Advent Devotional | Christmas Day | Year C | December 25th, 2015

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John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

Merry Christmas, folks!  For those who have been reading these devotionals since November 29th, thank you for joining me on this journey!  I've never quite taken on a daily devotional like this and, I must admit, it was harder (and more fulfilling) than I first realized!  It was quite a commitment and I thank you for your kind words of encouragement all along the way!

In celebration of Christmas, here is an improv prayer inspired by today's passage from John 1:1-14.  But before you read it, may the blessings of God-with-us go with you today and in the year to come!  May the God who calls his home in your arms keep you and your family in hope, peace, joy, and love!

Improv on John 1:1-14

"In the beginning..."
Such powerful words,
and such a powerful Word
that comes to us this day.
How is it, Lord, that the child that is born this day
is, at the same time, so young and vulnerable
and yet eternal and older than time itself?
Your creation fills time and yet is not bound by its boundaries.
Your Word was in the beginning and your Word is now
and your Word always will be.
Your creation produces Light and darkness does not understand it.
And, truth be told, neither do we.
Your grace, your truth, your Light, is beyond our mortal comprehension,
and yet we are drawn to it because it is our only source of life.
I am thankful this day that I don't have to "understand" something to receive it
or be transformed by it.
There are times that I think I am as worthless as a worm.
And yet, you find within me such worth as to come to my arms
to live as a human like me, to experience pain like me, to suffer with me,
and yet, to also laugh with me, enjoy life's blessings with me, and to walk beside me as a friend.
How incredible that is!
May your presence guide me this day and transform me that I might
better understand the power of your providence.
God-with-us, God-with-me, God-with-all,
as we marvel at your fleshed divinity,
receive our thanks and praise of your holy name,
for you truly are the eternal Word that speaks love, peace, and joy to all and through all.
Amen!
 

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Stephen Fearing

Stephen was born in 1988 in Cookeville, TN, where his parents met whilst attending Tennessee Tech. Shortly after, they moved to Dalton, Georgia where they put down roots and joined First Presbyterian Church, the faith family that taught Stephen that he was first and foremost a beloved child of God. It was this community that taught Stephen that it was OK to have questions and doubts and that nothing he could do could every possibly separate him from the love of God. In 1995, his sister, Sarah Kate, joined the family and Stephen began his journey as a life-long musician. Since then, he has found a love of music and has found this gift particularly fitting for his call to ministry. Among the instruments that he enjoys are piano, trumpet, guitar, and handbells. Stephen has always had a love of singing and congregation song. An avid member of the marching band, Stephen was the drum major of his high school's marching band. In 2006, Stephen began his tenure at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where he majored in Religion and minored in History. While attending PC, Stephen continued to explore his love of music by participating in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Jazz Trio, as well as playing in the PC Handbell ensemble and playing mandolin and banjo PC's very own bluegrass/rock group, Hosegrass, of which Stephen was a founding member (Hosegrass even released their own CD!). In 2010, Stephen moved from Clinton to Atlanta to attend Columbia Theological Seminary to pursue God's call on his life to be a pastor in the PC(USA). During this time, Stephen worked at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, Central Presbyterian Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. For three years, Stephen served as the Choir Director of Columbia Theological Seminary's choir and also served as the Interim Music Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 2014, Stephen graduated from Columbia with a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Arts in Practical Theology with an emphasis in liturgy, music, and worship. In July of 2014, Stephen was installed an ordained as Teaching Elder at Shelter Island Presbyterian Church in Shelter Island, NY. Later that year, Stephen married the love of his life, Tricia, and they share their home on Shelter Island with their Golden Doodle, Elsie, and their calico cat, Audrey. In addition to his work with the people who are Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, Stephen currently serves as a commission from Long Island Presbytery to the Synod of the Northeast and, beginning in January of 2016, will moderate the Synod's missions team.