St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer: Wednesday Paul’s Place after school program and the St. Paul’s Day School

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The collect above is for Proper 6 and is said beginning on that Sunday at Eucharist and at the Daily Offices all week. It is a good way to “collect” our thoughts and prayers as we hear God’s word read and preached, ask God’s forgiveness of our sins, and share in Christ’s body and blood at the Eucharist. It is also helpful as we pray the offices together, because these words are powerful reminders of our calling. The Church as God’s household, the grace of God which asks each of us, and equips each of us in our own way, to proclaim God’s truth boldly and minister God’s justice with compassion.

I pray I can do both – proclaim truth with boldness and minister justice with compassion. I pray you can also.