Date: April 3, 2024
I admire so much students who embark on complex projects and decide to offer their creativity to the world. On Good Friday, Joshua Duncan (our junior) decided to “drop” an EP containing five songs. On Holy Saturday, I was making the walk from The General Theological Seminary to 31st street to take a train back to Alexandria. I was walking along the Highline and I decided to ease into Holy Saturday, listening to Joshua’s EP.
Joshua describes his EP as “Gospel contemporary, hip-hop gospel, and soul gospel”. I found the music intimate and powerful. The opening track was an invitation to meditation as the Holy name of Jesus was gently and rhythmically repeated; this reminded me of the medieval mystic Richard Rolle who made the repetition of the name of Jesus a central part of his practice. The song then flows into praise and adoration – love for Jesus just pulsates through. Perhaps my favorite track was called “Grateful”. Learning to be grateful is the fundamental Christian skill, even when, as the lyrics put it, the world is “hateful”. It was a good track to listen to as one thinks through the paradox of Holy Saturday – love is in the tomb, a victim of hate, by which we are grateful that the salvation of the world is made possible.
It is entitled Code to Redemption and has five songs. You can find the EP on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and all other streaming services. Find them now and do listen to this powerful EP.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary