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Saint Michael and All Angels
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WE ALL NEED HELP DURING CRISIS by Rector Chris Girata

FORGIVE YOURSELF was published in the Katy Trail Weekly, "The Good Word" Column, #23 | November 9, 2019
Chris Girata is the Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX.


It’s been just a few weeks since the tornadoes that rocked many in our community. They were powerful and scary, leaving scars across most of North Dallas. I imagine we all know someone affected by the storms, probably many people whose lives were changed in the short and long term. I am so grateful no one died, but even without any casualties, recovery will be a long road.

Good friends of mine lost their home entirely. The morning after the storm, more than 50 people descended on their house to help them pack up all the things inside that were salvageable before the house was taken down. It was an amazing sight to see: so many people working so quickly to help their friends.

When storms strike, especially big ones, we are reminded of our humanity.

As the day progressed, people began to notice that other families on the same street, people who also lost their homes too, did not have the same support. Seeing that those other families were trying to clean up on their own, some of our team went to help them. They approached one of the homeowners and offered to help clear big tree limbs, but the homeowner declined. He said he could do it on his own and didn’t need any help.

Faced with overwhelming damage, this man declined help and he wasn’t the only one. Multiple people wanted to do the work on their own, without the help of others. We are made for community, made to be connected to one another, but sometimes people fail us and we begin to separate ourselves from others in order to keep ourselves safe. The reactions of these neighbors made me wonder just how much our desire for security has perverted us.

When storms strike, especially big ones, we are reminded of our humanity. Most of us work hard to create security and predictability for ourselves and our families. We sleep behind locked doors, we try to save for the future and we stay away from people who might hurt us. Yet none of us are immune to the awesome power of nature, which reminds us that we are not quite as secure as we think we are.

This might sound scary at first, but let me assure you, life has always been this way. Our world tells us that we can aspire for a level of security that will take the fear away, but that kind of security is mostly a fantasy. And when we seek that temptation, we tend to separate from others. That separation causes us to lose the community we need.

We have all been hurt by someone. I imagine we all go through multiple experiences early in life that prove to us that being vulnerable makes it easier to be hurt, so we learn to protect ourselves with walls and barriers. But as we move through life, those walls can keep us from the good, meaningful, healthy relationships we truly need.

No matter how far apart we might seem, no matter how great a chasm divides us from our neighbors, we are meant to be together.

Life is full of ups and downs, joy and heartbreak, but there is beauty in the mess. We cannot know true joy without knowing true pain, and the joy is worth the pain. We have been reminded of our vulnerability, and I hope we have also been reminded just how much we need one another.

No matter how far apart we might seem, no matter how great a chasm divides us from our neighbors, we are meant to be together. I have been reminded just how much my community means to me, and I hope you have been, too. If you feel alone, know there are places where you can belong. There are beautiful communities of good people grounded in love, so go out and find them. Bad things happen and will happen again. Next time, make sure your community is strong enough to weather those storms together.

"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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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

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Saint Michael Episcopal School
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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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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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