For our congregations

O Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Guide, you raise up the Church and bless your people in every place.  Strengthen each congregation of our synod that is gathered around the Word and Sacraments and engaged in faithful service to our neighbors, that we may more and more embody the story of Jesus in our life and in our witness. 

This week we pray especially for Brush Creek, Irwin; Holy Trinity, Jeannette; and St.John’s Stone, Lancaster Township. Amen.

For our rostered ministers

Lord Jesus Christ, shepherd and bishop of our souls, you have called our pastors and deacons into lives of public service within your church to be stewards of your gospel and to bear witness to your love for the world.  Bless them with the strength and compassion they need to exercise their offices faithfully. 

This week we pray especially for Pastor James Roth; Pastor Mike Ryan; and Pastor Allen Scanlon.

For our ministry partners

God our creator, giver and sustainer of life, through the wonder of this wide world you draw us into your wisdom and inspire us to use our own imagination to bless others.  We rejoice that through our synod’s network of ministry partners many people receive care and hope and insight. 

Bless especially this month the work of Lutheran Service Society, that in their daily work the goodness of your creation and its redemption in Christ Jesus may be known more fully.  Amen.

For other synods

Eternal God, the joy of community is manifest in the mystery of your own life as one God in three Persons.  Draw us ever closer to you as we grow in understanding and appreciation for the other synods in our church.  Especially this week, together with the New Jersey Synod and their bishop, The Reverend Tracie Bartholomew, we pray to be united in love for you and for our neighbors, that your Gospel may flourish in this world.  Amen.

For our seminarians and interns

We give you thanks, O God, for the women and men who you call to be leaders in your church and for teachers who form them for service.  Bless our interns and seminarians, especially this week Seminarian David Boyd, that with them we may join courageously in your work of compassion, mercy, justice and peace.  Amen.

For our bishop and synod staff

Ever-living God, strengthen and sustain our bishop and synod staff: Bishop Kurt Kusserow, Pastor Peter Asplin, Pastor Melissa Stoller, Deacon Beth Caywood,  Sandy DeLorenze, Meredythe Hlasnik, Carol Ruckert, and Lauren Wolcott, that with patience and understanding they may love and care for your people.  Lead them in the way of Jesus, that their service may further your mission and proclaim Christ, who died and rose again for the salvation of the world.  Amen.

FOR OUR COMPANION SYNOD & OUR DOMESTIC PARTNER SYNOD

Loving God, the joy of relationship supports and sustains us and others across our country and around the world.  Bless and keep the people of our Domestic Partner Synod, the Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod, and our Global Companion Synod, the Tulear Synod of Madagascar, that together with them we may sing your praises and bear witness to the faith we share in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

FOR BISHOP EATON AND THE CHURCHWIDE ORGANIZATION

Eternal God, in every age you raise up leaders to exercise faithful stewardship of the Church and its work.  We give you thanks for the people whose work supports the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and we pray your strength and wisdom for our Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton. Sustain important work that is done in ways we do not see and guard the visible work of our church from misinterpretation and harm, that the Gospel may have free course in the world.  Amen.