"God Creates a Blessed Newness"

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Here's a hymn written in my favorite tune, NETTLETON (8.7.8.7.D), which is commonly used to sing "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing."  It is inspired by Isaiah 43 and was written for a recent meeting of the Synod of the Northeast's Mission and Ministry Commission Retreat in Albany, NY.

Permission is given for congregational usage.  Please include the following credit:  "Copyright 2016 Stephen M. Fearing | www.stephenmfearing.com"

Click here for a pdf of the hymn.

God creates a blessed newness; now it springs forth, don’t you see?
Come, you people of creation, gather now at God’s decree.
Do not fear for God is with us, pay no heed to things of old.
We are servants of the Sacred, wondrous works will we behold!

See who gathers at the table, all invited by our Lord;
Varied people, many colors, all commissioned by the Word.
Many ways are gospel stories shared among God’s people dear.
Let us gather round the table all with eager ears to hear.

Newness comes and, with it, struggle, but our tests cause us to grow.
Things will change but God is present more than we could ever know.
Give us courage, Lord, and wisdom for the days which lie ahead.
May we live as your disciples, nurtured by your daily bread.

We are witnesses of mercy, we are called to testify,
Gifts of grace in all abundance, steadfast love in strong supply.
God will guide and we will gather, leaning forward, called by name.
What great blessings lie before us, God’s to give and ours to claim.

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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.