Fermata Feb 25, 2022: Residency at Duke Divinity School

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!

Notes of Rest for Duke Divinity School

Hi everyone,

This week I have had the privilege of having a mini-residency at Duke Divinity School as a Distinguished Lecturer for the Duke Initiative in Theology and the Arts. It's been an absolutely wonderful time! Yesterday in chapel I hosted a session on Matthew 8:23-27 where Jesus takes a nap in the boat during the storm. With all of the chaos swirling around us now given the warfare in Ukraine, Omicron's morphing, and other challenges facing churches in this day and age, it was appropriate to ponder with the school the reality that  Jesus was able to sleep in the midst of the storm surrounding him. As we journeyed with the panicked disciples, a hush and stillness fell over the congregation that was holy. (I also lectured today on the topic Sounds in the Deep: A Hermeneutics of Rest for an Exhausted World if you'd like to watch that.)

Who are you afraid might die as the boats of your communities of faith take on water? When have you borne witness to Jesus sleeping?

May The Lord grant us Notes of Rest today, for salvation has come and is coming.

abundantly,
Julian