"Dry Land Becomes a River"
/A new hymn by Stephen M. Fearing inspired by Isaiah 35:1-10
Read MorePastor, Preacher, Hymn-Writer, Justice-Seeker
Original Hymns and Liturgical Music by Stephen M. Fearing
A new hymn by Stephen M. Fearing inspired by Isaiah 35:1-10
Read MoreA new hymn by Stephen M. Fearing regarding anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States of America.
Read MoreA new hymn by Stephen M. Fearing inspired by John 20:19-29.
Read MoreA new hymn by Stephen M. Fearing inspired by Luke 19:1-10
Read MoreA new hymn by Stephen M. Fearing inspired by the Psalm 8.
Read MoreA new hymn by Stephen M. Fearing inspired by the Book of James.
Read MoreA new hymn by Stephen M. Fearing inspired by 2 Timothy 1
Read More"O, Come to the Water, All Ye Who Thirst"
Read More"When the Lord Restored Our Fortunes" | Paraphrase of Psalm 126
Read More"Happy Are Those Who Once Were Slaves to Sin"
Read More"Thus Says the Lord, Our God" - Baptism of the Lord Sunday (Year C)
Read MoreHere's a hymn of lament partly inspired by Psalm 22 and my own personal struggles with clinical depression. It is sung to the tune SALVATION and the meter is CMD.
Click here for a pdf of this hymn.
If only grief was like this hymn, so measured and precise,
with rhyme and reason ev’rywhere, so perfect and concise.
Predictable its verses are, its tone and texture sure.
The grief I have has none of this, its pattern so obscure.
If only pain was logical, so linear and brief;
instead my grief eludes my grasp, as secret as a thief.
Some days it hides and slumbers near, so quiet and so still,
but other days it rages fierce, and fights against my will.
If only woes came once then left so soon and then undone,
instead my saddest song comes back, more verses to be sung.
Some times I feel as though I’m torn, as if I’m ripped apart,
so isolated and disgraced, a veil across my heart.
Come Holy Spirit in this hour when I, your servant, cry;
Come hold me in your loving arms, don’t let my heart’s hope die.
Come lead me to a better place, where warmth and mirth preside,
Come send me forth in happiness, with providence my guide.
My wife has often reminded me that while most of us see the Season of Advent as a a four week period, Mary's advent was 9 months! I have often pondered on that and decided to write a hymn exploring that theme. It is sung to the tune: VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN (7.6.7.6. D), which is commonly used to sing "O Lord, How Shall I Meet You" (#104 in Glory to God hymnal).
Click here for a pdf of the text.
Permission is given for use in congregational worship. Please give the following credit: "Copyright 2015 Stephen M. Fearing | www.stephenmfearing.com"
Nine months was Mary’s advent, nine months her blessed wait.
Her travels long and toilsome, her path a joyful fate.
She carried Christ our savior within her blessed womb,
the journey just beginning would reach an empty tomb.
With Joseph, Mary pondered these things long in her heart.
Her trust was true and faithful, would guide them from the start.
Her Lord had chosen Mary to bear God’s only son,
This advent wait of blessing where grace had just begun.
With courage may we follow this Mary’s faithful feet,
and trust our God to save and to make our joy complete.
Help us to wait like Mary as when her tale began.
May we, like her, give fully ourselves to serve God’s plan.
Here is a Christmas hymn that would work especially well for either a Christmas Eve service or a Christmas Day service (as well as the rest of the season of Christmas). It is written to the tune BEREDEN VAG FOR HERRAN which is commonly sung to the hymn "Prepare the Way, O Zion." The meter is 7.6.7.6.7.7. with refrain.
This hymn has at least two possibilities for singing:
Click here for a pdf of the hymn.
Permission is given for use in congregational worship. Please give the following credit: "Words by Stephen M. Fearing, 2015 | www.stephenmfearing.com"
Good people, come and listen to Good News from above:
our God has shattered darkness, he comes with light and love.
The newness now is springing, the joyful bells are ringing.
The Word made flesh arrives, and saves our thankful lives!
We sing for we are happy, we sing for Jesus born,
we sing for God among us, we welcome God’s new morn.
Join us in gladsome singing, for joy the Christ is bringing.
The Word made flesh arrives, and saves our thankful lives!
We gather here to listen to stories from before:
how Jesus came to save us, to heal and to restore.
We sing with adoration, for God is our salvation.
The Word made flesh arrives, and saves our thankful lives!
Here is a new hymn that is a paraphrase of Psalm 25, the lectionary psalm for the 1st Sunday in Advent, Year C (November 29th, 2015). It is written to the tune ABERYSTWYTH (7.7.7.7 D) which is commonly used for "Watchman, Tell Us Of The Night").
This hymn was a challenge to write; to my knowledge, this is the first time I've written a hymn with an "ABABCDCD" rhyme scheme (all the others have been "AABBCCDD").
Click here for a pdf of the hymn.
Permission is given for use in congregational worship. Please give the following credit: "Copyright 2015 Stephen M. Fearing | www.stephenmfearing.com"
Lord, I lift my soul to you; in your holy name I trust.
Long I've known your paths are true; all your ways are good and just.
Waiting ever for your love, lead me in your truth and grace
Perfect guidance from above, ever more in your embrace.
Merciful your acts, O Lord; bring salvation to my heart.
Wisdom is my sole reward; from you may I ne'er depart.
May your presence with me stay, your instructions fill my soul.
Guide me, Lord, along the way, only with you am I whole.
Recall not my sins of late; help release me from their hold.
Save me from my dismal fate; keep my humble, keep me bold.
Always to your face I gaze; look upon your servant now.
I shall follow all my days, this my only, solemn vow.
Lonely and downcast am I; act with mercy, guard my life.
On your goodness I rely; help me in these times of strife.
May redemption be my course, and my troubles be no more.
With your grace my only source, you will my new life restore.
Here's an Kyrie that is especially appropriate for the season of Advent. Each verse is meant to be sung on the appropriate Sunday (hope, peace, joy, and love) as the kyrie during the confession sequence. Sung to the tune VENI EMMANUEL ("O Come, O Come, Emmanuel").
Permission given for use in congregational worship. Please give the following credit: "Copyright 2015 Stephen M. Fearing | www.stephenmfearing.com"
Click here for a pdf of the hymn.
Here is a hymn that is especially appropriate for the season of Advent. It can be sung with all four verses together or each verse can serve as the sung response to the assurance of pardon for each respective Sunday in Advent (Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love). The meter is 8.7.8.7. D and it is sung to the tune HYFRYDOL ("Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus").
Click here for a pdf of the hymn.
Permission is given for use in congregational worship. Please give following credit: "Copyright 2015 Stephen M. Fearing | www.stephenmfearing.com"
Original hymns, liturgies, and sermons by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing. Liturgies for use in worship based off of the Revised Common Lectionary.