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

Saint Michael and All Angels
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DAY SEVEN

Our trip is primarily a Christian pilgrimage, tracing the footsteps of Christ. However, we occasionally step off that Christian path to have a little fun. On day seven, we stepped off the path and took a quick trip to Jordan to visit Petra. Jordan is directly east of Israel and has had a cooperative, diplomatic relationship for more than fifty years.

We got up early in Galilee and drove south to the border crossing at the Allenby Bridge, just north of the Dead Sea (known in Jordan as the King Hussein Bridge). Although international border crossings are formal occasions, I was grateful that crossing into Jordan is typically easy, even if it’s a bit slow. After entering Jordan, we drove south through the Jordan Rift Valley to Wadi Musa, the town closest to Petra. In English, Wadi Musa means “the Valley of Moses,” and it is the site of Moses’s well (Numbers 20) and the tomb of Aaron, Moses’s brother.

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Petra is a fantastic site and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Archaeological evidence shows that humans have inhabited the area of Petra for more than 9,000 years, but the incredible rock-cut architecture for which Petra is so well known was carved between 100 BCE-100 CE. The name, Petra, is the Greek word for “rock” and was attached to the city by the time the Roman Empire was established.

The connection to the Bible is rooted primarily in the Old Testament. Josephus, a first-century CE Jewish historian, identified one early group living in Petra as the Midianites during the time of Moses and was named Rekem. Later, before (and possibly during) the life of Christ, the city may have been called Sela and referenced in 2 Kings 14. By 400 BCE, the Nabataeans settled in Petra and expanded the power and authority of the kingdom. They are responsible for its complex architecture and physical expansion because of their ability to collect surface water from miles around to support the population. The Nabataeans were excellent traders and merchants, and would have been important to trade routes between Africa and Asia. It’s highly unlikely that there was much connection between Jesus and the Nabataean people, but it’s great to visit anyway.

By the time we arrived in Petra, we have been in the bus for hours and were ready to stretch our legs. Petra is essentially a national park, so after a quick lunch, we began our walk. From the gate of the park to the beginning of the ancient city is about 1.5 miles and is accessible only by foot or in horse-drawn carts that look like rickshaws. Half of that walk is an incredible trail through a high-walled canyon named the Siq (pronounced “seek”) that led us straight to the most iconic building of all, the Treasury, made famous in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

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At the Treasury, our group hopped on thirty camels to take us deeper into the city. I have to say that being part of a 30-camel caravan through Petra is one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had. If you want to see pure delight on anyone’s face, regardless of age, put them on a camel with a big group and go cheering through one of the wonders of the world. It was amazing!

After our most excellent camel ride, we climbed multiple flights of steps up to a much higher level to see the Urn Tomb. Named for the urn that was carved above the main columns, the beautiful space was one of the royal tombs of Petra, likely the tomb of King Malchus II, a Nabataean king who died around 70 CE. Later, in the fifth century CE, the space was repurposed as a Byzantine church.

The rock carving in Petra is absolutely exquisite, not only for the sculptural skill it took to create them, but for the colors contained in the stone. Petra is nearly all sandstone, but the mineral-rich sandstone exposes layers of yellow, purple, brown, and pink that flow together like ribbons of fudge. As our pilgrims explored the area, I could see the fascination on every face. To be in a place so ancient and so spectacular is a gift, and I was glad to share it with this amazing group.

Holy Land 2022: Day Seven


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Tags: Pilgrimage: Family Holy Land 2022 / Blog & Newsroom

Day Nine

Day Eight

Day Seven

Day Six

Day Five

Day Four

Day Three

Day Two

Day One

Family Holy Land 2022

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

In-Person Worship Information

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Saint Michael also offers weekday services every Tuesday-Thursday.

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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

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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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