Sample Intercessions for November 5, 2006

31st Sunday Ordinary Time, Year B
November 5, 2006

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

• Click here for the readings of the day.
• 105 United States military personnel were killed in Iraq during the month of October, the fourth bloodiest month since the war began in March, 2003. 1539 Iraqi civilians and security forces were killed during the same month.
• This is the last weekend before elections.
• Shooting and stabbing violence mars Halloween festivities in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Fremont.
• An 8-year-old Richmond boy was apparently tortured to death by his mother.
• 2000 Catholics from around the Bay Area will gather at the Santa Clara Convention Center for the annual Faith Formation Conference on November 10 and 11, 2006.
• November 11 is Veterans Day.
• Celebrating their parish patron’s feast day this week are Saint Leo the Great (November 10) and Saint Martin of Tours (November 11).

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:
The Lord has promised great things.
Therefore, let us now offer our prayers for the world.

Reader:
For the Church: [pause]
for careful observation of the Lord’s commands,
for growth in faith,
for clear proclamation of God’s great love.
We pray to the Lord.

For the coming elections: [pause]
for civil and sober debate,
for love of neighbor,
for just laws and merciful governance.
We pray to the Lord.

For all who sacrifice for the Gospel: [pause]
for those who love God with all their heart,
for those who love their neighbor as themselves,
for all those baptized into the priesthood of Christ.
We pray to the Lord.

For those who have served in the military: [pause]
for veterans and all military personnel,
for those still in combat,
for gratitude, safety, healing, and peace.
We pray to the Lord.

For the sick: [pause]
for the weak and the infirm,
for strength of mind and body for themselves and their caregivers,
for healing from pain and illness and hope in God's faithfulness,
including those we now name….
We pray to the Lord.

For all who have died in Christ: [pause]
for the saints of heaven,
for those killed in war and taken by disease,
for their joy in the peace of God's kingdom,
including those we now name….
We pray to the Lord.

Presider:
God of our ancestors,
you have brought us near to you.
Because of your promise,
we dare to offer you these prayers.
Hear them and grant them according to your will,
for you, O God, are Lord alone.
We ask this through your son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever. Amen.