Prayer

Bring to the Lord in prayer every joy, burden and fear with thanksgiving.

"Pray without ceasing..."

— 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Prayer is not our last resort. It is one of the gracious gifts God gives His people. In Christ, we are invited to come to our Father with boldness and confidence, trusting that He hears us, cares for us, and answers according to His good and gracious will.

“Our Father in heaven”

God tenderly invites His children to ask Him for every need with confidence and hope.

Prayer Request Options

Choose the prayer setting that best fits your need.

Whether your request is deeply personal or something you would like the congregation to carry with you, we want to pray with care, compassion, and faithfulness.

Simply Pray Group

For personal, sensitive, or private matters, submit your request to our Simply Pray team. This option is intended for confidential prayer support and careful handling.

  • Shared only with the designated prayer team

  • Ideal for sensitive family, health, or personal concerns

  • Handled with discretion and compassion

Congregational Prayer Group

For requests you are comfortable sharing more publicly within the church family, invite fellow members to pray with you and for you.

  • Visible within the congregational prayer network

  • Encourages the body of Christ to carry burdens together

  • Helpful for ongoing encouragement, recovery, and thanksgiving

Why Prayer Matters

The importance of prayer in Lutheran understanding.

In the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, prayer is rooted in God’s Word, centered in Jesus Christ, and practiced with confidence because God Himself invites us to pray.

Prayer begins with God’s invitation

Luther teaches that in the Lord’s Prayer, God “tenderly invites us” to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children. Prayer begins not with our worthiness, but with God’s mercy toward us in Christ.

Prayer asks for daily and eternal needs

Prayer includes every part of life: forgiveness, protection, daily bread, spiritual strength, healing, thanksgiving, and the needs of our neighbors. Nothing is too small or too great to bring before God.

Prayer is offered through Jesus Christ

Lutherans understand prayer through the Gospel. Because Christ has reconciled us to the Father, we pray with boldness, trusting not in ourselves but in His saving work.

Prayer shapes the life of the church

The church prays together in worship, in the home, and in times of need. Prayer is woven into Lutheran life through the Divine Service, the Lord’s Prayer, daily prayers, psalms, and intercessions for others.

Word and Prayer

Prayer is nourished by God’s promises.

Lutherans do not treat prayer as a technique for controlling outcomes. Instead, prayer is the faithful response of God’s children to His promises. We pray because God commands it, welcomes it, and promises to hear us for the sake of Jesus.

Prayer also keeps us close to the Word. As we pray the Psalms, the Lord’s Prayer, and petitions shaped by Scripture, our hearts are formed in repentance, faith, gratitude, and love for our neighbor.

“With all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.”
— Luther's Small Catechism