Fermata Nov 19, 2021: Singing with the Earth

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!

This week’s Fermata comes from Notes of Rest for the Sake of Earth, held yesterday at Center for Religion and Environment at Sewanee, headed by my dear friend Dr. Collin Cornell.  We sat with Psalm 96, a special Psalm to me in part because Dr. Cornell and I translated it from Hebrew while I was in seminary. The text is also special because it paints a beautiful picture of God's salvation being worked out in the Earth around us. The trees will sing at the coming of God's judgment, and humanity is enjoined to let the rest of creation praise God with the song of praise that erupts from their very existence. Those gathered on the call reflected on what it meant to worship every Sunday with all of the creatures who congregate, not just the humans within the four walls. Wow - what an image to sing the songs of Zion with the surrounding trees and dirt, squirrels and seagulls. We have much to learn.

When does the church let the fields, seas and earth rejoice? What part do you sing in the Earth's song of God's salvation?

May The Lord our great Gardener and Conductor lead us into singing in harmony with the earth around it instead of humming our own tune. To help you sing this urgent song, here's This is My Father's World.

abundantly,
Julian