Services · Construction · RELIEF FUND

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

Saint Michael and All Angels
  • Visit
    • Welcome!
    • Children & Families
    • Service Times
    • Getting Here & Campus Map
    • Membership
    • Upcoming Events
  • About
    • CALL FOR VESTRY & DELEGATE NOMINATIONS
    • ----------------
    • FALL '22 Hub Page
    • Parish Events!
    • Calendar
    • Clergy & Staff
    • What We Believe
    • 75th Anniversary
    • 75th Virtual Historical Timeline
    • Our History
    • Our Vestry
    • Annual Report
    • Architecture & Art
  • Give
  • Worship
    • SUNDAY 9 & 11 AM LIVESTREAMS
    • Sermon Videos
    • Sermon Audios
    • Service Descriptions & Schedules
    • Liturgical Support Groups
    • Understanding Episcopal Worship
    • Music
    • Baptism
    • Weddings
    • Funerals
    • Saint Michael Presents
    • Preaching Schedule
  • Serve
    • Local Outreach
    • Missions
  • Learn
    • Rector's Bible Study
    • Sunday Classes
    • Children & Family Ministry (CFM)
    • Youth Ministry
    • Parent Ministry
    • Adult Classes
    • Saint Michael 101
    • Men of Saint Michael
    • Confirmation
    • Baptism
    • RSCM-A Dallas Boys Course
    • Episcopal Christians
    • Class Recordings
  • Care
    • Prayer Requests
    • Pastoral Care
    • Support Groups
    • Obituaries
  • Connect
    • Become a Member!
    • Parish Events!
    • Fellowship Groups
    • Study Groups
    • Support Groups
    • Immersion Experiences
    • Women of Saint Michael
    • All Angels Foundation
    • Saint Michael's Farmers Market
    • St. Michael's Woman's Exchange
    • Book Shop
    • Job Openings
  • Media
    • Blog / Newsroom
    • Archangel Magazine
    • Class Recordings
    • Weekday Podcast Meditations
    • Sermons
    • Rector's Bible Study
    • Construction Updates
    • Vestry & Finance Minutes

All Saints' Day: A Concise History

by The Rev. Greg Pickens, Associate for Pastoral Care

Saint Michael and All Angels celebrates All Saints' Day every year on the first Sunday closest to November 1. All Saints' is an ancient festival that first appeared in about 373 C.E. but codified by Pope Gregory III in about 740 C.E. From Pope Gregory forward, All Saints'' Day has had several iterations as the Church and theology developed. We know All Saints' initially celebrated the martyrdom of sainted people known to the Church. However, as the persecutions of Roman emperors arose, the Church began to explore a specific day set aside to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were acknowledged.

In about 998 C.E., the Church discerned the need for a complement to All Saints' and appointed the feast of All Souls Day. In its earliest form, All Souls Day was set aside to solemnly celebrate those believers who had died and now resided in Purgatory, that place of preparation before entering into the presence of God in Heaven.

Both All Saints' and All Souls were fairly stable in meaning to the Church until the fall of Constantinople in 1485. By then, the antecedents to Luther’s 95 Theses and the Reformation would open a new era where people would begin to explore their bond with the Almighty in ways that invited contrasting views about God, worship, and the sufficiency of Christ Jesus in forgiving our sins. Our church, in keeping with the traditions of the English Reformation, no longer holds to the idea of Purgatory. All Souls Day has since become a day to remember and celebrate the lives of the faithful departed.

Saint Michael and All Angels has, in one way or another, kept the contemporary spirit of these two feast days. On the appointed day for All Souls/All Saints', the clergy of Saint Michael began with All Souls by reading the names of our loved ones who had died during the previous year. Immediately afterward, the All Saints' worship began with its festival procession.

As wonderful as it is to honor the saints of our parish family, it seems good to once again separate these two feast days so as not to lose the spirit of either nor the opportunity to celebrate both fully. This year, Saint Michael and All Angels will offer a full celebration of All Saints' Day during our Saturday Night and Sunday morning services where we honor all the living saints, known and unknown. On that same Sunday evening, a full and separate Evensong of All Souls will be held. There we will honor our loved ones who have died by reading their names aloud, celebrate with special All Souls Day music, and join together in worship.

We hope you will enjoy this opportunity to bless and remember all the saints, present and past during these special services.

greg-signature-web_861

The Reverend Greg Pickens
Associate for Pastoral Care


Tags: Blog & Newsroom

The Archangel September/October 2019

AA cover Sept/Oct 2019

A Message from the Rector - "Grace & The Color Purple"

This fall, we'll be taking some time to focus on Grace.

Read More »

All Saints' Day: A Concise History

Ever wondered where All Souls and All Saints' Days came from? The Rev. Greg Pickens gives a quick summary of the nearly 1,700-year history.

Read More »

From The Loft: The Worship Of All Souls Day

Director of Music and Organist Jonathan Ryan shares what makes this year's All Saints' Day service music so special.

Read More »

The Why of Giving

Investment Advisor Ashley Parks says that once we fully explore why we're giving, our gifts are much more meaningful. Plus, a few tips from a pro.

Read More »

Baptism Blessings at the Animal Shelter

Parishioner Allison Sandlin Liles shares the heartwarming story of her family's volunteer experience with Operation Kindness.

Read More »

Chorister Camp is So Awesome!

Associate Director of Music and Organist Dr. Meg Harper recaps a fun, music-filled weekend at Saint Michael's first-ever Chorister Camp.

Read More »

Amistad: The Friendship Mission

Board Member, SMAA Ministry Leader, and parishioner Mark Demler gives a brief history of Amistad, an international mission partner of Saint Michael.

Read More »

Honduras Threads: Using Business Skills to Aid A Country

Ministry Leader and parishioner Bill Bancroft shares his experience on the most recent trip from Dallas to Tegucigalpa to work with the women of Honduras Threads.

Read More »

Read the full issue

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:

7:30 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I)
9 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
9 a.m. Joy: A Children’s Service
11 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I)
11 a.m. Contemporary Rite II Service in the Parish Hall
5:30 p.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
8 p.m. Compline

In-Person Worship Information

Watch Live and On-Demand

Saint Michael also offers weekday services every Tuesday-Thursday.

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

IN-PERSONLIVE STREAMS

We are currently offering worship in-person. Several of our Sunday services are also streamed live.

Sunday Services:
7:30 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I)
9 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
9 a.m. Joy: A Children's Service
11 a.m. Traditional Service (Rite I)
11 a.m. Contemporary Service (Rite II)
5:30 p.m. Traditional Service (Rite II)
8 p.m. Compline
Weekday Services:
Tuesdays, 7 a.m. Morning Prayer
Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. Eucharist Service
Thursdays, 7 a.m. Morning Prayer

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. Traditional Service (Rite II) in Saint Michael Chapel
8 p.m. Compline in the Church

Helpful Links

Service descriptions and more info
In-person worship information
Watch services live and on-demand

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

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