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 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:

+ June is Pride Month. We give thanks for the gifts, wisdom, leadership, and faith of our LGBTQIA+ neighbors and siblings in Christ. May your Spirit to embolden us to advocate for social, institutional, and legislative change that reflects justice, total inclusion, and God’s boundless love for humanity in all its diversity. (Find local Pride events - and Lutheran point people for some events - around our region here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/pages/pride)

+ On June 17, 2015, Clementa C. Pinckney, Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Lee Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson were murdered by a self-professed white supremacist while they were gathered for Bible study and prayer at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (often referred to as Mother Emanuel) in Charleston, South Carolina. Our relationship to the shooter, as well as two of the slain, reminds us of both our complicity and our calling. Together we confess that we are in bondage to the sins of racism and white supremacy and, at the same time, we rejoice in the freedom that is ours in Christ Jesus who “has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (Ephesians 2:14). We pray: May God continue to guide us as we seek repentance and renewal, and racial justice and reconciliation among God’s precious children. (Learn more about the Emanuel 9 here: https://www.elca.org/emanuelnine)

+ Juneteenth (June 19th) is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in America. After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, owners in many isolated areas kept word from the people they had enslaved so they would not flee. On June 19, 1865, some of the last enslaved people in America were freed when the news, at last, reached Confederate Galveston, Texas. Since that day, Juneteenth has been celebrated to honor the African Americans who built this nation. We pray: Holy and righteous God, you created us in your image. Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression. Help us, like those of generations before us who resisted the evil of slavery and human bondage in any form and any manner of oppression. Help us to use our freedoms to bring justice among people and nations everywhere, to the glory of your Holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

+ Guide us in caring for your world. Help us be aware of how our actions impact this planet. Lead us to better ways of preserving the earth and sharing its resources. As we enter into the summer, help us be mindful of drought and the threat of fire - and our role in prevention, protection, and response.

+ We pray for those places, people, animals, and land affected by the devastation of natural disasters: drought, flooding, earthquakes, and fires. 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.

+ We pray for the safety and well-being of those directly impacted by war, violence, 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, Global Refuge, and our partners and companion churches. (Support our new neighbors - Lutheran Community Services NW - lcsnw.org/ and Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service) www.globalrefuge.org.

+ We lift up those who have survived hate crimes - and those whose lives have been lost. We ask God to renew and strengthen our commitment and courage to face the painful truth of racism, homophobia, hate, and violence in our country. May we be makers of peace through our words, actions, and advocacy.



+ We pray for all first responders, firefighters, police, national guard members, and EMTs. We give thanks for their ministry of care for others in moments of great danger and difficult crisis. God, grant them wisdom in their actions and keep them safe.

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.

+ Grant wisdom and compassion to those who are struggling in their relationships. We pray for comfort and healing for those who are mourning the end of a relationship.

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. Ron Melver, Rev. Ken Bakken, Rev. Thomas Voelp, Ruben (father of SALM Edward Reyes), Rev. Marjorie Lorant, and Nancy Davis (widow of Rev. Chuck Davis). 

+ We continue to hold in prayer Pr. Rachel Swenson (Grace, Des Monies), husband Ryan Berman, and new baby, Riley. We give thanks for Riley's ongoing good medical care and pray for the continued building of strength and health in the NICU. Surround them with hope and peace and joy as they navigate becoming a new family. 

+ We lift up Rev. Paul Feiertag and his wife Ingrid, and son Rev. Tim Feiertag (Trinity, Everett) as he is now receiving comfort care. Surround them with your peace in this time.

+ We pray for all who are facing health challenges that keep them homebound. May your love flow through us as we visit and support them.

+ We pray for those who are experiencing memory loss and dementia, their loved ones, and those who provide care. May your love and peace provide comfort.

We pray for your church:

+ We pray for the creative and collaborative ministries across the synod and country that accompany and serve neighbors in need through community gardens, meals, food pantries, homeless shelters, counseling, disaster response, neighborhood renewal, day care for children and adults, educational opportunities, and connecting volunteers with ecumenical partners and community organizations.

+ 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.

+ From our prayer calendar, we pray for these ministries:

-- for Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Sedro Woolley) and their leadership team as they gather for the discernment of their next pastor this weekend;

-- Compass Housing Alliance;

-- Lutheran World Relief;

-- for our Companion Synod: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in European Russia;

-- for the Rocky Mountain Synod and their bishop, the Rev. James Gonia.

+ We give thanks for the many years of service of our retired pastors & deacons. This week we celebrate these retired ministers: Rev. George Nickelson, Rev. Ron Nitz, and Rev. John O'Neal.

+ 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;

-- we lift up Rev. David Parks and the people of Our Savior's (Everett) as they celebrate their final service together this weeeknd. We give thanks for their many years of meaningful shared ministry together. We pray for joy and new adventures for Pastor David as enters retirement - and for wisdom and peace as the congregation begins a time of transition.

-- we pray for all who are in discernment and/or awaiting call.

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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