PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE / INTERCESSIONS 2011 - 2012
Each Sunday, the people of God gather for worship. A very important part of our worship together is the prayer we offer to God for ourselves and for others. Im these intercessions, we join hearts, minds, and voices, as the people of God, the Body of Christ. This is part of our response to God‘s Word proclaimed and preached, our way of responding to God s presence among us, and promises to us. Once again this year, the Synod offers a weekly diary of prayers and intercessions for congregations and ministries of the Church. Several suggestions for public intercession are included for each Sunday of the Church Year, beginning with the First Sunday in Advent, 2011, and extending until the Reign of Christ / Christ the King Sunday, 2012. This Diary is a comprehensive attempt to include within the public prayer of our congregations, the following ...
- Offices and ministries of the ELCIC and its auxiliaries
- Officers and Bishops of the Synods
- Deans and conferences of the Eastern Synod
- Missions and special ministries within Canada
- Conventions and assemblies of the Church and its Synods
- Missionaries of the ELCIC serving abroad
- Partner churches of the ELCIC within Canada
- Schools and educational institutions of the Church
- Ecumenical agencies
- Diaconal ministers within the Synod
- Our Companion Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana
HOW TO USE THESE PRAYER SUGGESTIONS:
If your congregation customarily uses INTERCESSIONS, either prepared by the pastor or by the people, you might amplify and include these suggestions within your intercessions.
If your congregation customarily uses a PASTORAL PRAYER, the pastor might incorporate these prayer suggestion in her or his Pastoral Prayer.
Lutherans believe that corporate prayer is one of the principal tasks of the Church at worship, that prayer changes people, and people, inspired by the Holy Spirit, change things. May your use of this diary of prayers strengthen our ministry of prayer together across our Synod, and empower our witness to the unity of the Church in our society.
We have tried to be comprehensive in our inclusion of ministries of the church beyond the individual congregation. If you discover oversights or omissions, we would be pleased to hear of these, and are eager to include them in our future public prayer diaries.
A NOTE: In harmony with the suggestions current since the ELCA s Renewing Worship guidelines were published, we are numbering the Sundays in Ordinary Time continuously, beginning with Sundays 2-8 after the Epiphany, and continuing with Sundays 13 to 34 after Pentecost. This means that our calendar of Sunday Intercessions is in harmony with the calendar included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Although still awkward to those of us who are accustomed to calling the Sundays of the second half of the Church Year Sundays After Pentecost , and to congregations still using the Lutheran Book of Worship, we believe it is important to be consistent with the Calendar used in Evangelical Lutheran Worship .
(This Prayer Calendar has been prepared by Dr. Don Nevile, retired pastor of the Eastern Synod. If you identify errors or omissions in the Calendar, or wish to suggest additions, please contact him at )
NOVEMBER 27: FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT
- For the pastor and people of Resurrection Lutheran Church, Orleans ON.
- For Susan Johnson, National Bishop of the ELCIC
- For Ronald Mayan, Bishop of the Synod of Alberta & the Territories, and for the pastors & people of that Synod.
DECEMBER 4: SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Commemoration of John of Damascus, theologian & Hymnwriter, 749
- With thanksgiving for the life and ministry of John of Damascus, and for all who write hymns which express the theology of our church.
- For the students, staff, and faculty of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Waterloo On.
- For all diaconal ministers serving our synod, especially ....., who serves at .....Lutheran Church.
- For Sergio Utz, missionary from our church to the people of Argentina
DECEMBER 11: THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
- For the Pastor and people of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Red Deer, AB
- For the pastors, pilots, and staff of the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots
- For the pastor and people of Holy Cross Lutheran Mission, Orillia, Ontario
DECEMBER 18: FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
- For the people and leaders of the Vietnamese Lutheran Mission in Winnipeg MB
- For the pastors and people of the Lutheran Church of Papua-New Guinea
- For the people and pastor of Holy Name Lutheran Church, Devon, Alberta.
DECEMBER 25: THE FESTIVAL OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
- For the Nativity of our Lord, and for the gifts of God’s grace and salvation which we receive through Jesus Christ
- For the pastor and people of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Newmarket ON.
- For the Dean of your Conference, and the members of your Conference Council
- For the Pastor and people of Rocky Mountain House Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rocky Mountain House, AB.
- For the ministers and people of the United Church of Canada, and for ..... United Church
JANUARY 1: THE NAME OF JESUS, & FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
- For Michael Pryse, Bishop of our Eastern Synod, and for the Pastors and people of the Eastern Synod
- For all health care chaplains, especially ...
- For the people and pastors of the Lutheran Church of Cameroun, Africa.
JANUARY 8: THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD & FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY: LECTIONARY 1
- For the gift of Holy Baptism, through which we are made members of God’s household the Church.
- For the pastors and people of the Lutheran Church of Colombia
- For the people of Maranatha Lutheran Mission, Waterloo ON., & their pastor, Peter Kuhnert.
- For our companion synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana, and its pastors, leaders, and people.
JANUARY 15: SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY: LECTIONARY 2
Commemoration of martin Luther King, jr., renewer of the church & martyr, 1968
Beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- For the unity of Christ’s family, the church.
- In thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Martin Luther King, jr.,and for all who work today to overcome the sin of racial prejudice
- For the people and leaders of Edmonton Spanish Mission, Edmonton AB
- For the students and faculty of Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon SK.
- For the work and witness of Brian Rude, missionary from our church to the people of El Salvador.
- For the Pastor and people of the Lutheran Urban Mission Society, Vancouver B.C.
JANUARY 22: THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY; LECTIONARY 3
- For the unity of the Church
- For the pastor and people of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Ft. McMurray AB.
- For ALYFE, a joint Anglican Lutheran Youth ministry, Kitchener-Waterloo.
For the Canadian Missions Consultation, as they meet this coming week, to consider te work of Christian mission in our land.
JANUARY 29: FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY; LECTIONARY 4
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ends
- For the unity of the Church.
- For Michael Pryse, Bishop of our Synod, and for the staff, pastors, and people of our Synod
- For the Primate, Bishops, priests, and people of the Anglican Church of Canada, and for ..... Anglican parish.
- For the people and pastor of Glory Lutheran Mission, Sherwood Park, Alberta.
FEBRUARY 5: FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY; LECTIONARY 5
Commemoration of the Martyrs of Japan, 1597
- In thanksgiving for the sacrifice of the Martyrs of Japan, and for all those who suffer for their faith today.
- For the pastor and people of Grace Lutheran Church, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- For the Primate, Bishops, priests and people of the Church of Sweden
- For the people of the Saskatoon, SK. Emerging Church Lutheran Mission, and their pastor, Chad Moir.
- For Gustavo Gomez, missionary from our church to the people of Argentina
- For the Pastors of our Atlantic Conference, as they meet in retreat this coming week.
FEBRUARY 12: SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY; LECTIONARY 6
- For the people and leaders of the Lutheran Hispanic Mission, Kitchener/Waterloo ON.
- For the faculty and students of Lutheran College, Regina, Saskatchewan.
- For Fran Schmidt, missionary of our Church to the people of Peru
- For the pastors and lay professionals of our Synod, as they gather this week in Niagara Falls in spiritual retreat
FEBRUARY 19: THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
- For the pastor and people of Christ the King Lutheran Mission, Whitby ON
- For the Primate, bishops, priests, and people of the Church of Norway
- For the pastors and people of the Lutheran Church of Colombia, South America
FEBRUARY 26: THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
- For the pastors and people of the Synod of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario, and for their Bishop, Elaine Sauer.
- For the people and pastor of Unity Lutheran Church, Medicine Hat.
- For the Pastor and people of the Surrey Urban Lutheran Mission, Surrey. B. C.
MARCH 4: THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
- For the Women of our Church, and for their invaluable ministry among us, as we celebrate International Women’s Day this week
- For all diaconal ministers serving in our Synod, especially ... serving ..... Lutheran church.
- For the Ontario Stewardship Network, and its ministry of stewardship among us.
- For the Halifax Lutheran Hospital Chaplaincy, in its ministry of healing.
- For our Bishop, Susan Johnson, and our National Church Council, as they meet together this week.
MARCH 11: THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
- For the leaders and people of the Winnipeg Lutheran Native Ministry, Winnipeg MB.
- For the bishops, priests, and people of the Church of Iceland
- For Christine Maltimoe, Volunteer in Mission from our Church to the people of Niger, Africa
- For our Bishop, Michael Pryse, and our Synod Council, as they meet together this week
MARCH 18: THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
- For the pastors and people of the Lutheran Church in Namibia
- In sorrowful remembrance of the Holocaust and its victims
- For the Atlantic Lutheran Campus Ministry.
- For the Board of Governors of Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, as they meet together this week.
- For all in our world who suffer from racial discrimination, as we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this week/
MARCH 25: THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT. THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR LORD.
- For the Dean of your Conference, and the members of your Conference Council
- For the Bishops, pastors, and people of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Germany
- For the leaders and people of our companion synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Guyana.
APRIL 1: SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY.
- For the people and pastor of Grace Chinese Lutheran Church, Willowdale ON
- For Michael Pryse, Bishop of our Synod, for his staff, and for all pastors and people of our Synod
- For the pastor and people of Westside Evangelical Lutheran Church, Barrie, Ontario
APRIL 8: THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. EASTER DAY
- For the moderator, ministers, and people of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and for ..... Presbyterian Church
- For the pastors and people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession in Hungary
- For the Canadian Council of Churches, its president Bruce Adema, and General Secretary, Karen Hamilton
APRIL 15: THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
- For the pastors and people of the Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
- For all pastors who serve as Interim Ministers, and for their parishes, as they await full time pastoral leadership, especially ...
- For the Pastor and people of the Emmanuel Mandarin Lutheran Mission, Surrey, B. C.
APRIL 22: THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER.
- For the faculty and students of Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute, Outlook, SK.
- For all parish nurses serving in our Synod, especially ....., serving ..... Lutheran Church.
- For all congregations struggling with pastoral vacancy, as they anticipate and await full time ministry.
- For the Evangelical Lutheran Foundation in Eastern Canada, and its ministry of stewardship among us.
- For the Bishop, Pastors, and people of the Manitoba - Northern Ontario Synod, as they meet together this week in Beausejour, MB., for their 14th Biennial Convention.
- For this Earth, our island home, & our responsnbility for it, as we mark Earth Day this week.
APRIL 29: THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Commemoration of Catherine of Siena, theologian,1380
- In gratitude for the life and ministry of Catherine of Siena, and for all women who teach in our church.
- For the pastor and people of Good Shepherd Chinese Lutheran Church, Edmonton
- For Cynthia Halmarson, Bishop of the Saskatchewan Synod, for her staff, and for all pastors and people of the Saskatchewan Synod
- For the pastor and people of Lord of Life Lutheran Mission, Edmonton.
MAY 6: THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
- For the ministers and people of the Baptist Churches in Canada, and for ..... Baptist Church
- For the pastors and chaplains of health care institutions, correctional institutions, and other special ministries, and for ...... , chaplain / pastor of .......
- For all in our church who work for ecumenical cooperation, seeking the unity of the Church.
- For the Bishop, Pastors, and people of the British Columbia Synod, as they meet together this week in convention
MAY 13: THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
- For the pastor and people of New Creation Lutheran Church, Pitt Meadows BC
- For the students and faculty of Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute, Camrose AB
- For the pastors and people of the Lutheran Church of Estonia
- For all families, whatever their shape or siz, in our community & in our world, as we mark International Families Day this week.
MAY 20: THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
- For our Lutheran Campus Ministries in Canada, and for ....., Chaplain of ....... University/College.
- For the Lutheran World Federation, its president, Munib Younan, and General Secretary, Martin Junge
- For the Lutheran Planned Giving Ministry, and its work of stewardship among us.
- For the Pastor and people of Faith Lutheran Shared Ministry Mission, Chetwynd, B. C.
- For the Bishops, Pastors, and people of the Synod of Alberta & the territories, as they meet together in convention this week.
MAY 27: THE DAY OF PENTECOST.
Commemoration of Jean Calvin, Renewer of the Church, 1564
- In gratitude for the life and ministry of Jean Calvin, and for all churches around us which carry on the Reformed tradition today: the Christian Reformed Church, the United Church of Canada, the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and the Reformed Church in America.