Sample Intercessions for January 28, 2007

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
January 28, 2007

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

• Click here for the day's readings.
• The United States conducts airstrikes against suspected Al-Qaeda groups in Somalia.
• January 28 to February 3, 2007 is Catholic Schools Week. You might consider doing a blessing of students and teachers at Mass.
• Parts of New Orleans suffer from a severe shortage of school teachers.
• On February 3, 2007, Bishop McGrath will celebrate a Mass with married couples from the diocese honoring those celebrating 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries.
• Communities celebrating their patron's feast day this week are Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish (January 28) in Palo Alto.

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:
With confidence in our God,
let us pray for the needs of the world.

Reader:
For the church: [pause]
for all God's children, known and loved before their birth;
for prophets reviled and ignored by their own people;
for all Christians who stand up for the Gospel.
We pray to the Lord.

For our government leaders: [pause]
for even-tempered discourse;
for cooperation and unity;
for love above all other things.
We pray to the Lord.

For our Catholic schools: [pause]
for teachers, students, assistants, and campus ministers;
for staff persons, administrators, benefactors, and parents;
for growing wisdom perfected when we meet God face to face.
We pray to the Lord.

For those in love: [pause]
for long-time married couples and the newly engaged;
for those who strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts;
for those with broken hearts and broken promises.
We pray to the Lord.

For the sick and the dying: [pause]
for those crushed by physical, spiritual, or mental pain;
for God to deliver them from their suffering,
including those we now name...[pause].
We pray to the Lord.

For the dead: [pause]
for victims of war, poverty, and violence;
for friends and loved ones who have died,
including those we now name...[pause].
We pray to the Lord.

Presider:
God of life, your perfect love bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things,
and endures all things.
Hear our prayers and strengthen our faith in you,
that through our words and deeds,
we may learn to love as you love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.