The Archangel August 2014 by Saint Michael and All Angels

the The Newsletter for Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

August 2014

Knowing the Living God

Faith and Grief Luncheon

the

A Time to Pray Luncheon

22 23 24 31

Men of Saint Michael Breakfast

Disciples Class Kick Off Party Fall Worship Schedule begins Backpack Blessing

Labor Day Weekend Donut Reception in the Garden Cloister

Volume 25, No. 11 Volume 26, No. 8

At Saint Michael and All Angels we declare a core aspiration: to know more of the living, Triune God and our part in God’s dream, purpose, and activity in the world. Thus, we continually seek God’s presence, guidance, and animation in worship, formation, and service. We seek learning. And yet, our awareness of God – receiving and giving God’s love – hardly depends merely upon information or intellect. Unfortunately, however, our culture is permeated with the need to “know” about everything – even though most people don’t really know much about much. In his 1987 book Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know, E. D. Hirsch, Jr. listed 5,000 essential concepts and names with which educated people should be familiar. Dr. Hirsch’s book, along with its contemporary, The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom, made the point that cultural literacy was the bedrock of our agreed-upon values. Many people feel the constant pressure to know enough, at all times, about all subjects, lest we be revealed as culturally illiterate. So that we can survive an elevator pitch, a business meeting, a visit to the office kitchenette, a cocktail party, or a Sunday church forum, we awash ourselves in petabytes of data without real knowledge, and develop a position on the subject so that we can engage in the chatter “about” it. In this “I have to know something about everything” culture, it would be refreshing to hear a few more people cont. on page 19

Fall Worship Schedule Resumes Sunday, August 24 7:30 a.m. Rite I Saint Michael Chapel 9:00 a.m. Rite II Church Joy Mass Parish Hall Discovery Mass Saint Michael Chapel 11:00 a.m. Rite I Church 11:11 a.m. The Banquet Theater 5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer and Eucharist Saint Michael Chapel Saturday and weekday services are unchanged

The Banquet – Non-Traditional Service – Joins Worship Lineup The Banquet, a robust, non-traditional service, becomes a regular addition to Saint Michael’s Sunday morning worship offering beginning August 24 at 11:11 in the Theater. The service, incorporating much of the former Celebration Mass style, responds to requests for an enhanced contemporary worship with high-quality music, life-application homilies, and come-asyou-are dress for all parishioners, but particularly designed for a younger generation.

Homecoming

CELEBRATE GOSPEL THE

SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS

HOMECOMING SUNDAY, SEPT. 7 – 9:00 & 11:00 A.M. SERVICES

featuring

LARRY GATLIN

and those great gospel hymns

Sing the Great Gospel Hymns:

How Great Thou Art Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling Amazing Grace Rock of Ages And many more Led by Grammy Award winner

Larry Gatlin

and the Saint Michael Choir 2

Breakfast/Brunch

under the tent: 8:00 – 11:00

Worship

for the entire family

Gospel hymns and Holy Communion: 9:00 & 11:00 Joy Mass (Parish Hall) Discovery (Saint Michael Chapel): 9:00, The Banquet (Theater): 11:11

Stewardship

Endowment Gift Perpetuates Saint Michael’s Future

Stewardship Chairs Host Ushers

Rita Wilkin Head loved attending the 5:30 worship services on Sunday evening and the warm friendships she developed over the years at Saint Michael. Her daughter, Gretchen Kern, grew up attending the Saint Michael School, was married in the Saint Michael Chapel and recently had her daughter, Alexandra, baptized at in the church.

Stewardship Chairs, Mary and Rosser Newton, hosted the Saint Michael usher corps at a reception in their home in late July. It was an opportunity to meet the new Vicar, Bill Murray, and to learn more about this year’s fall stewardship program.

When Mrs. Head died on January 8, 2014, her will directed that her estate make a special $100,000 gift to Saint Michael to help the church carry on its traditions and outreach that had become such a part of her life. Her gift will go into the newly established Saint Rita Wilkin Head 1946 - 2014 Michael Foundation’s Endowment for Operations. Sharing the personal faith journey of Ms. Head is especially touching because of her love for Saint Michael, and her generous and thoughtful gift that will help ensure the future of the church for generations to come. Many parishioners have asked how they can perpetuate the legacy of Saint Michael. Designation of a portion of a life insurance policy, gifting appreciated stocks, or joining the All Angels Society by placing Saint Michael in your will are all ways to remember the many blessings that been given to us at Saint Michael.

“Our ushers carry an important message about our church to fellow parishioners and visitors alike,” said Mary Kardell, director of giving. “People who get a good feeling about Saint Michael and our ministries are going to be more generous.” Similar meetings and receptions are planned for other ministry groups in the coming weeks.

For more information or a private meeting to discuss your giving opportunities, contact Mary Kardell, Director of Giving, 214-692-3015, or mkardell@saintmichael.org.

Day-in, Day-out Saint Michael Needs You

Your annual stewardship pledge to Saint Michael helps sustain the daily operations of our church. It takes approximately $150,000 a week to operate our church. Keep your pledge up-to-date. If you haven’t made a pledge for 2014, do it now. Contact Mary Kardell at mkardell@saintmichael.org. 3

Adult Ministry Be On the Lookout in September Offerings from Adult Formation

Education for Ministry

Covenant Bible Study – Join Us at the Table Examine the covenants God has made with people throughout the Old and New Testaments. In three 8-week sessions, beginning September 25, Terry and Mark Demler, The Rev. Virginia Holleman, and Arden Showalter will lead discussions about the enduring commitment between God and God’s people to live in a loving relationship with and for each other.

The Rev. Virginia Holleman, Arden Showalter and Terry and Mark Demler Participants will have about 30 minutes of Bible reading a day in preparation for the week’s meeting. The cost of the materials is $50.00 for all three sessions with scholarships available. The first session on “Creating” is from September 25 – November 13, the second examining “Living” is from January 9 – February 13, and the final module on “Trusting” is from February 27 – April 10. Sessions will be held in the Chapel Conference Room from 6:30 – 8:00. For information contact Shelly Vescovo at svescovo@saintmichael.org.

Dads’ Lectionary Bible Study

Greg Pickens

Dads are invited to meet with Greg Pickens beginning in September to delve into the scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday. The first meeting will be Tuesday evening September 16 at 7:00 in the Edge Room and then the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. There will be food, refreshments, and fellowship to go along with the discussion. (You don’t have to be a Dad to join.)

Education for Ministry is a program that combines study of the scriptures, Christian history, and theology with a focus on ordinary experiences that help discern God’s presence in one’s life. Developed by the Episcopal seminary at Sewanee – University of the South and led by Elizabeth Lang, the program provides more spiritual depth, a greater understanding of traditional and contemporary theology, and ways to see God acting through a person’s life. Education for Ministry, a four year program requires a commitment to weekly seminars for nine months, and tuition of $350 (scholarships available). It meets Tuesday evenings at 6:30 in the Chapel Conference Room. To learn more contact: Elizabeth Lang at langelizabeth66@gmail.com, or Shelly Vescovo at svescovo@saintmichael.org.

The Good Mystery Explore the experiences of people who have written about their perceptions of the Devine presence. In this 10 week adventure, we will look into the experiences of two contemporary Christian mystics, two ancient Christian mystics, two mystical experiences from the Old and New Testaments, and finally two writers from other traditions: Jewish and Islamic. The Good Mystery, led by Shelly Vescovo and Cathy O’Doherty, will meet on Wednesday evenings in the Chapel Conference Room from 6:30 to 7:30. Each participant will receive a notebook of short readings to prepare for the class. For information contact: Shelly Vescovo at svescovo@ saintmichael.org.

Adult Ministry Holy Reading: An Everyday Journey in Prayer A form of prayer that everyone can do is Lectio Divina or Holy Reading. Done alone or in a group, Holy Reading begins reading a text aloud, and moves to quiet contemplation of what a person learns from that text. It then shifts into silent prayer over what is heard, and finally moves into naming what God calls you to do today.

Shelly Vescovo

Gloria Hocking

This Benedictine form of prayer has been a staple in the lives of Christians for centuries. Usually a scripture passage is the basis of thought, but Holy Reading can use poetry, quotations, even the newspaper. It is a way to bring prayerful listening and action into our lives. This 5-week experience in prayer begins Thursday October 23 and meets weekly through November 20 in the Chapel Conference Room at 2:00 p.m. It is taught by Gloria Hocking and Shelly Vescovo.

Faith and Literature Clergy Wrap Up Summer Series in August Sundays at 11:00 in the Coke Activities Room.

August 3

The Works of René Girard Reviewed by Bill Murray

René Girard, a French-born, American historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science, theorizes that all of our desires are borrowed from others, that all conflict originates from rivalry, that the scapegoat mechanism is the origin of sacrifice, and religion was necessary to control the violence that can come from rivalry, and that the Bible reveals these ideas.

August 10 Endless Life: The Poems of the Mystics Reviewed by Kevin Huddleston These selections of poetry have the common claim that Love is the most compelling name of God, and the most apt attribute of the Holy One in Whom we live and move and have our being.

August 17 My Bright Abyss Reviewed by Lisa Flores

Foyer Supper Clubs start in September. There’s no agenda, just good food, good fellowship, good fun. Sign up now online at www.saintmichael.org/adults/foyer-supper-clubs/.

Seven years ago, Christian Wiman, a well-known poet and the editor of Poetry magazine, wrote a now-famous essay about having faith in the face of death. My Bright Abyss, composed in the difficult years since and completed in the wake of a bone marrow transplant, is a moving meditation on what a viable contemporary faith— responsive not only to modern thought and science but also to religious tradition—might look like.

Music Ministry Saint Michael’s Music Program Featured in Advocate Magazine The article is titled “A High Note: Our neighborhood has become a sanctuary for world-class musicians” and Saint Michael and All Angels is among the featured music programs. The August edition of the Preston Hollow Advocate singled out Saint Michael and our music directors James Diaz and Hyeon Jeong and with the publication’s permission the article is reprinted here.

Our neighborhood is a sanctuary for world-class music

by Emily Toman

Preston Hollow doesn’t have a music scene. Or maybe, you just have to know where to look. Our neighborhood churches and synagogues are home to some of the best performers around.

Pipedreams Every organ has its own personality. The one inside the main sanctuary at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, with 68 stops and 5,100 pipes that stretch toward the ceiling and frame the stained glass Creation Window, is suited for playing F r e n c h romantic music. “It has a particularly French accent to it,” says James Diaz, St. Michael’s organist and music director. “Organs tend to have a very distinct sound.” “This is some of the best music in town. It’s like coming to a concert every week.”

James Diaz, the director of music at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, plays the organ. Photos by Kim Leeson 6

Featured in Dallas Advocate That sound hasn’t lost its effect, especially in the church. At St. Michael, the choir and organ occupy the loft at the back of the sanctuary, almost completely out of the congregation’s sight, which “adds an element of mysticism,” Diaz says, as the music envelopes the room. At the end of a patriotic service in June, before filing out of the sanctuary, guests stood up and turned around to watch Diaz and his wife, Hyeon Jeong, perform “Stars and Stripes Forever.” It’s a typical scene even during routine services, says Wendy Finley, who has been a St. Michael choir member for about 19 years. “This is some of the best music in town,” she says. “It’s like coming to a concert every week.”

“It was definitely a niche pursuit for a high schooler,” he says. At just 27 years old, he became the music director at St. Michael. In 2000, he won first prize in the Dallas International Organ Competition at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Under his direction, the St. Michael choir learns to sing Anglican church hymns but also receives a music education each week and an understanding about the message behind each piece. “It gives you a rich sense of the church history and musical history,” Finley says. While they deliver excellent performances, the main role of Diaz and the choir is to encourage the congregation to sing. “Why do people organize to sing? Baseball games and church. There’s been a cultural trend where people are moving more toward being consumers of music instead of creators of music,” Diaz says. “It does underline the need to inspire people to sing.”

And Diaz has the credentials to back it up. He grew up listening to classical music, namely Johann Sebastian Bach, whose favorite instrument was the organ. Diaz took organ lessons as a teenager and continued his studies at the University of Michigan and then the Cleveland Institute of Music.

For Your Information Saint Michael Parishioners Honored by Dallas Historical Society

The Dallas Historical Society will honor two Saint Michael Parishioners at its Awards for Community Service luncheon. Dr. Claude Prestidge, who recently retired after 42 years of practice as a pediatrician, is receiving recognition for his contributions in the field of medicine. Dr. Prestidge founded the cystic fibrosis clinic at Children’s Medical Center and has dedicated his life to research into causes and treatments of the disease. Stuart Bumpas is being honored for his community philanthropic activities. Stuart, a partner at Locke Lord LLP and an expert in taxes, employee benefits, and nonprofit organizations, has donated legal services to dozens of organizations throughout his career, including the Callier Center for Communications Disorders and the Dallas Museum of Art, among many others. Parishioner Lee Cullum is serving as an honorary chair of the luncheon which will be held November 20 at the Dallas Fairmont Hotel. ..............

A Note from the Vicar

Noted Anglican and scholar G. K. Chesterton once said, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Jessie, Mose, Abe, and I have been amazed at the deep hospitality and exceptional welcome we have received from Saint Michael. We have only been here a scant month but already feel a deep sense of belonging and home. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the wonderful reception and welcome! Of course, it is easy to focus on gratitude when everyone is happy to see us, but I have found that Chesterton is absolutely correct that focusing on a thankful spirit is the highest form of thought. Recognizing how much we are given and graced by God is a basic and often difficult spiritual practice. For that very reason I love that we call our weekly celebration of communion “Our Great Thanksgiving.” It is easier to focus on all the things we get wrong or do not go according plan, but I have typically found that we worry on them because it is easier to look at those few mistakes than try to accurately tally the avalanche of God’s blessings. I invite you to try to practice gratitude for Saint Michael and all the many programs, missions, ministries, and work done here. You will surely find joy and a sense of wonder at all God does in this place.

Parishioners Selected to Serve on Bishop Search Committee We are pleased to report that among a diverse group of clergy and laity selected to serve on the Search Committee for a new Bishop for our Diocese are Saint Michael parishioners: The Rev. Greg Pickens, Bill McGannon, Kalita Beck Blessing, and Jim Riggert.

Overview Back to School/Backpack Blessings Reception on August 24 at 10:00 in the Garden Cloister. “POP on by to get your backpack/briefcase blessed before school starts. Join us for POPcorn and POPsicles!”

Want to reconnect with God? Try a Cursillo Weekend A Cursillo weekend retreat could help take your faith to the next level. Spend a few days away from life’s distractions. Through talks given by both lay and clergy, small group discussions, worship, and the sacraments, participants come away with the tools to help them lead a more Christ-centered life. The next Cursillo retreat is August 14-17 at Camp All Saints on Lake Texoma. For more information contact: Kristi Wilson at wilsonkristi@mac.com; or Britt McGannon at 3britt@gmail.com. ..............

Prime Timers and PT Cruisers Rev Up Their Engines for Fall ..............

Before the Summer Fades Away, Join Us for Donuts to Celebrate Labor Day! Join us for coffee, donuts and juice in the Garden Cloister, Sunday, August 31 at 10:00.

Before the Summer Fades Away

Let’s do Donuts for Labor Day!

The Prime Timers get the fall season off to an early start with a Thursday, September 4 meeting in the Coke Activities Room featuring Vicar Bill Murray. It will be a great way to catch up with friends, meet the new member of our clergy team, and feast on our always-delicious lunch. Cost is $10. Reservations with Mary Davos ar 214-363-7761 P.T. Cruisers will head their bus to Arlington on September 18 for a guided tour of Globe Life Park, home of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. We will have lunch in the stands. (in the shade). Rumor has it that some of us will get a chance to play around in the Bullpen! (The way things are going for the Rangers, they may get into a real game.) The bus leaves the church at 9:30. Cost for the tour and lunch is $20. Call Mary Davis for reservations: 214-363-7761. Deadline is Sunday, September 14th. ..............

August 31 10 am Garden Cloister ..............

Overview Kay Wyma – author, blogger, philosopher – Leads Women of Saint Michael September Program

Women of Saint Michael Gifts Committee Revamps Application Process

Expect a humorous approach to parenting, family, and faith (with a little wisdom thrown in) when Kay Wyma addresses the first fall luncheon of the Women of Saint Michael on Wednesday, September 10.

After several months of study and review, the Gifts Committee of the Women of Saint Michael has revamped this year’s grant application process. Among the changes, the application deadline is being moved to November 15, which is one month earlier than last year.

Ms. Wyma is the blogger of The MOAT (Mother Of Adolescents and Teens) and author of Cleaning House: A Mom’s 12-month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement, and a second book to be released in 2015: I’m Happy for You, Sort of…Not Really: Finding Contentment in a Culture of Comparison. Her talk will focus on the importance of gratitude, and focusing on our blessings. The luncheon program begins at 11:30 in Parish Hall. Make reservations online at www.saintmichael.org/ WOSMluncheons. ..............

“In the last five years, our number of applications has literally doubled,” said Jennifer Alexander, Gifts Committee chair. “To deal with these increasing numbers of requests as well as to be fair to the agencies making those requests, this spring a working group began to review our own process and procedures to refocus our efforts.” In addition to making the application deadline a month earlier, the Gifts Committee will focus its giving on grants (1) which help stabilize and/ or empower those living in poverty in Dallas County, or (2) which support Episcopal-related missions in Dallas County, the nation, and the world. Last year the Women of Saint Michael made grants of $500,000 to 101 non-profit agencies located primarily in Dallas. The funds are raised with proceeds from St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange in Highland Park Village and the biannual Parish Party.

Women of Saint Michael Gifts Committe Members

Overview Acolyte Training Scheduled Saint Michael and All Angels has one of the largest Acolyte and Chalice Bearer programs in the Episcopal Church, and is an essential element of our worship experience. Consider becoming an Acolyte. It’s open to anyone from the 6th grade to 80+. You just need to attend one training session. They are being held in the church from 9:00 – 10:30 on the following Saturday mornings: August 23 August 30

September 13 September 27

For more information contact Tony at tonybriggle@sbcglobal.net.

Farmers Market to Collect for Community Partners The Saint Michael’s Farmers Market will be collecting school supplies during August for Community Partners of Dallas, an agency that works to ensure the safety and dignity of abused and neglected children. Drop off your donations at the Welcome Booth on Saturday mornings.

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Nearly 200 items of winter clothing were donated to the Jubilee Park Community Center collected by the Farmers Market in July. The winter wear will be distributed to residents during cold weather later this year.

September is Backpack for Kids Month One in three children in Dallas County go to bed hungry. Backpack for Kids is a program in which children at risk for hunger are given backpacks on Friday afternoons stocked with nourishing food to carry them through the weekend. During the week they can eat at the school’s free meal program. You can make a difference! $5 provides a child food for a week, $20 for a month, $200 covers the 40-week school year, and $260 covers an entire year. Send a check to Saint Michael and All Angels with Backpack for Kids in the memo line. More information contact Sally Plummer at Salliewplummerphd@gmail.com. ..............

Overview

Join Us as We Extend a World Class Welcome at Saint Michael 12

Corpus Christi Mission Trip The second week of July, 16 young people and adults traveled to Corpus Christi to serve with partner ministries for a week. This trip was specifically designed for 7th and 8th graders, and one of the joys was to be with them as they learn new things, faith, and service.

There was tons of food to sort eagerly voted for the free lunch only to be disappointed by food that they didn’t find tasty. We all realized that sometimes our wealth is evident not in our hungry belly but when we have an abundance of choice about what we put in our hungry belly. Choice is often synonymous with wealth. The city’s free meals were not too bad Lessons learned: •

The showers at our gracious host church had really weak water pressure. We could shower and be technically clean, but it was a challenge. It reminded us that many in this world don’t have clean water to wash in, much less a deluxe showerhead.

•

One ministry we worked with, Timmons Ministry, would feed and clothe anyone who walked in but to receive medical care one needed to pass a drug test. They encouraged people that did not pass the drug test to get clean and come back. Our young people were struck by the healthy boundary and the how difficult it must be to tell someone in need “no.”

•

Our young people were given the option of eating the city provided free lunch at one of our work sites. They

Hard Work was on the agenda

•

Our young people did a lot of physical labor. We cleaned hardened dirt out of ditches, sorted tons of food (literally), and pulled thorny weeds from a garden bed. There was joy found in this hard work, but the work that resonated the most with our kids is the joy they were able to infuse into a dodge ball game with a large group of elementary kids. Our 7th and 8th graders were uniquely gifted to bring joy to that game and they experienced much more service through those relationships than any physical labor we did.

I’m sure every young person could add 10 more items to this list. On behalf of the parents and all the young people involved in this trip we thank Saint Michael for the support to make this trip happen. We grow in faith most when we have a chance to act on it. More than anything this week our young people learned that God has uniquely gifted them to serve, and when they use those gifts they grow closer to God and closer to God’s people around them. Andy Sahl, Director of Youth Ministries

Dodgeball with the elementary children produced smiles 13

Caring and Sharing - Pastoral Care New Voices in the Touch Base Ministry

The Touch Base Ministry may not be one that is familiar to you. It is a voice at the other end of the telephone. That voice is one of a person representing the entire Saint Michael Parish, its clergy and staff. That voice is a caring voice that might be checking on you; wants to know how you are doing after a recent loss; wants to know how you are feeling, since you are homebound; wants to hear your news and your concerns and will stay in touch with you as you go through this stage of your grief, or your particular life and health situation. Parishioner, Barbara Henley, is the new Touch Base Ministry Volunteer for those who have had a recent loss of a loved one. She contacts, by telephone, the survivors of parishioners who have recently died, to let them know that we have them in our prayers and care about them. Usually, within two to three weeks after a death or a service, when the reality of a loss has often just begun to sink in and the crowds of friends have gone back to their routines, Barbara lets the survivors know that we are still here for them. She makes certain that any needs or concerns are conveyed to the clergy. Barbara believes that her role as a volunteer in extending this personal touch from the Pastoral Care Ministry has a real impact on those she calls. Parishioners, Katy and Jon Davis, are the new volunteers with the Touch Base Ministry for those who are Home Bound. Both have a background of volunteering in their communities and at Saint Michael. Katy started her avocation of volunteering as a 16-year old ‘candy-striper’ and has served in many similar roles over the years. The couple’s current ministry has proven to be a joy to them as they make calls to people who

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are home-bound and let them know they are not forgotten, even though those called are unable to come to the church to participate in activities. Katy and Jon get to know the people they call, listen to their stories, and keep track of their well-being. You may have wondered how Saint Michael is so good at staying in touch with such a large parish on an individual basis. Volunteers such as Barbara Henley and Katy and Jon Davis provide a valuable touch and connection for the clergy. They make this possible with their voices of care, through the Touch Base Telephone Ministry. If you would like to learn more about the Touch Base Ministry, contact The Rev. Lisa Flores, lflores@saintmichael. org.

A Stephen Minister Can Help You Over The Rough Spots. Do you have a burden that you cannot handle alone? Saint Michael and All Angels offers a very dedicated group of men and women who have received specialized training to walk with you, confidentially, on this journey. If you know someone who might benefit from having a Stephen Minister or you could use one yourself, please contact The Rev. Lisa Flores, lflores@saintmichael. org.

Caring and Sharing - Pastoral Care Alcoholics Anonymous: Meets in August, on the first and third Sunday evenings, at 7:30 in the Coke Activities Room. Open to both men and women. Contact: The Rev. Neal Hern, nealhern@aol.com.

Parish Nurse Ministry: The Parish Nurse Sundays return on the third Sunday of August with the focus for August being Immunization/Vaccine Awareness Month. Contact Dianne Boyd, dboyd@saintmichael.org.

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Caregiver Support Group meets on the on the first and third Mondays of August in the Parlor, 11:00 to 12:30. Check our new Care Givers Corner in the Power Library. It is ready for you to use. Also, go to the church Web site and check in at the Care Giver Support Group under Pastoral Care and Caring and Sharing to learn about resources available in the community. Contact: Sandra Klingeman, jsklingeman@ sbcglobal.net. .............. Grief Ministry. The August Faith and Grief luncheon at Saint Michael is scheduled for the second Thursday, August 14, 12:00-1:00 in the Coke Activities Room. If you have suffered a loss, this is an excellent support community for you to join. It is one of listening hearts, strict confidentiality and warm human contact. Please make a reservation by visiting www. faithandgrief.org, or call 469-2519612. There is no fee for the lunch but donations are greatly appreciated. Contact, lay leader, Meg Badgett, mmbadgett@gmail.com, or The Rev. Lisa Flores, lflores@saintmichael.org.

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Prayer Ministry. The Saint Michael Prayer Ministry invites you to join us when we meet again beginning on August 21, 12 Noon in the Coke Activities Room. The August meeting will introduce a new opportunity for meeting in daytime, when we gather for a box lunch and hear our new Vicar, The Rev. Bill Murray, speak in the series, “A Time to Pray.” We will serve a box lunch and the speaker and discussion will take place at 12:30. In the future months we will alternate between nighttime and noon meetings, giving everyone an opportunity to attend at a convenient time. Cost for the box lunch is $10.00. Please make your reservation by Tuesday, August 19 by contacting: Steve McKenney at 214-691-5384 or ssmckenney111@ gmail.com. .............. Christian Yoga. The Yoga classes led by Licensed Instructor, Annette Lentz, will resume September 8. Contact Annette Lentz, annette.lentz@ sbcglobal.net.

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Women’s Cancer Support Group. This group meets every Monday at 1:45 in the Parlor to support each other and share helpful information. Contact: Sue Patton, pattons@sbcglobal.net, or Charlie Stobaugh, charlie@stobaugh. net.

Centering Prayer Group. We invite you to join us on Tuesdays at 10:00 in the Clergy Conference Room as we continue through the summer months. Learn how to be still and pray and get your mind centered on those things most important to you and those you love. Contact: Mary Ann Webster, maryannwebster@gmail.com .............. The Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry. The knitting ministry continues to meet weekly. Meetings are on Tuesdays, 1:00 to 3:00, in the Coke Activities Room. All with an interest in knitting and a desire to contribute to those who would appreciate receiving one of our prayer shawls, consider joining one of the knitting ministries. Contact: Byrd Teague, Byrd.Teague@ gmail.com. Alterknit: Consider doing or learning something new. The Alterknit Knitting Ministry offers an alternative time to volunteer. It meets on Tuesday nights, 6:00-8:00, in the Drake Room. Men, women, people of all ages, are invited to participate. Consider this as an opportunity to serve. If you don’t know how to knit, we’ll teach you! Contact: Nancy Cantwell, 972-5234911. ..............

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Children, Youth, and Family Ministry The Edge Edge Midweek: Stained In Glass – Mark Wednesdays On Your Calendar For Stained In Glass With The Edge.

The Bridge New Class for 3rd Graders this Fall We are very excited to announce that we will be adding another Sunday School class this year. The Bridge, a new class starting in September, is exclusively created for 3rd graders. Using a new curriculum called “Whirl,” the Bridgers will be diving deeper into the liturgical readings of the day as well as large and small group activities. Don’t forget to register by August 4th!

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Edgers will meet for 5 weekly sessions on Wednesday nights at 5:30 in the Edge Room starting September 10 to October 8. The 4th and 5th graders will enjoy fellowship and devotion time all while learning about the stained glass installments here at Saint Michael and All Angels as well as create their own masterpieces. At the end of the program, each student will chose at least one of their creations to display during the parish party in February. Cost is $30 per child. Class size is limited so register now with ebower@saintmichael.org. September 14th Edge Sunday School Begins Join us Sunday mornings at 10:00 in the Edge room for Sunday school featuring the “Words to Live By” curriculum. This curriculum was created right here by the Saint Michael formation team just for 4th and 5th graders. Be there!

Children, Youth and Family Ministry Sixth Grade Disciples’ Confirmation Class Registration has Started Sign-up deadline is Friday, August 15. Now is the time to register your 6th grade student for Saint Michael’s Disciples Confirmation Class which begins September 15. Registration deadline is Friday, August 15 and there will be a kickoff event for the students and their adult leaders on Saturday, August 23 in the Youth Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, August 24 there will a meeting for parents at 10:00 in the Youth Center. This year’s theme is, “Lord, prepare me to be a Sanctuary.” Students will participate in weekly classes about our Christian faith and our Episcopal beliefs, discussing what it means to be members of Saint Michael, the larger Episcopal church and to be involved in mission within the church in the world. There will be two outreach projects and a mandatory weekend spring retreat. On April 26, 2015, students with 80% attendance in the weekly classes and other projects will participate in the sacrament of Confirmation. Register online at www.saintmichael.org/disciples/ Have questions? Contact Nancy Moore at Nancystahlamoore@ yahoo.com or Andy Sahl at ASahl@saintmicheal.org.

Axis and Crosspoint Youth Groups Resume

Preschool Wraps Up Summer Camps It was a busy summer for the Saint Michael Preschool as nearly 400 three and four year olds camped out, cooked, and traveled around the world in summer camps designed specifically for them.

Songs are a big part of camp fun The camps began in June shortly after school broke for summer with a 5 day camp out at Saint Michael. The kids built tents, sang songs around the “campfire,” and ate s’mores. Other camps feated Superheroes, Pirates and Princesses, learned to cook, traveled to outer space and exotic destinations on our planet – all within the confines of Saint Michael. The camps ended in late July with teachers and counselors heading for the hammocks.

Axis and Crosspoint, the Wednesday evening gatherings for Saint Michael’s youth will resume on August 27. Axis for middle school students (6th – 8th) meets beginning at 5:00 in the Youth and includes a meal, Bible study, and fellowship with friends. Crosspoint for high school students explores the intersections of faith and life. It’s an opportunity for students to examine relevant topics and discuss the cross points of our daily life, our greater context, and our evolving faith. Crosspoints starts at 6:00 in the Youth Center and includes dinner.

Campers wave goodbye as they take off around the world

Children, Youth and Family Ministry Saint Michael Preschool Preps for New School Year:

September will bring a lot of changes and new opportunities for students at the Saint Michael Preschool New technology, purchased with funds raised at the “Chairish Our Children” gala, will be available in each classroom this fall, according to Katie Riley, preschool director. “We will have 4 new Mimeo boards which will allow our teachers to bring interactive learning into the classrooms,” she said. Each classroom also will be equipped with an iPad, allowing teachers to communicate Katie Riley, with parents, take photos and videos, Director and research new educational ideas and strategies. Ms. Riley also announced that several new enrichment opportunities will be offered to the students this fall. In addition to Mr. Donavan, the preschool will have available Yoga, Soccer Palz, Techie Tots, and Dancing Stars. The older students also will attend chapel daily to strengthen the teaching of values and principles. Preschool teachers, and Mothers Day Out staff will return to the campus on August 11 and will start their training on new curriculum, policies, educational strategies, and safety. “The teachers and staff have been working hard this summer to prepare for the new school year,” Ms. Riley said. “We are all looking forward to seeing our students in September. Meet the Teacher and Family Chapel is scheduled for the morning of August 27 with Parents Night planned for 7:00 p.m. Classes start Wednesday, September 3.

Committee Supports Preschool Programs The Saint Michael Early Childhood Ministry Committee (ECMC) is a group of about 30 women who support the needs of the youngest members (5 and under) of our Parish. We meet once a month to plan and execute exciting events for the parish and Saint Michael Preschool. We invite you to join us throughout the year at some of our exciting events including Barnyard Bash which will be held on April 26, 2015. This event is fun for the entire family and includes bounce houses, carnival games, pony rides and dinner. On the Preschool side, we support Chapel services for the Preschool Students, Scholastic Book Fair (September 8 -12 in the Parlor), Teacher Appreciation and Parent Socials to name a few. We are always looking for volunteers to help at these events. If you are interested, please contact Kristen Scott (ECMC Chair) at Kristen_d_scott@yahoo. com or Mary Catherine Pritchett (ECMC Chair Elect) at mcpritchett@gmail.com. Kristen Scott, ECMC Chair

FYI Grant Them Eternal Rest Phyllis Mary Purtell Johnson, June 29, wife of Warren Johnson Vivian Truett Cantrell Talley, July 25, grandmother of Larry Talley, grandmother-in-law of Ellen Talley, great-grandmother of Daisy, Haley, Hayden and Jackson Susan Janice Flowers, July 16, sister of Patti Flowers, sister-in-law of Tom Swiley Jenene McConnell Tynes, July 17 Drew Everette Curtis, Jr., July 20, father of Beverly Rodgers, father-in-law of Mack Rodgers, grandfather of Brittney, Brandon, Josh, Mary ..............

Cradle Role We welcome our newest members to our parish family: Lyda Emerson Wood July 21, 2014 Kay & Grant Wood

cont. from page 1 utter: “I don’t really know…I don’t have a thorough understanding…I haven’t encountered it myself.” At Saint Michael’s we’re not so much after more information, but knowing the living God as “encounter” and “experience.” Living to the fullest in Christ does depend upon knowing -- the richness in creation, the new life in redemption, the possibilities for each of us, the plain wonder of it all in the Spirit. When other Christians tell us of their encounter or we read of the encounters of men and women in other times, it becomes obvious that there is no time, no situation, no place which our Lord cannot use: Levi was in his office, Moses was out on the ranch, Paul was riding to a committee meeting, Frances met a leper, Julian was desperately ill, Teresa of Avila was dreaming, C. S. Lewis was on a bus going to the zoo, Augustine was in a garden, Jean Vanier was on the bridge of an aircraft carrier. What Professor Hirsch has advocated in his manifesto, Cultural Literacy, is what we seek to do for our biblical and spiritual pilgrimage. Specific words, dates, skills and aptitude mean little when one lacks a vision of the forest -- the culture through which we all live and grow. While it’s unsettling to see college-bound young people who can’t put dates on world events (think Toronto is in Italy, or are astonished to learn that each state has two U.S. Senators) it’s even more chilling when we get blanks -- from adults as well as children, mind you -- who don’t get the rich allusions in phrases like “Am I my brother’s keeper?,” and “there’s nothing new under the sun.” Or when they look back blankly when Lot’s wife is mentioned, or pearls are tossed before swine, or when babble refers to Babel. This fall we hope you will join us in deepening your knowledge about God, but more importantly, knowing the living God, taking on a discipline of study, worship, prayer, and community life that increases your “spiritual literacy” and draws you into encounters with Christ -- through Christian community, reading the Bible, learning more of our faith tradition, partaking of the sacraments, having a regular life of prayer, and finding your ministry niche. We invite you to make our parish the community in which you meet up with the living, Triune God, joining the countless people over the centuries who have known God not just in receiving more data (after all, you can Google it), but in real encounter and transformation.

Bob Dannals

Archangel PERIODICAL

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DALLAS, TX

Saint Michael and All Angels

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8011 Douglas Avenue Dallas, Texas 75225-0385

www.saintmichael.org Phone: 214-363-5471 Fax: 214-363-4388 The Archangel Newsletter (USPS 015-033) is published monthly by Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Archangel, Saint Michael and All Angels Church, P.O. Box 12385, Dallas,TX 75225-0385

Worship Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – Eucharist – BMC Wednesday 10:00 a.m. – Healing Service – BMC Saturday 8:30 a.m. – Eucharist – BMC 5:30 p.m. – Candlelight Mass Sunday (until August 24) 7:30 a.m. – Eucharist Rite I – SMC 10:00 a.m. – Eucharist Rite II - Church 10:00 a.m. – Combined Discovery Mass, Joy Mass, Celebration Mass - Theater

Parish Clergy The Reverend Dr. Bob Dannals, Rector The Reverend Bill Murray, Vicar The Reverend Dr. Kevin Huddleston, Associate for Mission & Outreach The Reverend Lisa Flores, Associate for Pastoral Care The Reverend Greg Pickens, Associate for Operations and Pastoral Care The Reverend Ariail Gores, Deacon The Reverend Michael Harmuth, Sunday Associate, Chaplain Episcopal School of Dallas – lower school The Reverend Pamela Theodore, Sunday Associate The Reverend Neal Hern, Sunday Associate

Parish Vestry Stewart Thomas, Sr. Warden Nancy Skochdopole, Jr. Warden Grady Schleier, Treasurer Robert Wilson, Chancellor

11:00 a.m. – Sunday School Classes

(Children and Adult)

11:00 a.m. – Eucharist Rite I – SMC 5:30 p.m. – Evening Prayer

and Eucharist Rite I – SMC