Sample Intercessions for December 10, 2006

Second Sunday of Advent, Year C
December 10, 2006

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

• Click here for the readings of the day.
• James Kim of San Francisco was found dead in the Oregon wilderness after leaving his stranded car to find help for his wife and two children.
• Typhoon Durian hits the Philippines, the fourth typhoon in four months, killing an estimated 1000 people and leaving 67,000 homeless.
• Hundreds of civilians and military continue to be killed by bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• A San José father kills his two-year-old daughter by giving her a lethal dose of a date-rape drug.
• December 10 is International Human Rights Day.
• December 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a solemnity in the city of San José.
• Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 15.
• Las Posadas begins on December 16.
• Celebrating their patron’s feast day this week is Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) and Saint Lucy (December 13).

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:
Up, Jerusalem! Stand upon the heights.
Let us cry out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord!”

Reader:
For the Church,
partners in proclaiming the Gospel,
bearers of God's crown of glory: [pause]
May we cry out at the top of our voice
and proclaim the strong and gentle presence of God.
Come, Lord Jesus…hear our prayer.

For world and church leaders,
shepherds of people entrusted to their care,
overshadowed by the splendor of God: [pause]
May they cry out from the mountaintops
and proclaim the end of slavery to war, prejudice, and injustice.
Come, Lord Jesus…hear our prayer.

For those robed in mourning and misery,
left homeless or hopeless by natural disater,
left orphaned and widowed by tradegy: [pause]
May they be wrapped in the cloak of justice,
rejoicing that they are remembered by God.
Come, Lord Jesus…hear our prayer.

For prophets and revolutionaries
and all unafraid to let their voice be heard: [pause]
May they cry out in the desert of apathy
and proclaim the swift coming of the Lord
who does not delay his promise.
Come, Lord Jesus…hear our prayer.

For the sick and the dying and all in need who look to us
to speak a word of comfort,
including those we now name…: [pause]
May Our Lady and Mother strengthen their hearts
with the promise of God's mercy.
Come, Lord Jesus…hear our prayer.

For the dead,
loved ones whom we miss this season,
forgotten ones who died alone,
innocent ones caught in the crossfire of violence,
including those we now name…: [pause]
May they see the salvation of God.
Come, Lord Jesus…hear our prayer.

Presider:
Father, you sent your Son to lead us on the straight path.
Complete the good work begun in us,
for you have promised to lead us in joy
by the light of your Son's glory,
with mercy and justice for company.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, Emmanuel,
God with us, for ever and ever. Amen.