"The Fishermen Had Gathered"

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Here's a new hymn inspired by John 21:1-6.  It is written in 7.6.7.6.D and is sung to the tune, ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVOGELEIN (isn't that a mouth full!) which is commonly used to sing "O Day of Rest and Gladness."  It can also be sung to AURELIA and LANCASHIRE.  

Permission is given for use in congregational worship.  Please give the following credit:  "Copyright 2016 Stephen M. Fearing | www.stephenmfearing.com"

Click here for a pdf of this hymn.

The fishermen had gathered to sit in silent wait,
Not knowing now their purpose, they fiddled with their bait.
They pondered all their options as day turned into night.
And then they started fishing beneath the pale moonlight.

No luck had they that evening, no single fish was caught.
As morning now approached them, they tried a different spot.
Frustration came with anger, their patience growing thin. 
As sunrise reached their faces, their hope died deep within.

But morning brought a new sight, a man upon the sand.
He gestured the disciples with waving of his hand.
He motioned them to catch fish upon the other side.
With nothing else to lose now, they cast their nets out wide.

But then a wondrous thing came, and gone was their chagrin;
So many fish were numbered, they could not haul it in.
When Jesus smiled upon them, they recognized his face.
May we, like them, be witness to your abundant grace.

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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.