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

Saint Michael and All Angels
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"Beautiful Complexity in Us" by Rector Chris Girata

Beautiful Complexity in Us was published in the Katy Trail Weekly, "The Good Word" Column, September 24, 2021
Chris Girata is the Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX.


"Two strangers, divided by their beliefs, meet for the first time. Each knows nothing about the other or what this experiment involves.” This is how a recent ad for Heineken begins. In the ad, unlikely pairs of people are brought together: a feminist with a member of the “new right,” an environmental activist with one who denies climate change and a transgender woman with one who opposes transgender identity. The ad askes a simple question: “Is there more that unites than divides us?”

From the outset, it’s clear that the pairs will find some unity, but the process intrigued me. Each pair works to assemble simple furniture before answering some predetermined questions to get to know one another. Then, seated at the bar they’ve just built, they watch a short film in which their partner’s opposing point of view—that climate change is “total piffle” or that women “need to remember we need you to have our children”— is revealed. Finally, they’re given a choice to go or to “stay and discuss [their] differences over a beer.” All six choose to stay and discuss their differences respectfully, with at least one pair swapping phone numbers.

Far too often, our humanity is reduced to one opinion or another without acknowledging the beautiful complexity in each of us.

Seems simple, right? Perhaps some of you think it’s a bit too simple. In our world, differences have become litmus tests. Far too often, our humanity is reduced to one opinion or another without acknowledging the beautiful complexity in each of us.

When is the last time you’ve had the privilege of meeting someone and finding common ground before knowing their politics or opinions on hot social issues? When is the last time you’ve had the privilege of being known for more than a few of your opinions?

We are all—every one of us—complex. I believe we are wonderfully made, and our creator filled us with gifts in unique combinations that make each of us beautiful in our own way. And yet our world wants us to fit in categories, to be contained in boxes, and to follow the loudest voice in the room. We are much, much better than that, so why do we allow it to happen?

I believe we are wonderfully made, and our creator filled us with gifts in unique combinations that make each of us beautiful in our own way.

Yes, why do we allow ourselves to be boxed in and contained and defined in ways that limit our beautifully complex humanity? I am not making light of any of the important issues in our world, but I want to be very clear: each person deserves respect and understanding, especially those who disagree with us. You have been wonderfully made, and so have they. This is very hard, but not impossible.

If I were to ask you to think of someone with whom you vehemently disagree, my guess is that you’d be able to write a list. We have become so good at knowing who falls in the “right” and the “wrong” columns that our neighbors have become little more to us than tools for our use. Our neighbors are either tools that can help us or tools that can hurt us. And if it’s the latter, then they must be weakened or eliminated.

Friends, we can do so much better because we are so much better. We are surrounded by a world that would have us divide ourselves into camps to battle one another, but we can resist. We can resist the machine that seeks to rob us of our humanity and courageously live the truth that faith, hope, and love have been poured into us and we can reflect them in order to heal our world. Each of us has the power to make change through small acts. Nothing in this world can divide us when we are united through small acts of big love.

"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

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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

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Saint Michael also offers weekday services every Tuesday-Thursday.

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Saint Michael Episcopal School
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Saint Michael's Farmers Market
Jubilee Park Community Center
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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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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.

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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. 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
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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.

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