The Episcopal Church Women of East Tennessee are excited to announce Cecilia Blackledge as the 2021 recipient of the Mollie Tucker Scholarship. Blackledge is a 2021 graduate of McMinn County High School, in Athens, TN, where she earned a 3.98 GPA and an honors and distinction diploma. Throughout high school she was involved in several organizations such as the cross country and track team, the Science Olympians, National Honor Society, and Student Government. Blackledge was also deeply involved in St. Paul’s,

 What does a fire tower have to do with church? In this Reconciling Thought, Bishop Brian Cole, just back from vacation, reflects on how a rebuilt fire tower can provide a whole new vision once it became accessible to all. Transcript – Hi, I’m Bishop Brian. Susan and I have just returned from summer vacation in Door County, Wisconsin. We’ve gone there the last 16 summers and have grown to love that part of the Upper Midwest. Our very

 In July of 2020, the Diocesan Christian Formation Task Force premiered a program called the 4Ms of Mental Health. At that time, we were four or five months into the pandemic and a month into protests, conflict, and violence after the murder of George Floyd. Now, we find ourselves 18 months into the pandemic and it is not showing signs of going away. In light of the continued pandemic and the constant strain it places on our lives, the

 Transcript – Hi, I’m Bishop Brian. I want to tell you today about who’s on first, what’s on second with the diocesan staff. The end of August Laura Nichols retired as my executive assistant. She did a great job for 16 years, serving Bishop vonRosenberg, Bishop Young, and now me. We are excited to see what’s next for Laura in her retirement. So we had hired Jon Humber in July thinking Jon would serve for us a parish support

 Those who have already signed up for the pilgrimage will be given first priority for the rescheduled trip on March 8-11, 2022. Whether indicating your wish to participate in the rescheduled pilgrimage or requesting a refund, please email Nichole Seiferth at nicole@gslookout.com or call 423-821-1583. Transcript – Hi, this is Bishop Brian. I want to give an update on our plans for a Selma and Montgomery Pilgrimage in October. When we planned the October Pilgrimage a few months ago,

 A transcript of this Reconciling Thought is available at the bottom of this post. Haiti: Episcopal Relief and Development Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and other partners in response to the devastating earthquake that struck on Saturday, August 14, 2021. The Diocese of Haiti, in collaboration with its congregations on the southern peninsula, quickly assessed the most urgent needs of vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, mothers with young children, the elderly, and

 Transcript – Hi, I’m Bishop Brian. I want to speak to you today, an update related to COVID, particular, the delta variant. I know in the spring, as many of us had access to the COVID-19 vaccine, there was a great sense of joy, of possibility, of progress as numbers went down, as people thought about a return to post-COVID life. Our parishes have experienced that. You and I have experienced that, as well. But we now know for

Transcript – Hi, I’m Bishop Brian. Couple of significant staff transitions are headed for us as a diocesan staff. I wanted to make you aware of those today. July 6, we will be welcoming Jon Humber to our diocesan staff as a parish support specialist. Jon’s face will be the first face you see when you enter our building here on Episcopal School Way. Jon joins us, he’s a member of the cathedral, sings in the choir there and will