STREAMING SUNDAYS 9a · 11a · COVID-19 UPDATES

  8011 Douglas Ave, Dallas  ·   (214) 363-5471  ·   Contact Us  ·         Give

Saint Michael and All Angels
  • Visit
    • Welcome!
    • Children & Families
    • Service Times
    • Getting Here & Campus Map
    • Membership
    • Upcoming Events
  • About
    • Clergy & Staff
    • Parish Events!
    • Calendar
    • Blog / Newsroom
    • Rector's Blog
    • Our Vestry
    • What We Believe
    • Book Shop
    • Annual Report
    • Architecture & Art
    • Our History
    • Staff News
    • Membership
  • Give
    • Give Now
    • The Foundation
    • Legacy Planning
    • Flower Memorials
    • Building the Kingdom: Stewardship 2021
  • Worship
    • SUNDAY 9 & 11 AM LIVESTREAMS
    • Service Descriptions & Schedules
    • Music
    • Watch Our Sunday Services
    • In-Person Worship and Communion
    • Liturgical Support Groups
    • Baptism
    • Weddings
    • Funerals
    • Saint Michael Presents
    • Understanding Episcopal Worship
    • Preaching Schedule
  • Serve
    • Local Outreach
    • Missions
  • Learn
    • Sunday Classes
    • Children & Family Ministry (CFM)
    • Youth
    • Parent Ministry
    • Adult Classes
    • Men of Saint Michael
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Saint Michael 101
    • Episcopal Christians
    • Class Recordings
  • Care
    • Chapel Details for Prayer During Pandemic
    • Prayer Requests
    • Pastoral Care
    • Support Groups
    • Obituaries
  • Connect
    • Parish Events!
    • Fellowship Groups
    • Study Groups
    • Support Groups
    • Immersion Experiences
    • The SMAA Foundation
    • Women of Saint Michael
    • Saint Michael's Farmers Market
    • St. Michael's Woman's Exchange
  • Media
    • COVID-19 UPDATES
    • Live Events
    • Blog / Newsroom
    • Archangel Magazine
    • Resource Guide
    • Sermons
    • Class Recordings
    • Rector's Bible Study
    • Sunday News
    • Annual Report
    • Vestry & Finance Minutes

A DRIVE TOWARD JUSTICE by Rector Chris Girata

A DRIVE TOWARD JUSTICE was published in the Katy Trail Weekly, "The Good Word" Column, January 4, 2020
Chris Girata is the Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX.


A few weeks ago, I hopped into a London taxi on my way to Heathrow. Even though I wear a priest’s collar to work and I was on a work trip, I don’t typically travel in my collar. (I’ve learned through many experiences that collars do one of two things: scare people or cause them to confess everything wrong they’ve ever done!) The first few minutes of the ride were filled with the typical banter, until the driver asked, “So, what do you do?” When I told him I was a priest, his eyes got big, he stopped speaking and he stared at me in the mirror.

After an awkward moment of silence, the driver’s face turned a bit serious and he said, without a bit of irony, “So who do you think is really going to heaven?” I wanted to thank him for such an easy opener but thought that would be too sarcastic. Instead, I asked him to explain his question. He proceeded to tell me about all the different moments in his life when he felt “judged by religious people,” which made him feel like God was simply mean. Unfortunately, too many people have this same experience.

In general, we don't tend to like judgment because it feels too judgmental.

In general, we don’t tend to like judgment because it feels too judgmental. We all have to make decisions all the time, and often decisions can leave us feeling exhausted. On top of that, when those decisions affect others, we open ourselves up to the vulnerability of receiving their judgment. For most of us, we do not distinguish between judgment and judgmentalism, but I believe that distinction is critically important.

Judgmentalism is part of our cultural fabric. People make huge amounts of money poking fun at others, identifying and capitalizing on the flaws of others, and just generally being ugly about the world. From celebrity events to home movies, these moments are all around us. When I see viral videos or posts like these, I admit that I often laugh, but in truth, they are damaging. The more we poke fun, the more we dehumanize. And the more we dehumanize, the more we confuse the wrong of judgmentalism with right of judgment.

For most of us, we do not distinguish between judgment and judgmentalism, but I believe that distinction is critically important.

Judgment is a way of determining right and wrong, good and bad. To judge, one brings thoughtfulness and clarity to bear in a way that seeks a proper, balanced and just outcome. Justice is the result of judgment and justice is a good goal for us all.

We are moving into a new year with new opportunities ahead. As we enter 2020, many of us will ask some big questions about who we want to be and how we want to behave in the world. I hope that we all seek to move toward life-giving goals such as better health and a more generous spirit. As we consider changes in our lives, I encourage us to put the idea of justice in front of us. The year past was filled with too much injustice and too much judgmentalism. This year, may we find the courage to seek true judgment, to reach true justice, and in doing so, find new ways to truly honor one another and move our world forward for the good.

"The Good Word" Column is published bi-weekly, and can be picked up at the Saint Michael South Entrance.


Tags: Blog & Newsroom

Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
8011 Douglas Ave
Dallas, TX 75225
(214) 363-5471

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Job Openings

Facebook
facebook.com/SMAADallas
Instagram
instagram.com/SMAADallas
Twitter
twitter.com/SMAADallas
YouTube
youtube.com/SMAADallas

Sunday Services:

9 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
9 a.m. Joy: A Children’s Service
11 a.m. Contemporary Rite II Service in the Parish Hall
8 p.m. Compline in the Church

Watch Live and On-Demand

Under normal circumstances, Saint Michael offers more services every day of the week. Learn more about our full worship schedule here.

Affiliates:

Saint Michael Episcopal School
St. Michael's Woman's Exchange
Saint Michael Book Shop
Saint Michael's Farmers Market
Jubilee Park Community Center
The Saint Michael Foundation

Download Our App:

avaialble-on-app-store_229get-it-on-google-play_921


Saint Michael and All Angels is a member parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. We practice The Way of Love as members of The Episcopal Church.

  View Entire Post

Service Times

WATCH LIVE


Sunday Services:
9 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
11 a.m. Contemporary Rite II Service
8 p.m. Compline

More about services at Saint Michael and All Angels here.

Location

Saint Michael and All Angels
8011 Douglas Ave
Dallas, TX 75225

Contact Us
(214) 363-5471

Newsletter Signup

To sign up to receive any of our e-mailed publications, please enter your information and click on your interests below:

Newsletter Signup

*
*
*

Thank you!

Welcome Children Service Times Getting Here & Campus Map Membership

Welcome! | Saint Michael and All Angels is a community of passionate people seeking to follow Jesus in a meaningful way that impacts both our own lives and that of the community around us. We are blessed with our parish home and so glad to share it with you. If you find yourself in Dallas, we would love to have you join us for worship!

- The Reverend Dr. Chris Girata, Rector

Welcome to Children and Family Ministry!

Our team in Children and Family Ministry provides children, ages 0 – 5th grade, and their parents with the tools they need to become faithful disciples of Christ. We achieve this through fun and interactive programming that allows children and families to explore their faith together.

Learn More
Sunday Services:
7:30 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I) in Saint Michael Chapel
9 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite II) in the Church
9 a.m. Joy: A Children’s Service in Saint Michael Chapel
11 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I) in the Church
11 a.m. Contemporary Rite II Service in the Parish Hall
5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer and Eucharist Rite I in Saint Michael Chapel
8 p.m. Compline in the Church
Saturday Services:
8:30 a.m. Eucharist in Bishop Moore Chapel
5:30 p.m. Candlelight Mass in Saint Michael Chapel
Weekday Services:
7 a.m. M/W/F: Morning Prayer in Bishop Moore Chapel
7 a.m. T/Th: Holy Eucharist (Rite I or II) in Bishop Moore Chapel
10 a.m. Wed.: Healing Service in Bishop Moore Chapel
Click here for service descriptions and more info

We are located just south of Northwest Highway off of Douglas Ave. at Colgate Ave. Via Northbound Tollroad: Exit Lovers Ln, continue straight on Lomo Alto a few blocks to Colgate. Church is on your right. Via Southbound Tollroad: Exit Northwest Hwy, turn left to Douglas Ave. Turn R on Douglas and church is a few blocks down on your right. Via US 75: Exit Northwest Hwy and go west to Douglas Ave. Turn R on Douglas and church is a few blocks down on your right.

Maps & Directions

If you are new to Saint Michael, curious about the path to membership, or simply want to learn more about life at our parish community, we invite you to join us for two different class events we have throughout the year: "Saint Michael 101" is an introduction to life here at SMAA, and "Episcopal Christians", where we explore what it means to walk as a Christian in the Episcopal tradition, discussing topics like our Anglican heritage, worship, the Bible and formation etc.

Saint Michael 101 Episcopal Christians
Give Now Flower Memorials The Foundation Legacy Planning Stewardship 2021

Thank you for supporting the mission and ministry of Saint Michael and All Angels!

Select from the buttons below to make your gift.

Give Now Recurring Giving Make Your Pledge

Flowers in our holy worship spaces are a beautiful gift to God and those who attend services at Saint Michael as well as those being honored or remembered. A contribution to the Flower Fund is a meaningful way to honor or remember a loved one for special life events such as birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, confirmations, thanksgivings, or in memory of a loved one.

Flower Memorials

The Foundation of Saint Michael and All Angels is essential to the vitality, growth, stability and success of our parish. Its grants support the mission of the Parish, consistent with priorities established by the Vestry and the Rector.

Learn More

As God’s stewards, we build on the foundation left by those who came before us. We, in turn, have the opportunity, with a bequest to Saint Michael, to sustain and enhance our parish ministries and programs for the benefit of future generations.

Learn More

Building the Kingdom

Saint Michael and All Angels Annual Giving

Join us as we commit ourselves to the 2021 Stewardship Campaign.

Building the Kingdom