Dear East Tennessee Friends,
“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.”
Psalm 85:8-13
This past Sunday, this portion of the Psalms was heard as we gathered for worship across our Diocese. It is a hopeful vision, an image of healing and wholeness. As we gathered and meditated on these words, the warring world in which we live offered a contrasting vision. In Europe, the Middle East, the African continent, and Asia, violent conflict, most often directed toward civilian non-combatants, grows daily.
This Advent season, I would commend your continued prayers for justice and peace in our world, and to pray for all those working for justice and peace during war and conflict across the globe. Along with your prayers, I would invite you to make your prayers tangible by contributing to the United Thank Offering Challenge Grant Appeal for the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. This Challenge Grant will match up to $100,000 of donations given through December 31. These funds will assist the Diocese of Jerusalem with outreach ministries during the Israel/Palestine conflict.
At our most recent Clergy Conference, Dr. Ellen Davis, Professor of Bible at Duke Divinity School, spoke to us on the theme of the Practice of Hope. In teachings from the Book of Ruth and the Psalms, she helped our clergy see anew the abiding presence of God’s Spirit with God’s people, even in times of death and deep conflict. My prayer for our Diocese is that we will practice hope together. May the words of righteousness and peace kissing go from our praying lips and take up root in every land where violent conflict holds sway.
Peace,
The Rt. Rev. Brian L. Cole, Bishop of East Tennessee