Confession | Lent 2C | February 21st, 2016

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Confession

Lent 2C

February 21st, 2016

Here's a confession sequence for the 2nd Sunday in Lent (Year C) - Lent 2C - inspired by Luke 13:31-35.

Call to Confession

    Come, children of God,
    an join me in confessing our faults to a faithful Lord.

Prayer of Confession

    Jerusalem is where you are leading us.
    Jerusalem - the city that kills prophets.
    You call us to take part in your work
    but it is scary work,
    work that might upset people
    because it upsets the status quo.
    We often choose easier tasks,
    tasks that do not upset the water,
    because we are fearful and do not trust your care.
    “Give us easier things to do,” we ask.
    “Don’t make us sacrifice,” we beg.
    “Call someone else,” we plea.
    Gracious God, hear our confession
    and erase these questions from our hearts.
    Give us questions that ask what lies ahead
    in your paths of justice and righteousness.

Assurance of Pardon

    Friends, the journey of confession,
    though tricky and dismal,
    always ends in mercy.
    God has heard our confession
    and has forgiven our sins.
    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.