Pastors' Prayer at Clergy Session

Holy God, You've cast your net and drawn us in to this mess of fish, You've touched our lips with the fire of your love and it burns in our bones, You've called our names as friends and as servants of your church and your world. Our eyes, ears and hearts are catapulted into awareness. Forgive us for times we keep our own nets rolled up, or go too often to our favorite fishing spot, or think we're the ones in charge of sorting the catch. Forgive us for words spoken without conviction, for easy truisms, for times we forget the love that made us, drew us in, called us and kindled gifts within us. Forgive us for the times we don't show up as servant-leaders, when we dial it in, when we draw the world small instead of wide and full of your surprising glory. This call to ordained ministry is marvelous and awful--in the best sense of both words. By your grace, which offers more than we could ever ask or imagine, renew our hearts, restore our spirits, turn us each day to you. For these we receive into our fellowship today, we pray that you will bring strength in weakness, the necessary word in writer's block, light in darkness, clarity in confusion, joy in dailiness, community and love in new places, assurance for doubt, and faithfulness in all things. As the body of Christ, we pray. Amen.