Bishop Brian Cole to preach on “Day 1”

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

The Rt. Rev. Brian Lee Cole will be the featured preacher on the December 15 (the third Sunday of Advent) episode on “Day 1” with host Peter Wallace, a nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program.

Cole, bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee headquartered in Knoxville, previously served churches in Asheville, North Carolina, and Lexington, Kentucky. A native of Missouri and graduate of Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, he earned his M.Div. at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and did additional studies at the University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee.

“The Gift of Doubt,” Cole’s sermon for December 15, is drawn from Matthew 11:2-11, in which Jesus replies to the imprisoned John the Baptist’s question about whether Jesus was the promised one. He says, “Like John, you and I have also found ourselves sitting with doubt, if not in an actual prison cell, then in some other way trapped and uncertain of where to go next. And in those moments, when we consider what we are hearing about Jesus, we wonder if he is indeed the one we have been waiting for.”

The program includes interviews with Cole conducted by Wallace, who is also executive producer.

“Day 1” has been broadcast every week for almost 75 years, formerly as “The Protestant Hour.” Featuring outstanding preachers from the mainline denominations, “Day 1” is currently distributed to more than 200 radio stations across America and overseas. The program is produced by the Alliance for Christian Media, based in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, check the program’s website, http://day1.org. The episode will be available on podcast, website, and radio.