Prayer of Thanksgiving for a Warm Day - November 27th, 2015

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God of Light and Love,
on this day late in the month of November,
it shouldn't be 61 degrees outside and sunny,
but it is and for that, I am thankful.
I am grateful for the warm sun upon my skin as I write my sermon.
I am grateful that in the light's bathing,
I must unzip my sweater because I'm too hot.
The days are getting shorter and the nights, longer.
The winter solstice is approaching and with it, the longest night of the year.
And yet, amidst this season of growing silence and cold,
you gift us with an undeserved day of renewal and reminding
that light and love await us at the end of this upcoming winter.
On behalf of those of us that struggle with depression's fierce grip,
on behalf of those who fear the falling of the leaves and the coming of snow,
on behalf of your children who miss the sun's warm glow, thank you!
May this warmth remind us of your love on the coldest of days that are sure to come.
May this light remind us that surely the days is coming when your Son will come,
and hope, peace, joy, and love will be ours for the taking and ours for the sharing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

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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.