The Fermata Post: Year in Review
An Explosion of a Year
Hi everyone,
I hope this email finds you settling in for a wonderful Christmas and New Year, in whatever form that’ll take. Here in Chicago, this arctic blast has me thinking about how Jesus’ arrival did indeed shake the earth to its core.
Man, this year has been an explosive one. That’s the best word I have to describe all that has happened. God has been good! So today is just an invitation to celebrate together.
Since Notes of Rest has started in June 2021, I’ve offered Notes of Rest to over 4000 people! I’ve been able to take it all over the country and into Canada. I’ve been able to care for a vast array of people: elderly White Methodists in rural Illinois, Black Catholic youth in Jacksonville, Philadelphia Defense Attorneys, hedge fund managers in Connecticut, the Black mothers of the Methodist church who raised me on Chicago’s South Side, campus ministers working with athletes in Chicago, students and professors at Vancouver School of Theology, a Bible study spanning multiple nations, a charismatic church scholars conference in Denver, a UCC congregation in Des Moines, PhD students working towards their dissertations, a northern Chicago suburb mourning the horrific loss of their former organist, Methodist pastors in Washington state, Idaho, and Oregon.
Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve seen the hand of The Lord. God has reminded me throughout that God is ultimately the one who gives rest to a creation in desperate need of it. That rest has come for me too. I’ve been stretched in my playing and in my mind. I’ve cried a bit out of frustration, pain, and sorrow. I’ve laughed a lot due to the joy of the Lord. I’ve said wow even more at what all surprised me this year. I’ve made new relationships in all kinds of churches. I’ve seen the common needs amongst us all - how we all struggle with slavery and restlessness, how we are all in need of God’s liberating care. I’ve prayed for others and have been prayed over. We’ve rejoiced and rested.
I have played piano around the world this year - through Notes of Rest, The JuJu Exchange and Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few. The JuJu Exchange put out a new project of sonic medicine called JazzRx that premiered to great success on Spotify playlists, and Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few played sold out shows across Europe during our fall tour. I’ve seen the need to make beautiful music to God. The response has been tremendous.
Finally, this year launched me into the next phase of my career as a writer. First, there’s been the ongoing life of this newsletter, Fermata. Thank you for reading Julian’s Note as much as you have. Your engagement has been life-giving. Second, this year I became a Senior Fellow for Phase 3 of the Theological Education between the Times project out of Candler School of Theology, a collective of church and seminary leaders thinking and writing together about the future of theological education. Finally, in concert with other scholars on music and theology, I am participating in a book project out of Duke Divinity School on the Holy Spirit and the Arts.
Indeed, this year has been an explosion of possibility, joy, and grace. Thank you for being with me on this journey, for bearing witness to what God is doing in my life. I hope my words and music have brought you and yours some rest for your souls. If so, we’re on the right path.
Here’s to an abundant 2022, and to a grace-filled 2023. Hallelujah!
abundantly,
Julian
P.S. My manager Hannah and I are putting together my calendar for 2023. Feel free to respond to this email to book a Notes of Rest session.
P.P.S. New Podcast interviews:
Candler Foundry Podcast (Interview on Ministry and Entrepreneurship)
Emory Woodruff Scholars Podcast
P.P.S. I was interviewed on a podcast back earlier this year from St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary, and this was a Christmas podcast they put together around some music recommendations from me and other podcast guests. Enjoy!
And all deserved! Merry Christmas, Julian!