindling of hope and fortitude in the wake of devastation and loss.
¨ Pray we work diligently to change our perspectives, behaviors and practices that make assumptions based on traditional roles or bias, undervalue or ignore the value and gifts of women and children in the church and society.
¨ Pray for victims of domestic violence and all those it impacts, asking for protection and healing and that congregations and communities work together to care for victims, prevent violence and change attitudes, values, culture and institutions that – intentionally or unintentionally – encourage, hide or brush aside domestic violence.
¨ Pray the bounty of fall harvests is distributed fairly and helps feed the world; give thanks for all those who work farms, ranches, fields and fisheries, and remember and give thanks for the countless people involved in moving our food from field to table.
¨ Give praise and glory to God, creator of the universe and its mysteries, humanity in all its diversity, animals and wildlife, and the wonders and resources of earth that both inspire and sustain us.
¨ Pray we grow to value what God values, even when it stirs discomfort or defiance in us.
¨ Ask God to bless the numerous ways in which our congregations, ministries, members, synods, churchwide programs, organizations and ecumenical partners work together to care for our neighbors and spread the good news and hope of Jesus Christ.
16 Discouraged by life’s challenges, the state of the world, the presence of evil and injustice? Finding it difficult to wake up in the morning and face life? Pray for reassurance of God’s compassion, presence and power, and for the Holy Spirit to refresh our faith and hope.
17 Give thanks to God for the concern and generosity of youth, individuals and congregations in achieving the $515,000 goal of the Global Farm Challenge – the youth-driven fundraising challenge to help end hunger and poverty by supporting ELCA World Hunger’s agricultural programs and equipping communities around the world with livestock, seeds, tools, training and more.
18 Pray for leaders, volunteers and resource people serving on the staffs of our 65 synods; give thanks for their service and gifts, and pray the Holy Spirit will guide, inspire and sustain them for ministry in diverse and unique contexts.
19 With our every human thought and intention laid bare before God, pray for God’s mercy and grace promised through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
20 Remember in prayer ELCA missionaries and those in the Young Adults in Global Mission program accompanying and serving in a variety of roles alongside our companions in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
21 The ELCA and The Episcopal Church are committed to prayer, fasting and advocacy addressing cuts to public programs that are vital to hungry people who are living in poverty. Remember to pray for these concerns, our leaders and people in need on the 21st of each month through December 2018.
22 As children of God – disciples and followers of Christ – pray for humility, accepting that we are not granted privilege, praise or reward for being members of the body of Christ but are instead called to lives of service, sacrifice and witness for the sake of the world and our neighbors in need.
23 Pray for those who are running for public office and upcoming elections that what we stand for and decide reflects concern for the well-being of all communities and people, justice and care for people dealing with poverty, hunger and the need for health care; give thanks for the work of the ELCA Advocacy program, the ELCAvotes initiative and all those who have joined in these efforts.
24 Give thanks for the fruitful service and witness of our church in accompaniment with our brothers and sisters in Christ and companion churches around the world and for the programs, mission opportunities and resources of ELCA Global Mission that enrich these global partnerships and ministries.
25 With joyful hearts, give loud thanks and praise to God for the gifts of mercy, love and salvation we receive through faith in Jesus Christ.
26 Pray for the continuing work, resources and influence of the ELCA’s Book of Faith Initiative that encourages members of all ages, congregations and synods to explore our book of faith – the Bible – through reading, study, conversation and prayer.
27 Remember in prayer the Deaconess Community of the ELCA, a community of women – of all ages – using their theological training and gifts in specific areas of service in congregations, partner organizations, communities and the world.
28 Reformation Sunday Rejoice in God’s promise of the true freedom we have in the good news of Jesus Christ, that nothing stands between us and God’s love and mercy – no institution, authority or human decree.
29 Give thanks for the healing, hope and new life we have through the gift of being justified by faith in Jesus Christ and liberated from our sins, weaknesses and consequences of our human imperfection.
30 Pray that as a publicly engaged church we remember and remind one another of our call to participate in God’s work, in the thick of life, embracing individuals, families and communities that are hungry for hope and healing, justice and peace.
31 Reformation Day Give thanks for Martin Luther and other leaders of the reform movement who immersed themselves in prayerful study of Scripture, tough questions, lively discussion and careful discernment of God’s will for the church and our baptismal journey as children of God; pray we are open and responsive to how the Holy Spirit is still at work in us and the church today.