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

GIVING UP TOO MUCH FOR LENT by Rector Chris Girata

GIVING UP TOO MUCH FOR LENT was published in the Katy Trail Weekly, "The Good Word" Column, April 10, 2020
Chris Girata is the Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX.


Last week, I saw a church sign online that read, “I hadn’t planned on giving up quite this much for Lent.” I imagine we can all agree that the past few weeks, indeed the season of Lent, brought countless changes that we did not expect. From toilet paper shortages, to face masks, to educating our children at home, I imagine we’re all stretched thinner than we like and in need of a resurrection.

As we prepare to celebrate Easter, many of us will be away from church for the first time in a long time (maybe ever!). This can be depressing for some, a relief to others and confusing for most. Pictures of our silent city stun me. But more than that, seeing how our lives have changed so significantly is the real stunner.

... I wonder if we can all approach the idea of resurrection with fresh eyes.

As a preacher, I can wax theologically about resurrection for quite some time, but I’ll spare you. Instead, I wonder if we can all approach the idea of resurrection with fresh eyes. Resurrection is about renewal, a rebirth, a restart and we (you!) can be renewed now. As I watch amazing healthcare workers, brave men and women in essential businesses and many people trying their best to reduce the rate of infection, I am grateful.

Speaking of gratitude, I have been recently heartened to see lots of talk of gratitude circulating online. It seems as though this period of uncertainty and upheaval has inspired many of our neighbors to be more aware of what we have, what we need and what we don’t need. This reordering can, at its best, help us deepen our sense of gratitude. A deep rootedness in gratitude can reshape us over time and inspire us to live differently.

I am exploring what it means to grow from gratitude toward generosity. When we are truly grateful, when we know what matters most, we can’t help but share that perspective with others. When we put first things first, such as family, friends and community, we are united behind a common purpose. Perhaps now, more than before, that language can take on new meaning.

A deep rootedness in gratitude can reshape us over time and inspire us to live differently.

Rather than believing that we are owed a certain amount of comfort in this life, what if we began to see that we are, deep down, all equal. We are equally flawed, equally vulnerable and equally linked to one another in ways we may not have been aware of just weeks ago.

As we all settle into a “new normal” as gracefully as possible, I hope that you have found new ways to connect to with one another. Although we have assumed new ways of staying connected, we are still physically separated. That physical separation hurts. Feelings of loneliness and isolation can cut deeply. Helping remind one another that we are not alone is perhaps the greatest good we now share.

When this is all over and we are physically together again, I hope life doesn’t return to the old normal. I hope life becomes a new normal where we, out of our experience and our vulnerability, are born into a new strength. I hope that our lives have been changed for good, and I hope that these changes inspire a new way of living, where courage becomes our currency, faith our compass and love reminds us that life never dies.

"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