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Saint Michael and All Angels
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A SEASON OF REAL CHANGE by Rector Chris Girata

A SEASON OF REAL CHANGE was published in the Katy Trail Weekly, "The Good Word" Column, February 29, 2020
Chris Girata is the Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX.


Lent begins this week, a holy season for Christians around the world. This is a season that many Christians, including me, set aside to prepare hearts and minds for the celebration of Easter in April. Although Lent is clearly a church season, and some of you are likely not connected to church communities, I think the opportunity to take stock and consider growth is helpful for all of us.

In addition to restaurants teeing up their fish specials on Fridays, many Christians will enter the 40 days of Lent with an eye toward engaging in new spiritual disciplines. I can (and have) go on and on about how helpful that is. But for our purposes in this column, allow me to make the argument that taking a season, not just a moment, to take stock of your life is good for anyone.

... taking a season, not just a moment, to take stock of your life is good for anyone.

Who we are and who we want to be is a popular approach to selling hope for the future. Endless numbers of self-help gurus and social media influencers work to engage and sell dreams of a life that is better and more fulfilling. Statistically speaking, the self-help market is gigantic, with U.S. revenues last year of more than $10 billion. Yet when I look around, I see fewer and fewer happy, hopeful, fulfilled people. Instead, people seem stretched thin, exhausted by the constant barrage and judgment they receive all around.

Much of what I believe is based on a simple idea: what is good for the whole is more important than what is good for the individual. Time and time again, the lessons we learn in our wisdom traditions, especially in the Bible, is that our relationships with one another is most important. Relating to one another, quite literally loving one another, is paramount to the core of our humanity.

If that sounds like you, know you’re not alone. Seeking to better yourself is a normal human journey. But perhaps buying the hopefulness that another person is selling isn’t the best way to go. Perhaps we should look inside ourselves to find strength we may not know we have.

Perhaps we should look inside ourselves to find strength we may not know we have.

In my world, I talk regularly about spiritual gifts. That may sound a little churchy, but the idea is simple. Each one of us is gifted with a way of being and doing that is unique and when we use our gifts, we find deep satisfaction. Our spirit, the life-force in us, seeks to meet the needs of the world around us. Consider how you feel when you help someone in need or extend unexpected kindness to a stranger. The surge of energy we get when we feel useful and make an impact is inherent and natural, and a fire that we can fan.

Spiritual gifts are the means to achieving a good goal, not the fruits of the process. In other words, knowing your giftedness is not enough. Using our gifts is necessary to become the person we hope to be. This may seem obvious, but far too often, we are set at tasks that help us become more aware of ourselves, but without a greater purpose in mind. Simply focusing on ourselves is the very definition of self-centeredness. So instead, this Lent, do not stop at self-awareness and self-help. Instead, put your gifts to work.

We are all gifted to help do good in the world and to help make the world a better place than when we arrived. Over the next 40 days, whether you’re connected to a church or not, perhaps you can consider who you are, who you want to be and gifts you have to impact the world for the good. Then, go and do and be the change you hope to see.

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


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

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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.

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

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

Contact Us
(214) 363-5471

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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.

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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
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