Things not to say to your woman pastor are alas all to often the experience of women clergy.  I still have private jokes with my friends from Dibley about the length of my skirt, and there are still times - not at my church but elsewhere - when some of these are said to me.  I'm sure it's not unique to ministers either.

Whilst researching for this Sunday's service, I came across this rather lovely 19th century Quaker prayer written by Henry T Hodgkin ...

Firm when all round me is in flux and seething

Strong when the knees are quivering and fail,

Beat of my heart’s beat, energy of breathing,

Over my frailty wilt Thou prevail–

In the secret places of the spirit,

In the silent spaces of the morning

I come to thee.

 

Giver of joy beyond my best conceiving

E’en to the stricken on his lonley trail,

In Thee I find the glory of achieving,

Resting on Thee I do not fear to fail–

In the secret places of the spirit,

In the silent spaces of the morning

I come to thee.

 

Friends who wast by me on my first arising

Nor wilt forsake me when the light is spent

Unto the child-like ever more surprising

Filling the restless with a deep content

In the secret places of the spirit,

In the silent spaces of the morning

I come to thee.