Prayer Ministry

Daily Prayer Ventures

April 2025

1 Pray for lasting peace between nations and for the healing of people who suffer conflict, war and violence, especially in Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Israel, Syria, Haiti, Myanmar and regions of Africa.

2 Arab American Heritage Month  Give thanks for the contributions and impact of Arab Americans in every aspect of society, including religion, education, science, business, government and the arts. Ask God to bless and further the work of ELCA Arab and Middle Eastern Ministries and the Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage.

3 “You have come down to the lakeshore seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy, but only asking for me to follow” (WOV 784). Praise God for seeking us out and, despite our imperfection, making us humble disciples, equipped and inspired by the Spirit.

4 Pray for church leaders, liturgists, scholars and scientists gathering to discuss including the Feast of Creation Day in liturgical calendars, an effort organized by the Roman Catholic Church in partnership with the Lutheran World Federation, World Council of Churches, World Methodist Council, Anglican Communion and World Communion of Reformed Churches. Ask the Spirit to guide their study and discussion of climate justice, the Nicene Creed, the role of the Holy Trinity in creation, and how Christians engage with the creation story.

5 Remember in prayer worship leaders and musicians participating in the ecumenical Music that Makes Community workshop in Waco, Texas, a day of building community through singing, learning and fellowship.

6 Pray for a spirit of humble generosity that recognizes and encourages the diverse gifts and contributions of our siblings in Christ, who give as they are able and are inspired by their gratitude towards and love for God.

7 Praise the Creator for the new life of an emerging spring, which inspires our joy, awe and hope.

8 There are about 390,000 people in foster care in our country, ranging from infants to young adults. Pray that these young people will experience love, understanding, security and encouragement in their foster families. Give thanks for foster parents and remember those young adults who, aging out of foster care, may face new uncertainties.

9 Seek God’s forgiveness and mercy for the times when we have hurt, offended or demeaned others, intentionally or unintentionally. Pray for the Spirit to grant us humility, penitent hearts and a compassion that stirs us to make amends and heal broken relationships.

10 Lift up in prayer farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers. Give thanks for their efforts to feed the world and care for creation, and pray for abundant harvests.

21 When you reflect on who might need your presence, comfort and reassuring words of love and hope, who comes to mind? Include them in your prayers and reach out to them.

22 Give thanks and pray for Directors for Evangelical Mission, who serve in partnership with ELCA churchwide ministries and synods, helping them to found “new start” ministries, renew congregations, nurture stewardship, and identify, develop and equip leaders for ministry.

23 Every day, Jesus walks with us, sharing good news and wisdom just as he did with Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus. Pray that the Spirit will help us express that good news and wisdom in our conversations with our neighbors.

24 “We are not fed by only doing one way of ministry. Instead it is about seeing the face of God in every person who walks through the door, about embracing the inherent dignity of every individual, regardless of their circumstances” (the Rev. Esther K. Sianipar, “Serving With Shobi’s Table: A Reflection,” shobistable.org). Pray for our neighbors who suffer hunger, lack reliable access to nutritious food and yearn for the support of caring communities, and thank God for our congregational, synodical and churchwide ministries that serve them without bias or judgment.

25 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Alaska Synod, Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod and Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

26 Thank God for the spiritual nourishment we receive when we gather around the table to celebrate communion, and for the Triune God, who calls and equips us to do God’s work in the world.

27 Like the apostle Thomas, we all experience moments of doubt and disbelief. Pray that God will be patient and forgiving with us, rekindling our trust in a Spirit that helps us when our faith weakens.

28 Thank God for volunteers who respond to the needs of the church and society by sharing their time, gifts and passion. Pray that we will extend to people of all ages the invitation to serve God.

29 Pray for those who suffer the trauma of gun violence in their communities and elsewhere. Ask for wisdom in responding to our stricken neighbors, for guidance in working to ending gun violence and for fearless respect for human life — a precious gift from God, our creator.

30 Again, we rejoice and shout, “Hallelujah! The Lord, our savior, is risen!” The good news and power of Easter that we experience cannot be confined to a single calendar day.

Daily Prayer Ventures

May 2025

 11  Mother’s Day  Pray for mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers and expectant mothers. Pray for women who struggle with parenting, who are trying to conceive or who cannot bear children of their own but serve as loving and faithful adults in the lives of children and youth. 

12 Praise God for the boundless love and forgiveness we have in Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life that stirs hope, joy and gratitude in us. Pray for the Spirit to inspire and equip us to share this good news far and wide.

13 The ELCA walks with more than 80 companion churches around the world to participate in God’s work of service, reconciliation and proclaiming the gospel. Praise God for what we accomplish together and for the faith, hospitality, enthusiasm and wisdom of companion churches that energize our own leaders and congregations.

14 Give thanks for ELCA Campus Ministry and the Lutheran Campus Ministry Network (LuMin), which serve students, faculty, staff and others on college and university campuses and which bear witness to God’s abundant grace through worship, study, fellowship, service and pastoral care.

15 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Northern Great Lakes and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

16 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Northwest Washington, Pacifica, Saint Paul Area and Southeast Michigan synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

17 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, Southeastern Iowa Synod and Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

18 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assembly of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

19 Give thanks and pray for women from global companion churches who participate in the International Women Leaders program of our church. Ask God to nurture and enrich their leadership skills through seminars, south-to-south exchanges, in-country study programs and degree programs at ELCA colleges and universities.

20 “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!” (Psalm 148:1). Join with all creation to sing praises to God, who creates, loves and sustains all things — including a diverse and complex humankind.

21 Pray for the Spirit to stir our wisdom, skills, creativity and commitment so that we might work together to address the vexing problems of our society, including hunger, poverty, racism, gun violence, mental illness, inaccessible health care and inadequate care for older adults.

22 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assembly of the Rocky Mountain Synod, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

23 Give thanks for the ELCA’s Lay Schools for Ministry program, which creates opportunities for lifelong learning that equip us for our baptismal vocations in this church and in the world.

24 Remember in prayer people who work in seasonal jobs, that communities of faith will welcome and support them and that employers will meet their needs for housing, food, fair wages and recognition. Pray that we might express our gratitude to and affirm those who work behind the scenes.

25 Give thanks and praise to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is always with us to teach us how to serve as compassionate and courageous disciples of Christ throughout our lives.

 26  Memorial Day  Remember, honor and give thanks for those in the armed forces who have given their lives for the sake of peace, justice and freedom. Remember the families and loved ones who supported their service, grieve their loss and carry forward their memory and legacy.

27 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us” (Psalm 67:1). Pray that all people and nations will know and give thanks for God’s boundless love, forgiveness and power to make all things new through Jesus Christ, even when we can’t envision the possibility.

28 Ask the Spirit to help us respond to the call to participate in God’s work in the world, no matter where it might lead, who we might encounter or what God might ask of us.

29 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Montana, North Carolina and Southeastern synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

30 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Delaware-Maryland, Greater Milwaukee, Metropolitan Chicago, Nebraska, New England, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Northwestern Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, Southeastern Minnesota, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southwest California and Western North Dakota synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

31 Pray for the leaders, voting members and others gathering for the assemblies of the Upstate New York and West Virginia-Western Maryland synods, that the Spirit will strengthen, guide and inspire them as they reflect on the mission of the church, choose leaders and encourage one another to proclaim the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

Morning: PRAY 

Four steps for a good morning prayer can be remembered by the acronym –

PRAY: Praise, Reason, Ask, Yes

1. Paise God. Begin by thanking and praising God for keeping you through the night. Give thanks for God's great love.

2. Reason why God is giving you this day. What needs to be done by you today?

3. Ask God, for forgiveness and grace. Ask God for one gift today to help you be the best you can be.

4. Yes God! Tell God you are ready, willing, and able to accomplish the tasks for the day. Do your best and give God the rest.

Evening: GRIP

In the evening, get a grip on the day: 

GRIP: Gratitude, Recollection, Inventory, Prayers

1. Gratitude: Take a moment to thank God for giving you this day. Give thanks for God's great love for you. Where did God bless you today?

2. Recollection: Look back at the events of the day. Consider who you saw, what you did, where you went. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you courage to be truly soul-searching. Were you growing closer to God or further away?

3. Inventory: Take inventory of how the day went. Thank God for the good you have done. Ask forgiveness for any wrong you have done. Prepare to make some amendment for sins. Take a good look at your mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Accept God's forgiveness and be at peace.

4. Prayers: Give to God all those who need your prayers. Let no boundaries stand in your way as you pray for yourself, your family and friends, the Church, the country, and the world.

ﾠ1. Give Thanksﾠ

Pause and give thanks for something
in your day (even if it’s small).

Gratitude lets us see the light in our lives alongside the shadows. Acknowledging what we cherish gives us a sense of wonder and connects us to Love within us and around us. In this way, gratitude is one way we tell the truth about ourselves and our lives. It’s another way we say, “This matters to me.”

ﾠ2. Reviewﾠ

Review what happened in your day
and how you felt about it.

We don’t have to remember every detail, but a general recap of our day makes us more aware of our reality and emotions. This is especially helpful if we are on autopilot or feeling disconnected from ourselves, love, or others. Reviewing our day also helps us consider that Love speaks to us through our humanity (our thoughts, emotions, and bodies) and that we’re invited to listen to all of that.

ﾠ3. Reflectﾠ

Reflect on consolation
and desolation by asking: 

“When did I feel connected to
and disconnected from Love today?”

Holding the memories and feelings from the day, we now observe (without judgment) what sticks out and grabs our attention most. We listen to what brought us alive and made us feel most like ourselves. We call this feeling of being connected to Love and our true selves, consolation. And then we also listen, with equal attention, to what broke our heart, made us feel isolated, or ­misunderstood. We call this feeling of being disconnected from Love and our true selves, desolation. These deeper messages from our experiences and heart are often ways the Sacred invites us into deeper relationship, healing, and growth.

ﾠ4. Mendﾠ 

Listen to where you need mending
or need to make amends.

This step is about accountability and compassion. We sit in union with Love and consider where there was misunderstanding or pain in our day. We listen to where we need to make amends and commit to taking steps to do so. We also listen to where we need to speak up about our own needs or on behalf of someone else. Again, we commit to following up on these revelations when we end our practice.