The Diocesan staff wish you, your family, and your communities a Happy Thanksgiving! Our office will be closed in observance of the holiday beginning at Noon on Wednesday, November 27, and will reopen Monday, December 2, at 8:30 am. Please see our staff directory for email addresses. Phone calls to our office (865-966-2110) will have the option of leaving a message with select staff or the general inbox.
Read MoreCall for Volunteers for the 41st Annual Convention of the Diocese of East Tennessee
Bishop Brian Cole invites you to consider volunteering for diocesan convention. We need YOUR help to make this diocesan convention a success. Never been to convention? Want to see what goes on behind the scenes? Thinking about being a delegate and want a taste of convention? Want to participate with convention but only stay for part of the day? Consider volunteering to experience convention and help make this a year to remember. Volunteers receive all the fun snacks, swag, and
Read MoreLove God. Love neighbor. Love self. Bishop Brian Cole preaches at Yale Berkeley School of Divinity
November 6, 2024 Berkeley at Yale Eucharist Mark 12:28-34 The Right Rev. Brian L. Cole About three weeks, ago, I was at a Crossroads. To be more specific, I was at the Crossroads Motel in Martin, South Dakota. I was visiting South Dakota on behalf of the Diocese of East Tennessee, to explore renewing a companion relationship between East Tennessee and the Diocese of South Dakota. The Bishop of South Dakota and I were drinking coffee early in the morning,
Read MoreBishop Cole Preaches at St. John’s Cathedral, “My Teacher, Let Me See Again”
23rd Sunday after Pentecost 2024 St. John’s Cathedral Knoxville Mark 10:46-52 The Right Rev. Brian L. Cole “My teacher, let me see again.” What a difference a Sunday can make. Last Sunday, the lesson from Mark’s Gospel focused on James and John and their bold request for status in the Way of Jesus. “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you,” they said. I guess you can say it never hurts to ask, right?
Read MoreTo Serve the Common Good: A Reconciling Thought
“Continue to consider how you’ll pray, how you’ll vote, and to live in the aftermath as folks, as citizens seeking the common good.” Bishop Brian Cole encourages us to reflect on the Episcopal baptismal covenant as we vote in this latest election and as we hold our communities in prayer in the aftermath. Music: https://www.bensound.com License code: SSNLI1BQKJAAYQGR Transcript Hi, it’s Bishop Brian. I have a couple of thoughts I want to offer as we are in the midst of
Read MoreAnnouncing the 41st Annual Convention of the Diocese of East Tennessee
We’re excited to announce the 41st Annual Convention of the Diocese of East Tennessee. Bishop Brian Cole introduces this year’s theme of “Imagine Our Possibilities” and how that relates to our ongoing strategic visioning for the diocese. More information about diocesan convention will be published at www.dioceseconvention.org.
Read MoreFirst, Last. Last, First.: A Sermon from Bishop Brian Cole
Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost 2024 Church of the Ascension, Knoxville Mark 10:17-31 Psalm 90:12-17 The Right Rev. Brian L. Cole Several years ago, my friend, The Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner, who teaches at Duke Divinity School, told me about a particular practice of reading Holy Scripture. It is called dislocated exegesis. Now, dislocated exegesis, that’s a 20-dollar phrase. Dislocated exegesis doesn’t just roll off the tongue, and I am not sure how advisable it is to bring up the term
Read MoreReconciling Thought: Helpful, Hopeful, and Present
Bishop Brian Cole reflects on the story of the flood in Genesis and how its meaning is different in light of the recent flooding in the Southeast. For more information on how you can help, visit www.dioet.org/2024-flooding Royalty Free Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: UOETMGBYGFIWT7TN Transcript Hi, I’m Bishop Brian. I’d like to read to you today from the end of the flood story in the book of Genesis from the translation, The Message. Then God spoke to Noah and his
Read MoreJoint Statement on Collaborative Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts
On September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and continued unleashing devastation there and then in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Over 200 people have died and many remain lost. As search and rescue continues, many are without power, food, water, and homes. Anxiety and grief are palpable. The church is called to respond. Both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southeastern Synod and the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee are committed to working together to
Read MoreHurricane Helene Flooding Update: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Bishop Brian Cole updates the Diocese of East Tennessee on the assessment of church property in East Tennessee as well as offering new ways to give to directly impact the communities in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Donate to East Tennessee: https://onrealm.org/dioet/-/form/give/2024flood To donate to the Diocese of East TN relief efforts, complete the Realm online giving portal. For questions, please call 865-966-2110. Donate to Western North Carolina: https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx?sn=148858&f=4 Please read before clicking: To donate to the Diocese
Read More