How might we help and pray for those affected by the recent tornadoes? In this message, Bishop Brian Cole offers ways in which East Tennessee Episcopalians can help the recovery efforts through donations to the Diocese of Kentucky and Episcopal Relief and Development.
Transcript
– Hi, I’m Bishop Brian. I want to speak to you today about an appeal I’m making on behalf of those neighbors impacted to the west of us recently with these horrific tornadoes that passed through western Kentucky, west Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, on December 10th and 11th. In particular, I’m encouraging us to embrace our east Tennessee volunteer spirit and give generously to Episcopal Relief and Development. They have a tornado relief fund set up there. Also at the end of this video, you will see link both to that, a way to support ERD, but also to give to the diocese of Kentucky.
Western Kentucky, in particular, has had significant loss of life and has significant need. And the diocese there along with the work of Episcopal Relief and Development, the diocese there is also encouraging folks to give generously to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund to Bishop Terry White or to parishes in Murray, Bowling Green, and Paducah to those discretionary funds to offer help immediately on the ground. As the good people of east Tennessee, like you like me, many of us have connections, not only to this region, but to Kentucky, to Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, to those communities that were impacted, to west Tennessee.
So in this time, join me, join Susan, join others who are giving and giving generously at this time. Also, pray for the folks who have been impacted by this. Thank you for being willing to give financially, but pray for them, and pray for the clergy and lay leaders in those parishes that will be responding, walking with folks as they continue to search for survivors, or to find those who have died and who have not yet been accounted for.
This is hard work. This is grief work in a time of advent and waiting for the incarnation, and that message of hope to be with us. God comes to us in fragile times, in times of deep uncertainty, and the folks impacted by these tornadoes continue to live in deeply uncertain times. We want them, however, to be certain of our care, of our prayers, and our financial support. Thank you, thank you, thank you for considering this appeal and responding as I know you will, with open and caring and loving hearts. Thank you, thank you, thank you.