"Redeeming Thomas" - John 20:19-29 (August 18, 2019)

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"Redeeming Thomas" - John 20:19-29 (August 18, 2019)

So, let’s remove the stigma, shall we?  Doubt is not something to be ashamed of, it’s something to learn from.  The largest moments of learning in my life have been during times of my deepest doubt.  Without doubt, I believe there can be no true faith.  Faith is about living with doubt, not pretending it doesn’t exist. 

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"Jumping In" - John 21:1-7 (May 5, 2019)

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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.

"The Five Word Sermon" - John 20:1-18 (April 21, 2019)

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"The Five Word Sermon" - John 20:1-18 (April 21, 2019)

You see, I don’t think y’all came here today to satisfy some nostalgic obligation.  I think you came here today because you’re looking for a little life amid the chaos, amid the grief, amid the cruelty of this world.  So take a little life home with you today.  Take it home and share the life that is found in this five-word sermon. 

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"Cultivating Mindfulness. Letting Go of the Craziness" - John 12:1-8 (April 7, 2019)

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"Cultivating Mindfulness. Letting Go of the Craziness" - John 12:1-8 (April 7, 2019)

Her loving act was both provocative and prophetic.  Provocative because she is doing such an intimate and sensual act of devotion and love.  Prophetic because of where she is anointing Jesus.  Kings get anointed on the head.  But the only people who get anointed on the feet are ones who are dead.

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"The Upside-Down Kingdom: Part 3 - Where the Least Are the Greatest" - Mark 10:35-45 (October 21, 2018)

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"The Upside-Down Kingdom: Part 3 - Where the Least Are the Greatest" - Mark 10:35-45 (October 21, 2018)

There are times when putting the Body of Christ first means putting our comfort and convenience last.  There are times when moving forward means letting go of some things.  There are times, when making room for resurrection, that some things have to die in order for new things to sprout up in their place.

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