"Bear Fruit of True Repentance"

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Here’s a hymn inspired by Matthew 3:1-12 which shows up in the Revised Common Lectionary on the 2nd Sunday of Advent (Year A). It is written in 7.6.7.6.D and is recommended to be sung to the tune MEIRIONYDD. It can, however, be sung to several other tunes so if you’d like this hymn notated to a different tune, please let me know and I’ll be happy to do so if I have permission.

Permission is given for use in congregational worship.  Please give the following credit:  "Copyright 2019 Stephen M. Fearing | www.stephenmfearing.com"

Click here for a pdf of this hymn.

“Bear fruit of true repentance;
God’s kin(g)dom has come near,”
said John beside the river,
”God’s mandate now is clear.”
The water washes over
and cleanses you from sin
to break your heart wide open
and let God’s love flow in.

Bear fruit that heals creation.
Plant seeds and watch them grow.
Be stewards of the harvest.
To all God’s love bestow.
For we are called as gard’ners
to share in God’s design
and serve as Christ would will us,
the branches of his vine.

Bear fruit, for Christ is coming,
we must prepare the way.
For now’s the time for justice;
it can’t wait one more day.
So come all to the water
and let it fill the soul
that by God’s grace we flourish
and make the wounded whole.

Bear Fruit of True Repentance - Score.jpg
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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.