Sample Intercessions for October 1, 2006

26th Sunday Ordinary Time, Year B
October 1, 2006

Things, events, and news items to keep in mind:

• Click here for the readings of the day.
• Thousands of retired reservists are called back to active military duty.
• Suicide bombings continue in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Wildfires continue to blaze in southern California.
• October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
• Muslims continue to observe their holy month of Ramadan.
• October 1, 2006, at sundown, is the beginning of Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement,” the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. It is a day of sabbath—for observing a 25-hour fast, prayers, and refraining from work in order to atone for one’s sins.
• October 6, 2006, at sundown, is the beginning of Sukkot, the seven-day Jewish “Season of Rejoicing.” It commemorates the Israelites’ forty years of wandering in the desert as well as the harvest.
• Celebrating their patron’s feast day this week are the parish of Saint Francis of Assisi (October 4), the community of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, founded by Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher (October 6), and the community of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7), part of the parish of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

The following are just samples meant to inspire your work. Use them as ideas for your own assembly's intercessions. Read 10 Principles for Writing Intercessions and How To Write Intercessions to help you write your own.


Presider:
In humble faith, let us lift our prayers
for our sisters and brothers in need.

Reader:
For the Church: [pause]
For all who speak with the power of the Spirit,
for bishops, priests, and deacons,
for religious and lay women and men,
for mighty deeds of faith to overcome all who follow Christ.
We pray to the Lord.

For peace among all peoples of faith: [pause]
For lasting reconciliation among Muslims, Christians, and Jews,
for an end to war in the Middle East,
for the Spirit of compassion to break down the boundaries
that keep us apart.
We pray to the Lord.

For those caught in the middle of conflict and war: [pause]
For our military and their families,
for firefighters, police officers, and rescue workers,
for innocent victims of violence,
for safety, courage, and a swift return home.
We pray to the Lord.

For those who lead others to stronger faith in Christ: [pause]
For parents, teachers, and pastors,
for saints, both recognized and unknown,
for those who use their gifts of wealth, service, and presence
to lift up the poor,
for the reward of eternal life for these holy men and women.
We pray to the Lord.

For the sick and suffering: [pause]
for those living with cancer and those who await test results,
for the terminally ill, the homebound, and the hospitalized;
for their caregivers, doctors, and nurses;
for the cup of God’s healing mercy to quench their thirst,
especially for those we now name….
We pray to the Lord.

For the dead and all who wait in hope
to enter the kingdom of God: [pause]
for those killed by war, jealousy, or hate;
for those who died afraid and alone;
for the Spirit of resurrection to raise their bodies to eternal life,
especially those we now name….
We pray to the Lord.

Presider:
Lord God,
nothing can confine your Holy Spirit, nor can anyone control it,
for you are the God who drives out our demons
and sets our tongues on fire with your Word.
Unleash that same Spirit upon us
that we may proclaim your mighty deeds
and work together, across boundaries, with all people of good will
to make this earth a sign of your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.