Our Annual Bishop's Visit (October 18, 2026)

This Sunday we welcome The Rt. Rev. Phoebe Roaf, Bishop of West Tennessee, for her annual visitation. We are fortunate here in our diocese to benefit from annual visits from our bishop.  

In the Episcopal Church, bishops stand in a line of succession reaching back to the apostles, and they serve as a visible sign of the unity of the whole Church across time and place. The Book of Common Prayer describes the bishop’s ministry as representing Christ and his Church “particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese,” guarding the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church, and ordaining others to carry on Christ’s ministry. A bishop is first of all a pastor, the chief shepherd of every congregation in the diocese. That is why her visit is a fitting occasion for baptism, when new members are brought into Christ’s Body, and why confirmation is reserved to a bishop. When she lays hands on those being confirmed, she connects their mature profession of faith to the wider Church beyond St. Luke’s.

You will notice a few distinctive items she wears or carries. The mitre is the tall, pointed hat. Its two peaks are traditionally said to recall the tongues of fire that rested on the apostles at Pentecost. The crozier is a staff shaped like a shepherd’s crook, a reminder that a bishop is called to guide, protect, and gather in the flock. The episcopal ring signifies her commitment to the diocese and the Church she serves, and rings like it were once used to seal official documents. The pectoral cross, worn on the chest over the heart, marks her as one who serves under the cross of Christ. Together these are not marks of rank so much as signs of a particular calling: to teach, to tend, and to hold the Church together in love.

This Sunday is even more special as we are celebrating the Feast of St. Luke, our patron saint. The bishop will preach at the 8am service, and preach and preside at the 10:30 service with baptism and confirmations.  I hope you make every effort to come this Sunday and celebrate this occasion; luncheon follows the second service.  

See you in church, 

Jesse+ 

Following the 10:30am service, there will be a reception. If you are able to help out with this, please text Lindsay Wilhite at 423-304-1224. To make a donation, click here.

The Right Reverend Phoebe Roaf, Bishop of West Tennessee