Prayer Ventures for November 2025

 

1 All Saints Day  Today we remember, honor and pray for saints, those people of faith in the cloud of witnesses — past and present, known and unknown — who have died and now rest in the mercy of God.

 

2 All Saints Sunday  Who have you lost in your life? A family member, spouse, friend, neighbor, co-worker, a fellow congregant? Reflect on their significance in your life and community, and give thanks, praying that their memory and influence endure.

 

3 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Ask God for the faith and courage to follow Jesus when he implores us to resist human nature and social influences that drive us to vengeance, malice and judgment. Pray that our words, actions and decisions reflect God’s boundless love for us—for humanity.

 

4 Pray for the Spirit to temper our emotions and actions when we experience conflicts of opinions, values, religious belief or political ideology. Ask God to help us relate to one another without violence or belligerence—despite our differences—and to engage one another with attention, respect, attentive listening, dialogue and, when possible, reconciliation and compromise.

 

5 The Rev. Lucille “CeCee” Mills is the new secretary of the ELCA. Ask the Spirit to strengthen and prepare Rev. Mills for her ministry of supporting and equipping ELCA leaders in congregations, synods and the churchwide organization.

 

6 Praise God for helping us respond with love and generosity to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. Give thanks for the work of Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of our church that manages our generosity, resources and partnerships with other organizations for maximum immediate and long-term impacts.

 

7 Give thanks to God for the promise of an eternal inheritance, attained not by the quality of our faith or good deeds but through God’s undeserved gift of love and redemption through Jesus Christ, our one true Saviour.

 

8 “Dear Lord God, I want to preach so that you are glorified. I want to speak of you, praise

you, praise your name. Although I probably cannot make it turn out well, won’t you make

it turn out well?” (Martin Luther). Pray that we will have an unquenchable desire to tell others about our faith and God’s boundless love—in our own words, inspired by the Spirit.

 

9 We are children of God and children of the resurrection! Pray for the Spirit to help us comprehend and celebrate our life in Christ, which is not limited to our short life on earth but extends into eternity with God.

 

10 Remember in prayer those attending the Outdoor Ministries Connection Great Gathering in Lake Junaluska, N.C., an ecumenical conference for outdoor ministry leaders and board members to help them strengthen their networks, develop their skills and be inspired for ministry with children, youth and adults.

 

11 Veterans Day  Remember and pray for military veterans who have engaged in the causes of pursuing peace and justice, defending freedom and responding to natural disasters. Give thanks for their sacrifices and service on our behalf.

 

12 Pray for the ELCA Church Council as it gathers to advise, guide and support our churchwide organization in its mission and presence in the world to spread the gospel and serve our neighbors in need.

 

13 Pray for those who suffer memory loss and dementia, and for the spouses, families and others who surround them with love, care and support. Give thanks for health care workers and care providers involved in memory care, treatment and research.  

 

14 “As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped” (Psalm 17:4-5). Pray that it be so!

 

15 Pray for the families and spouses of veterans and those currently serving our country in the military, that their faith will be strong and resilient, they are supported during times of deployment and that they are surrounded by gratitude and encouragement.

 

16 Pray that our faith in God’s enduring promises about our future is strong and that we respond to God’s persistent call to share the good news of Jesus Christ, to love and serve our neighbors. Ask the Spirit to free us from fixation, fear, prediction of signs and speculation about when and how Jesus will return, bringing God’s kingdom to Earth.

 

17 Pray for the Spirit to teach and embolden us to be tireless advocates and bearers of peace, mercy and compassion into our communities, nation and world.

 

18 Pray for the ELCA initiative Sumud: For Justice in Palestine and Israel. Ask God to bless and further its work with partners in the Holy Land and congregations in the United States to accompany Palestinians and Israelis in establishing and supporting the justice required for peace.

 

19 How has God’s presence and activity in the world surprised you? Pray that we might open our hearts and minds to work of the Spirit that we don’t expect, imagine or even understand.

 

20 Praise God for the 20 new ELCA missionaries now serving alongside our global companions in 11 countries as pastors, teachers, Horizon International interns, ministry coordinators and other roles.

 

21 “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord” (Psalm 98:4-6). Let joy and praise permeate your prayers today. Acknowledge God as the source of all good things, especially the boundless, life-giving love we experience through Jesus Christ.

 

22 Give thanks to God and pray for those who attend to our physical, emotional, social and spiritual health, helping us to live life as fully as possible: doctors, nurses, medical technicians, hospice workers, researchers, pharmacists, therapists, social workers and others.

 

23 Lift up prayers of thanksgiving for 25 years of the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program, which has sent over a thousand young adults on yearlong journeys of global fellowship, ministry and service with our companion ministries. Pray that we continue to generously support for the YAGM program, that it might thrive as young adults continue to do God’s work in the world.

 

24. In 2024, 673 million people in the world faced hunger; 2.3 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity; and 2.6 billion people could not afford a healthy diet. Pray for our neighbors here and throughout the world who suffer hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. Ask the Spirit to inspire us to support and join existing endeavors and to develop new ministries that will provide relief and address the root causes of hunger.

 

25 Ask God to help us be grateful, wise and effective stewards of creation, understanding our connection to all living things and teaching others to care for our environment and natural resources — life-sustaining gifts from God entrusted to our use and care.

 

26 Give thanks for ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response, the Lutheran World Federation and other partner agencies that work on our behalf to address the causes of hunger and poverty worldwide and to provide our neighbors with relief, care, support and hope.

 

27 Thanksgiving Day  Praise God for the gifts that sustain our body and spirit — food, shelter, family, friends, faith communities, the bounty of creation, God’s love and forgiveness, and so much more. Remember and give thanks for those who plant, cultivate, harvest, prepare and deliver the food that nourishes us.

 

28 Pray for our neighbors and siblings in Christ who lack safe shelter and wonder how their basic, daily needs will be met. Ask God to help us be attentive to their immediate and long-term needs and be diligent in seeking solutions to the dearth of affordable housing and access to social services in our communities — solutions that respect the value, rights and dignity of our neighbors in need.

 

29 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Have faith that God listens to prayerful conversations that express our gratitude, needs, worries, questions, excitement and hopes — today and every day!

 

30 First Sunday of Advent  Pray that, in the upcoming month, we will turn our attention to anticipating and rejoicing in the gift of God’s son, Jesus Christ, brought into the world to shine a light on God’s awesome love and forgiveness.