Confession | Lent 5C | March 13th, 2016

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Confession

Lent 5C

March 13th, 2016

Here's a confession sequence for the 5th Sunday in Lent (Year C) - Lent 5C - inspired by Isaiah 43:16-21.

Call to Confession

With with trusting and penitent hearts,
let us gather before the Lord
to confess our sinful selves.

Prayer of Confession

God of Never-Ending Creation,
you call us to forget the things of old that weigh us down.
Rather, you call us to embrace the fruitful future you have placed before us.
However, we are a stubborn people, reluctant to let things go:
     we cling to "the good 'ole days" that we long for...
     we turn away from that which you call us to be:
          a people of hope,
          a people of joy,
          a people of love,
          a people of peace.
Instead, we seek to return to Egypt rather than head for the promised land.
Forgive us, Lord, for our shortsightedness and our stubbornness.
Forgive us, Lord, for our fearfulness and our frailty.
Forgive us, Lord, for we are a sinful people in need of your redemption.  Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Hear these words of comfort from the prophet Isaiah:
"Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Friends, even among us, sinners though we are,
God is doing a new thing!
The mercy of God has washed us clean
and brought water to our thirsty souls.  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.