Fermata Mar 18, 2022: Rest in Prison
Fermata is the weekly newsletter describing some of the past week’s highlights from Notes of Rest, which is my spiritual retreat ministry that interweaves text, music, and questions for the sake of cultivating stillness, introspection, and creativity in communities so that all may rest. I'd love to host a Notes of Rest for your church, seminary, or affinity group. Feel free to reply to this email to start the conversation!
Black Methodist Church Renewal, Kairos Prison Ministry, A Book Feature
Rest Assured Devotional Series: “The Church’s One Foundation” (click here)
Hi everyone,
I’m excited that the second to last installment of the Rest Assured Devotional Series is out. You can check it out here.
Last Saturday I had the chance to host a Notes of Rest session at a Kairos Prison Ministry recruitment event hosted at The Growth Gathering Fellowship here on Chicago’s Southside. We sat with Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and looked at how God liberated Israel from captivity. Because Kairos men are working with a prison population, my main reflection question was what’s the good news of God’s liberating rest for those in captivity? I asked this based on Israel’s history as a nation: many scholars believe that the book of Deuteronomy was most likely finalized during Israel’s exilic captivity in Babylon in the 6th century BCE. Thus, I wanted the volunteers to make the connection between rest, captivity, and the setting of Scripture. I cherished the chance to create space for us to contemplate The Lord who visits us in our various kinds of imprisonment and bids us rest!
What’s the good news of God’s liberating rest for those (you) in captivity? How are we able to rest even when we are not afforded the luxury of leisure?
Also last week, I hosted a Notes of Rest for Chicago Black Methodists for Church Renewal Pastors (a follow-up to a session held for BMCR youth). Here’s what happened for a participant:
“Notes of Rest has landed in our midst in the nick of time. It has raised awareness to the importance of rest as a gift deserved and needed by everyone. The retreat with Chicago BMCR youth drew open responses that were surprising and revealing. Julian was very effective in connecting hymns and scripture as available tools to enhance and undergird efforts to access rest. The next Hour of Power retreat for pastors and seminarians was filled with some powerful moments that were inspiring and uplifting. Going forward we will be providing Notes of Rest sessions with great enthusiasm for as many groups as possible. Personally, my exposure to 2 Notes of Rest experiences is life-changing. As one busily following the call to serve 24/7, rest never occurred to me. Thanks to Notes of Rest, I have learned better and have begun to do better.” Sylvia Jo Oglesby, Chicago BMCR Program Coordinator
abundantly,
Julian
P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about the beautiful ecosystem of Black creativity in Chicago, I strongly recommend picking up the newly released Energy Never Dies: Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago by Ayana Contreras, Music Director/Director of Content for Vocalo Radio 91.1fm. I was happy to contribute some thoughts on theology, Chicago history, gospel music, and my jazz-electronic fusion band The JuJu Exchange!
P.P.S. You can now read My Newsletter in the new Substack app for iPhone.
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Photo by paolo candelo on Unsplash