Page:Book of common prayer (TEC, 1979).pdf/531



My brother, the Church is the family of God, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. All baptized people are called to make Christ known as Savior and Lord, and to  share in the renewing of his world. Now you are called to work as a pastor, priest, and teacher, together with your  bishop and fellow presbyters, and to take your share in the  councils of the Church.

As a priest, it will be your task to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fashion your life in  accordance with its precepts. You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and  old, strong and weak, rich and poor. You are to preach, to declare God’s forgiveness to penitent sinners, to pronounce  God’s blessing, to share in the administration of Holy  Baptism and in the celebration of the mysteries of Christ’s  Body and Blood, and to perform the other ministrations  entrusted to you.

In all that you do, you are to nourish Christ’s people from the riches of his grace, and strengthen them to glorify God in this  life and in the life to come.

My brother, do you believe that you are truly called by God and his Church to this priesthood?