Julian Davis Reid – Becoming Folk of Rest
Musician and theologian Julian Davis Reid talks with Nate on Life With God about the invitations of Scripture and Black music to receive God’s rest — and to help others rest — while living in the tension of a world where so much is still not right.
Show Notes
The song “Nerve to be Super (For Michael),” played during the episode, is from Julian’s upcoming record, Vocation, which will be out in September.
Visit juliandavisreid.com to learn more about his various offerings, to book a Notes of Rest experience, or to learn about original music releases and records (such as Notes of Rest Hymns Vol. 1 and BEHOLD with the band The JuJu Exchange).
You can also find Julian’s newsletter and stay up to date with news by subscribing at juliandavisreid.substack.com.
Get Episodes Like This in Your Inbox
In our Friday newsletter with curated spiritual formation resources.
Thanks for subscribing! We'll send you a confirmation email.
Julian Davis Reid
Julian Davis Reid (M.Div., Candler School of Theology) is a child of God, the husband of Carmen and father of Lydia, a son and brother, and a Black artist-theologian of Chicago who uses words and music to invite us into the restful lives we were created to live. A musician, speaker, and writer, Julian is the founder of the ministry Notes of Rest®, which invites the weary into the rest of God practiced in the Bible and Black music. Julian also has musical releases out with several projects, including his own ensemble Circle of Trust, his jazz-electronic fusion group The JuJu Exchange (with Nico Segal & Nova Zaii), and his collaborative work with saxophonist Isaiah Collier. His most recent releases are Candid under his own name, The Almighty with Isaiah Collier, and JazzRx with The JuJu Exchange. Julian has performed at the Montreal Jazz Fest, The Cleveland Orchestra’s Severance Hall, Lollapalooza, and the Berlin Jazz Fest, and he has worked or performed with Chance the Rapper, Jamila Woods, Tank and the Bangas, Derrick Hodge, Andrew Bird, Jennifer Hudson, and Abiodun Oyewole from The Last Poets. He is a Fellow of Theological Education Between the Times and consults with the boutique consultancy Fearless Dialogues. Julian writes about faith, music, Blackness, and rest on his Substack “The Notes of Rest Fellowship,” and his work has been covered in Forbes, Sojourners, Billboard, and Downbeat.
Nathan Foster
Nathan Foster is an author and host of Life With God, a Renovaré Podcast. Formerly, he was an Associate Professor of social work and served as the Andrews Chair in Spiritual Formation at Spring Arbor University. He was also a licensed clinical social worker and certified addictions counselor. Nathan has published two books, including The Making of an Ordinary Saint: My Journey from Frustration to Joy with the Spiritual Disciplines.