A Prayer for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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A Prayer for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 18th, 2016

God of all people, races, and creeds,
we give you thanks this day for those who have seen the other side of the mountain
and have invited us to see the justice that awaits us on the other side.
You create us so differently,
each of us born with various gifts that make us beautiful in your sight.
Help us to see that beauty in one another.
We confess that we often choose to believe that which culture tells us to believe,
we believe in harmful words rather than your perfect Word,
a healing Word that calls us to unity in diversity.
Help us to have curiosity, wonder, and thanksgiving where there is only fear.
Yes, we are different, but we are all part of the one Body.
The ear, the hand, the mouth, the eye, all have their different jobs
but are nevertheless connected by the one Spirit
who leads us to worship the one God.
Our prayer this day is that all peoples may live together in harmony.
Truly, in Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north!
Bring us together that we might glorify your name.
Since your grace finds us equally, guide us to share that grace equally in your name.
This we pray in your holy and good name.  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.