Prayer Ministry
In Our Prayers…
St. Mark's Members: Sara B, Stephanie C., the Harvey family, Johnnie M., Shirley M., Kirk M., Denise M. and family, Debra M., Barbara T., St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Extended Family & Friends: Byrdette B., the Baker-Nicholas family, Nakia B., Dorothy B., Randall B., Mary & Elaine B., Jenna B., Fred D., the Daniels family, Elizabeth E., Bruce G., Bill H., the Hernandez family, Cathy H., Julia & Collin H., Cheryl J., Joyce J., Loretta J., Sherry J., Alan K., David L., Joy B. L., Rick L., Pattie & Ed L., Trish M., Vickie M., Keith M., Vivian M., Rob & Diana N., Elizabeth & Leggett O., Pauline P., Charlotte P., Glenn P., Alex P., Quinton S., Cheyenne S., Audrey S., Bishop Tim & Wendy S., Lucia & Andy S., Roosevelt T., John V., Kelly & Logan W., Fred & Eliza W., Ben.
The Greater Community: First Lutheran Church, Ketchikan, AK; Shishmaref Lutheran Church, Shishmaref, AK; Robeson Community College, Robeson Church and Community Center, Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry, UNC-Pembroke, Wesley Pines, GlenFlora, Lutheran Services of the Carolinas, ELCA World Hunger, military families, law enforcement and first responder personnel, those who suffer with addiction and those who minister to them, missing and murdered indigenous women and those who search for them, and indigenous children harmed in government boarding schools.
Prayer @ The Labyrinth
9:00A, Monday
You are welcome to walk
the labyrinth at any time.
Join us Monday mornings, weather permitting, at 9:00A our labyrinth in front of the church when we walk the spiral in prayerful meditation to hear God's voice, know God's will in our lives, and seek to have Christ as the center of all things, remembering that we are His hands bringing His love back to share as our witness to the world.
Afterwards, we meet for coffee & fellowship in the Parish Hall.
Why Prayer Labyrinths
12reasons.pdfPrayer Ventures
December 2023
These petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. Thank you for your continued prayers for the life and mission of this church.
1 World AIDS Day Remember in prayer all who have been and continue to be affected by HIV and AIDS, and pray for the work we do together through the ELCA’s HIV and AIDS Ministry — building awareness, serving people who live with HIV and AIDS, advocating for change, and supporting effective, affordable prevention, treatment and care globally.
2 The United Nations estimates that 90% of wartime casualties are suffered by civilians. Pray for an end to the violence, loss of life, suffering and injustice caused by war and conflict in the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East.
3 Praise God, source of our hope, strength, healing and new life, and Jesus Christ, who lived among us to reveal God’s grace.
4 Approximately 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, including about 42.5 million people in our country. Pray for the Spirit to sustain our commitment and guide our efforts to welcome, respect and fully include people with disabilities in every aspect of society and the church. Give thanks for the work and resources of ELCA Disability Ministry, the Evangelical Lutheran Deaf Association and the Lutheran Services in America–Disability Network.
5 Pray that we will not lose heart when we read stories of the church in decline or hear fewer people expressing faith in Christ. Ask the Spirit to strengthen our trust in God’s unwavering presence and work in the world and to help us bring the gospel to those still yearning for hope, healing and good news. “Your people long to greet you, my hope, my heart’s delight” (ELW 241).
6 Pray for ELCA missionaries serving alongside our global companions and churches around the world. Give thanks for communities of faith where our mission personnel worship and celebrate their faith with siblings in Christ.
7 Hanukkah Pray for our Jewish neighbors around the world who are beginning their eight-day celebration of Hanukkah — the Festival of Lights.
8 Remember in prayer people for whom the Christmas season stirs depression, loneliness and grieving. Promise to welcome these struggling people into our communities of faith and to connect them with new friends and siblings in Christ who will offer care and support during the holidays and throughout the year.
9 Reflect prayerfully on the symbolism of the Advent wreath and candles, which help us anticipate and celebrate God’s boundless love and the promise of eternal life fulfilled in the birth of Christ — a light that breaks through the darkness of the world and changes everything.
10 Pray that we will be faithful and enthusiastic witnesses to the good news of Jesus Christ for all people in every circumstance of life.
11 Give thanks for our church’s commitment to service, generosity, justice and ending hunger and poverty for the sake of our neighbors in need. Pray that the ELCA Good Gifts catalog and the ministries of the ELCA will help us understand the needs of our neighbors and how we can work together to make a lasting impact in the world.
12 Praise God for the diverse Advent and Christmas traditions of the Christian church around the world, traditions that enrich our faith and understanding of how Christ has impacted communities, cultures and nations.
13 Pause during the busyness of the holidays and pray for our neighbors in need, especially those experiencing suffering, poverty, war, recovery from disasters and displacement from their homes. Pray that they will find relief, hope and renewed strength in the certainty of God’s attention and love, evidenced in the gift of Jesus Christ and reflected in our concern, response and advocacy.
14 Give thanks for the seasons of the liturgical year and the Scripture, colors, symbols, prayers, music and rituals of faith that help us live in the rhythm of life as children of God and siblings in Christ.
15 Ask God to help us reflect on those who are not present whenever we gather and to remember that these children of God bring unique voices, gifts and life experiences to the worship, activities and gatherings of our congregations.
16 Las Posadas Give thanks for the tradition of Las Posadas, which recalls Mary and Joseph’s Nativity journey and is observed in parts of Latin America and in some Latino communities in the United States.
17 Pray that we will have the humility, honesty and boldness of John the Baptist, who did not shy away from expressing his faith in Jesus Christ even when challenged and threatened.
18 International Migrants Day Pray for those who, with great risk and uncertainty, have left their home countries and familiar surroundings to seek welcoming communities where they feel safe, respected and free to reestablish their lives and raise their families.
19 Give thanks to God for the assurance of life eternal in the kingdom of heaven and for the Spirit equipping us to embody God’s compassion in the world while we await the return of Christ.
20 What stirs joy in you today? Give thanks for the people and experiences that bring joy into your life, even if only briefly. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
21 Winter Solstice As the days of the Northern Hemisphere grow shorter, pray that we will be guided and reassured by the light of Christ, which illuminates God’s love, mercy and truth in our lives and in every corner of the world.
22 Praise God for this time of remembrance, anticipation and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, a birth that changed the world and our lives in ways that exceed our imagination and comprehension.
23 Give thanks for those who serve our communities during Christmas, including people in health care, elder care, law enforcement, the hospitality industry, emergency services and the military.
24 Christmas Eve Shout “Glory to God in the highest!” The good news of the birth of the promised Messiah and Savior for all creation and humankind has been made known to us and is the foundation of our faith and life.
25 Christmas Day Lift up shouts of thanksgiving and praise for all to hear! God lives among us in the birth of Jesus Christ and pours hope and joy into our lives to fill their voids and mend our brokenness.
26 Kwanzaa Pray for our African-descent neighbors and siblings in Christ who celebrate Kwanzaa, a weeklong observance of African culture and traditions that emphasizes family, community and shared principles. Give thanks for the rich and enduring practices of our African-descent siblings and the global African community.
27 Give thanks that the gift of grace found in Jesus Christ is both deeply personal and for all humankind. “Of what benefit would it be to me if Christ had been born a thousand times, and it would daily be sung into my ears in a most lovely manner, if I were never to hear that he was born for me and was to be my very own?” (Martin Luther, 1522).
28 Christmas may have come and gone, but we carry into every day the joy of Christmas and the birth of the Christ child, the manifestation of God’s love for humanity. Give praise and thanks to God!
29 Lift up prayers of relief and thanksgiving for God’s mercy, which is fair and generous and is never swayed by our actions or words, no matter how good or well-intended.
30 Share with God your hopes, concerns, uncertainties and aspirations for the year ahead. Pray for the Spirit to strengthen our faith in God’s concern for us and in God’s attention to our prayers — spoken and silent.
31 New Year’s Eve Our baptism with water, the word of God and the blessings of our siblings in Christ marks us as children of God and followers of Jesus, loved, forgiven and made new every day of our lives. Alleluia!
Begin & End The Day in Prayer
Morning: PRAY
Four steps for a good morning prayer can be remembered by the acronym –
PRAY: Praise, Reason, Ask, Yes
Paise God. Begin by thanking and praising God for keeping you through the night. Give thanks for God's great love.
Reason why God is giving you this day. What needs to be done by you today?
Ask God, for forgiveness and grace. Ask God for one gift today to help you be the best you can be.
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
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?
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?
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.
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.
While You Wait
The Rev. Hollie M. Holt-Woehl explains how, even while waiting in line yet again, we can employ this time to offer our prayers at: While You Wait.
Prayer Request
Please use the form at right to submit a prayer request for those in need.
We'll add them to our prayers during service and to our prayer list we distribute in our newsletter and post online.
You can also tell us when prayers are answered and those we have prayed for can be removed from our prayer list using the form at far right.
Creator: https://pixy.org/ Credit: https://pixy.org/1444105/
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