Every Monday, Living Lutheran offers a week’s worth of prayers from the ELCA resource Prayer Ventures, which can be downloaded here. These petitions – one for each day this week – are offered as a guide for your own prayer life as together we pray for the needs of the world and give thanks for the ministries of our church.
Monday, Jan. 4: For those who have experienced the sorrow and anguish of losing loved ones and neighbors to acts of violence, terrorism or war, we pray for healing and hope in the midst of despair.
Tuesday, Jan. 5: We remember in our prayers mission developers and leaders who are helping start and grow new congregations and ministries in diverse community contexts in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Wednesday, Jan. 6: As the long, dark winter nights are filled with the bright light of countless stars, we thank God for the bright light of forgiveness and hope in Jesus Christ that dispels the darkness in our lives.
Thursday, Jan. 7: We ask God to bless and equip our bishops during the Bishops Academy and for the Holy Spirit to guide their work with leaders, congregations and ministries in their synods.
Friday, Jan. 8: Jesus feared no adversaries or enemies and persisted in his love for humankind, service, healing, forgiving and reaching out to the unloved and those pushed aside in society. We ask God to grant us faith and courage to follow Jesus’ example, especially in our world today.
Saturday, Jan. 9: We remember in our prayers college and university students during their winter break or J-terms, that they will experience both renewal and enrichment – in spirit and knowledge.
Sunday, Jan. 10: Baptism of Our Lord We give thanks to God that in our baptism we are joined with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and welcomed into the community of all believers for a new life of love, service and witness to the good news of the gospel.