Notes of Rest Exit Sheet
Given to participants at the end of in-person sessions
Notes of Rest Exit Sheet
Thank you for attending Notes of Rest. It is a joy to bear witness to the Body of Christ resting together, and I am prayerful that this rest can grow such that our surrounding weary world might become curious about the Source of our rest. Jesus said that the world will know we are Christians by how we love one another, and it’s clear throughout Scripture and church history that providing rest for one another is a key way of practicing that love. I am trying to follow the Holy Spirit into God’s eternal rest present to us right now, and want to help you do so too. Here are some ways we can continue the practice:
Practice Sabbath, Sleep, and Stillness.
Sabbath: God has graciously and wisely given us a weekly gift of rest. Discern how you can pause from paid and unpaid work once a week. What do you need to give up? Who do you need to rely on? (Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Isaiah 56:2-8, Hebrews 4:1-11)
Sleep: No matter our faults or accomplishments, we need to sleep as does the world around us. This is one of the clearest signs from God that we are made to depend on God. Discern how you can sleep better and how you can help others around you sleep better. What threatens your sleep? (Psalm 3, Psalm 4, Matthew 8:23-27)
Stillness: In the midst of all the violence of our world, God calls us to practice stillness. We live in an age of deep distraction, where our attention is monetized and we are educated to think we are always sufficient. How can you center and train your focus on God? Practice stillness in thought, word, and deed. (Psalm 46)
Keep practicing the cycle of Rivers, Banks and Wellsprings.
Rivers is the time of personal reflection on your rest practices. We grounded that reflection in Scripture, questions, visual art, and music. Practice study, confession, and imagination. Courage is the better friend.
Banks is the time of communal reflection on your rest practices. We grounded this time in engagement with your neighbor. Sit with your family, friends, ancestors, and surrounding environment and discuss your rest practices. Practice the art of conversation; it is a joyful dance.
Wellsprings is the time of response to Rivers and Banks. Practice repentance and affirmation. God is gracious.
Rinse & Repeat.
Listen to (Black) Music.
Music of any kind is made up of notes and rests, and sound can do a lot to calm our emotions. So put on your favorite music and listen for the rest.
Black Music has been an extraordinary way for my people to practice rest amidst the restlessness of modernity. From the Spirituals to Nina Simone, from Fela Kuti to John Coltrane, from Mahalia Jackson to Whitney Houston, you can hear Black folk affirming God’s call to rest despite the evils of the world. Of course, not all music may bring you rest, so be discerning. But once you find music that helps you relax into God, receive the gift.
The Spirituals and Jazz are particularly restful forms of Black music for me. The Spirituals hold onto an inner rest that my overworked ancestors claimed while chattel slaves, and Jazz is all about discerning in the moment when to play and when not to do so. This is why both are core to Notes of Rest.
Continue journeying with me into Notes of Rest.
Subscribe to The Notes of Rest Fellowship on my Substack. The Fellowship is my online paid subscription service that deepens our rest practices through further in-depth exploration of Scripture and Black music.
Follow me on Instagram @notesofrest
Invite me to your church or seminary. I’d love to come!