A Prayer for Thanksgiving Day | November 26th, 2015

/

A Prayer for Thanksgiving Day

November 26th, 2015

God of our Being and our Breath,     
     we praise you for your goodness,     
     for your steadfast love that has carried us forth so far.
We gather as families and friends,
     surrounded by the laughter that serves as salve for our heavy hearts,
     encouraged by the presence of those we have missed so much,     
     renewed by the love that calls us into being and brings us beyond burdens.
How long we have waited for this day,     
     for moments of precious simplicity,
     for intimacy long overdue,
     for distances to be removed and isolation to have its end,
     for all to be as it should, at least for this moment.
We thank you for the many blessings which we do not deserve,
     we are thankful for welcoming tables,
     for warm homes,
     and hot meals,
     for fellowship that follows us all our years,
     and for sabbaths to relax and be renewed.
And yet, we are creatures who do not always share sabbath as we should.
We pat ourselves on the back for our business,
     and brag about all the things we do,
     we confess that too often we make productivity our idol.
Help us come to the table today, that we might be released
     from our self-made prisons of consumerism and busyness.
May laughter be our renewing grace and your goodness our guide.
May this moment transform us into servants that share you with one another.
Surely the days are coming, we are told, when your promise will have its day.
When justice and righteousness will be executed everywhere.
We are not there yet, but may this day invigorate us to lean more in that direction,
     and to partner with you in the grace that grows within the womb of Mary.
Lead us to your Advent promise and hear us as we lift our souls to you.
This we pray in your holy and good name.  Amen.

/ / Comment
, , , ,
, , , , , , , , , , ,

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.