Prayer Ventures For January 2026

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 National Freedom Day and Black History Month Today commemorates the abolishment of slavery in 1865 and recognizes past, present and future work to secure and protect freedom, justice, equality and respect for all people. It is also the first day of Black History Month. Pray for strength, humility and penitent hearts so we may acknowledge our nation’s history and the mistreatment of people based on ancestry, race, religion and perceived differences. Give thanks that our sins and weaknesses are met with God’s immense grace and the Spirit’s ability to effect change and newness in us, our church and society.

2 Remember in prayer siblings in Christ and communities of faith in the Caribbean region, especially those who are engaged in long-term recovery from natural disasters. Pray for the Caribbean and Florida-Bahamas synods, that their work will bear abundant fruit as they support congregations and ministries in proclaiming the gospel in diverse contexts throughout the region.

3 Pray for nations experiencing violence and war, including Venezuela, Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East, South Sudan and others. Ask God to guide leaders, diplomats and peacemakers as they seek lasting solutions and peace. Pray for the Spirit to inspire us to be advocates and bearers of peace, hope and justice in our communities and the world.

4 The Lord “has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)? Ask God to help you understand the depth and breadth of justice, kindness, humility and love, which we are asked to exemplify in every aspect of our life and baptismal journey.

5 Pray for young adults who are discerning whether to say yes to serving in an outdoor ministry summer program. Ask God to give them confidence in their faith and the gifts that the Spirit has nurtured in them for service and ministry with children, youth and adults.

6 Ask the Spirit to provide us encouragement and guidance for our life and baptismal journey through Scripture, faith communities, the counsel and example of siblings in Christ, church leaders, people of faith who have gone before us, and prayer

7 Give thanks and pray for the ELCA’s partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and the challenging and hope-filled work of its school and ministries that serve both Christians and Muslims.

8 “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Give thanks for those who have inspired your faith. Pray that you are also a light for others, giving glory to God and shining bright with love, mercy and hope.

9 Pray for the ELCA’s Congregations Lead Initiative, which equips and inspires congregations with innovation and tools that renew their ministry and community partnerships to create adaptable, relevant and thriving faith communities.

10 “The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your needs in parched places and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail” (Isaiah 58:11). Give thanks and praise to God who is ever-present and sustains our faith, spirit and strength so that we can navigate times of adversity and uncertainty.

11 Give thanks for your synod staff who help equip, support and encourage congregations and leaders to share the good news of Jesus Christ, serve neighbors in need and do God’s work in the world.

12 As ELCA members, we are called to respond to our neighbors in need here and around the world. Pray that the impact we have with individuals and communities will grow with the work we do together through ELCA World Hunger, HIV and AIDS Ministry, Lutheran Disaster Response, AMMPARO Migrant Ministry and social ministry organizations.

13 Remember in prayer unsheltered neighbors and siblings in Christ, that they will have safe, secure and consistent places to live each day. Give thanks and pray for those who are part of the Homeless and Justice Network of the ELCA, a coalition of ministries called to serve people on the margins who are struggling with homelessness, poverty and justice issues.

14 Pray for the members of your congregation, their relationships and marriages, that they will experience love, forgiveness, joy, respect and mutual care.

15 Transfiguration of Our Lord “While [Peter] was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him’” (Matthew 17:5). Praise God for revealing to us that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the promised messiah, savior and bearer of God’s love and mercy, who delivers us from the darkness of our sins and weaknesses.

16 Give thanks for Mission Builders, an ELCA ministry that uses a nationwide network of faithful and active men and women who eagerly use their diverse skills to support congregations, outdoor ministries and schools with construction projects that help grow the ministry and outreach of the church.

17 Ask the Spirit to help us refrain from complacency and silence in response to our neighbors who experience daily challenges and injustice, especially among immigrants and refugees, people experiencing poverty, unsheltered neighbors, the elderly, those who are incarcerated and others. Pray that our response to neighbors in need reflects the compassion, respect and justice that Jesus demonstrated throughout his ministry and implored us to follow.

 

18 Ash Wednesday Today is the first day of Lent. Ask the Spirit to help you reflect on your faith as a follower of Christ who — with imperfection — values and practices sacrifice, witness, service, generosity and spiritual growth.

19 Praise God for ELCA missionaries and Young Adults in Global Mission volunteers who walk together with Lutheran, ecumenical and interfaith siblings in Christ in 35 countries around the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ, care for the needs of communities, nurture leaders and strengthen ministries.

20 Pray that liturgical colors, symbols, Scripture and worship during Lent remind us that we are not left in the darkness of suffering and death. Give thanks that the Spirit always leads us to the empty cross of our risen Savior — Jesus Christ — who restores life and promises eternal life in the kingdom of God.

21 Remember in prayer the ELCA AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities ) strategy and the volunteers, advocates, congregations and synods that strive to protect and accompany vulnerable migrant children and their families who seek safe and welcoming places to reestablish their lives.

22 Is there some realm of life right now where you feel as if you’re in a wilderness and being tested? Ask God for strength, wisdom and guidance, and lean into the faith given to you by the Spirit.

 23 Give thanks for ELCA Witness in Society, the advocacy ministry of our church that works to change public policy through our collective and individual voices, which are shaped and guided by biblical values of peacemaking, hospitality to strangers, care for creation, and concern for people living in poverty and struggling with hunger and disease.

24 Pray for our 65 synod bishops gathered at the Conference of Bishops meeting for worship and study, mutual sharing and encouragement, and to conduct business on our behalf for the purpose of being responsible stewards of the church, sharing the gospel and doing God’s work in a world that is always changing

25 “Prayer must not be based on or depend on your personal worthiness or the quality of the prayer itself; rather, it must be based on the unchanging truth of God’s promise” (Martin Luther, Faith Alone). Pray for whatever is on your mind today; be in conversation with God and trust that your words — imperfect, spoken and silent — are heard and attended to.

26 Gun violence continues to afflict our society. In 2025, there were 38,741 deaths related to gun violence and 408 mass shootings (gunviolencearchive.org). Ask God to give us the strength to be diligent in our work and advocacy to end such violence and care for those who suffer grief and trauma due to gun violence and accidental shootings.

27 Give thanks and praise to God for strengthened faith, blessings and the confidence we receive through God’s word, water, bread and prayer, which equip and encourage us to go out into the world and do God’s work — together.

28 Pray for the ELCA’s directors for evangelical mission, the leaders who help coordinate the partnership between churchwide ministries and the 65 synods of our church. Pray for the work we do together to develop new-start ministries, revitalize congregations, practice stewardship and generosity, and develop and equip leaders for mission and ministry.