The Archangel - Easter 2021 by Saint Michael and All Angels

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EASTER 2021 Volume XXXIII Number II | 75th Anniversary Year

The Official Magazine for Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

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POLLY BOND AWARDS

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A L PA R I S H

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A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR

ALIVE AGAIN!

appy Easter, my friends! As we enter this joyful season, I’m not sure that I’ve ever hoped for resurrection more than I do this year. I don’t think it’s overstating that we all hope for a better future than the past year we’ve shared. Although the end of our pandemic tunnel isn’t quite upon us, I definitely see the light! As we begin to exit our pandemic limitations, I think we have the opportunity to ask ourselves a big question about what the future should hold. The true loss we have experienced as a church community and in our world from this pandemic has been far more than an annoyance or an inconvenience. With nearly 3 million people dead worldwide, and far more than half a million here in the U.S., this pandemic has hit every community. Very few have escaped this hard year without personally losing a loved one, friend, or neighbor. Since the pandemic began, I’ve heard people yearn for a “return to normal.” I’m completely sympathetic with the desire to be physically together with friends and neighbors again. I want to live in public without wearing a face mask and without the concern that I might make someone else sick. I want to pray and sing together in church again! It could be easy for us to want to wish this all away. Like a bad dream, we could hope to wake up and resume normal life as quickly as possible. But life won’t be the “old normal” again. We have been changed for good, and I believe we can trust that through God, all things work together for the good Romans 8:28. We should spend this season imagining what our future can hold—imagining a future better than out past. What I mean by a future better

THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

than our past isn’t specific, but a general hope for something better. Our pre-pandemic world was far from perfect, and a hope to “return to normal” isn’t as hopeful as I wish to be. I want to be better than whatever we accepted as normal. I want to reform our community and our world in better ways than when we entered this pandemic. In a very real sense, there are parts of our “old normal” that have died with this pandemic—and good riddance! As followers of Jesus Christ, we should be very comfortable with the idea of death and resurrection. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in this Easter season with a hopefulness that we, too, can be resurrected to a new reality with God. Jesus did not come to simply promise us a ticket to heaven after we die, but to bring us closer to heaven right now. It is through Christ that we can find wholeness, healing, and hope in a future that is better than our past. This year, our Easter theme is Community. This theme is inviting us to enter into a period of imagining just who we can become together in a world remade. I’ve said countless times that the pandemic can be a hard reset of our social order, a change for us to let go of bad habits and hurtful structures that keep us separated in favor of good habits and healing structures that unite us. This season, the Saint Michael clergy will join me in reflecting on what community is and what community can become when faithful disciples of Jesus commit to resurrection life together. Each weekday our Easter podcasts will reflect on God’s promises as revealed in the Bible. Our clergy have imagined what the future can hold for people of faith when we are courageous enough to let go of whatever held us back in the past, in favor of a better future. This thoughtful work does not stop in our podcasts but will be carried on through one of two Sunday sermon series as well.

Reflecting on how we define community is not easy. As I noted above, it’s much easier to just go back to the pre-pandemic way of living. For most of us, that way of life was just fine. We were comfortable, secure, and in a groove. But what if we looked beyond the intimacy of our own lives and considered that for many around us, the world was not good enough. The past 12 months have revealed many imperfections and imbalances in our social order that should matter to us. People have spoken out, sometimes cried out, to be heard in their pain. As disciples of Jesus Christ, people who have committed to love and respect every person, we cannot remain deaf to their cries. Saint Michael is at a significant inflection point. What we have done together has been a great gift to those inside and outside our church community, but what has been done is not all that can be done. I hold to the great hope that with Christ, all things are possible, and what we can do in the future can be so much better than anything we’ve done in the past. This is a statement of faith, grounded in the truth of the resurrection promise made to us by Christ and fulfilled by us through the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus triumphed over death itself, he wasn’t simply alive again, he was remade. The recreation of Christ in the resurrection is what we are all invited into. When we consider resurrection as a recreation, we have the freedom to acknowledge that who we are and what we have done in the past is not as good as who we can become and what we can do in the future. Dying to our faults and imperfections is the faithful path for all Christian disciples, and one that should not be feared. We are looking out toward a horizon that is limited only by our courage. I hope that this Easter, we will faithfully enter a new phase of our life together, hopeful in the power of God’s work in this community. With each faithful step forward, we can help realize the promise of heaven in our church and in our world, now.

RECTOR’S STREAMING BIBLE STUDY Led by Rector Chris Girata Wednesdays 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Live-Streamed and On-Demand at saintmichael.org/RBS Join Saint Michael Rector, Chris Girata, on a weekly journey exploring scripture! Chris is passionate about the Bible, bringing to life these sacred stories in a way that resonates and educates listeners as they pursue a deeper life of Christian discipleship.

Questions? Email Meredith Rose, mrose@saintmichael.org

MAR 31: Revelation 17 APR 7:

Revelation 18

APR 14: Revelation 19 APR 21: Revelation 20 APR 28: Revelation 21 MAY 5:

Revelation 22

THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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EASTER 2021 Volume XXXIII Number II | 75th Anniversary Year

The Archangel Newsletter (USPS 015-033) is published liturgically seasonally by Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to the Archangel, Saint Michael And All Angels Church, P.O. Box 12385, Dallas TX 75225-0385

MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR

JUBILEE: EXPANDING OUR HEALTH PILLAR

FROM THE EDITOR

10 RECTOR'S REPORT

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13 SAINT MICHAEL'S FARMERS MARKET 14 [PHOTOS] AT-HOME LENTEN ALTARS 16 THE DALLAS BOYS COURSE 18 PARISH CALENDAR 23 WELCOME TO THE REV. DR. ANDREW GROSSO! 24 2020 BY THE NUMBERS 26 THE JOURNEY TOWARD FREEDOM 28 [PHOTOS] AROUND THE PARISH 30 WE WALK THIS ROAD TOGETHER 31 SMAA BOOKSHOP 32 THREE SAINTS FESTIVAL 36 SMAA KIDS PAGE 38 BIRTH AND DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS

THREE SAINTS FESTIVAL TURN TO PAGE 32 TO DISCOVER THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT'S NEW TRADITION

CLERGY CLERGY

SUNDAY SERVICES

IN PERSON. LIVE. ON DEMAND.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata, Rector

9 AM CT

The Rev. Kenneth H. Brannon, Vice Rector

11 AM CT Contemporary Worship

The Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso, Associate for Worship & Liturgy The Rev. Dr. Eric Liles, Associate for Formation The Rev. Greg Pickens, Associate for Pastoral Care The Rev. Bob Johnston, Associate for Contemporary Worship The Rev. Mary Lessmann, Associate for Spiritual Growth ASSISTING CLERGY The Rev. Canon Michael Harmuth, Sunday Assistant The Rev. Tim Kennedy, Sunday Assistant The Rev. Dr. Hiltrude Nusser-Telfer, Pastoral Care Assistant The Rev. Canon René Somodevilla, Sunday Assistant

Traditional Worship

8 PM CT Choral Compline (Online) visit saintmichael.org/live

CONTACTS EMERGENCY PRIEST ON CALL (214) 232-7512 Main Parish Number (214) 363-5471

Jubilee Park & Community Center (214) 887-1364 907 Bank Street Dallas, TX 75223 St. Michael’s Woman's Exchange (214) 521-3862 SMWE FAX (214) 522-1933 5 Highland Park Village Dallas, TX 75205 Episcopal Diocese of Dallas (214) 826-8310 Episcopal Diocese FAX (214) 826-5968 1630 N. Garrett Avenue Dallas, TX 75206

SAINT MICHAEL STAFF Monica Awbrey Rob Baber Ross Badgett Chanta Bhan Katherine Bowen Dianne Boyd The Rev. Kenneth H. Brannon Justin Brooks Kristen Burk Robert Butler Nozar Daryapayma Jill Delabano Philip Fillion Hannah Fisher Bonita Frederick The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata The Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso Steven Haal The Rev. Canon Michael Harmuth Dr. Margaret (Meg) Harper Travis Harvey Diane Hollie Jenna Howard Angelia Hunter Madelyn Ivy Adam Jones Rachel Jones The Rev. Robert (Bob) Johnston III Cheryl Kaschak Elizabeth Keogh Tiffany LaMotte The Rev. Mary Lessmann The Rev. Dr. Eric J. Liles Chris Love Caroline Marak Christi Morrow Chase Monson The Rev. Dr. Hiltrude Nusser-Telfer Collen O’Hara Darla Osterhaut Cassie Pericak The Rev. Greg Pickens Edgar Porras Marco Reyes Christie Rodriguez Meredith Rose Jonathan Ryan Elsa SanJuan The Rev. Canon René Somodevilla Celise Stephenson Tish Visinsky Regan Wallace

Assistant Choirmaster Director of Finance Mgr. of Electronic Communication Associate for Mission & Outreach Asst. to Pastoral Care Asst. to Worship & Liturgy Vice Rector Director of Contemporary Music Executive Assistant to the Vice Rector Assistant Director of Facilities Director of Facilities Asst. to CFM & Youth Ministries Assistant Dir. of Music & Organist Asst. to Adult Formation & Parish Events Weekend Receptionist Rector Associate for Worship & Liturgy Director of Communications Sunday Assistant Associate Director of Music & Organist Graphic Design & Production Receptionist Graphic Designer Accountant Asst. Dir. of Children & Family Ministry AVL & Technology Manager Assistant for Music Associate for Contemporary Worship Accountant SMES Admissions & Comm. Relations Coord. Director of Youth Ministry Associate for Spiritual Growth Associate for Formation Bookshop Manager Director of Stewardship Mission & Outreach Coordinator Asst. Director of Youth Ministry Assistant Priest for Pastoral Care Director of Operations Accountant Campaign Manager, SMAA Associate for Pastoral Care Sexton Sexton Campaign Manager, SMES Executive Asst. to the Rector Director of Music & Organist Sexton Sunday Assistant Database Manager, Parish Records Director of Parish Life Director of Children & Family Ministry (CFM)

2021 VESTRY Blair Oden Stacey Malcolmson Richard D’Antoni Janice Bywaters Scott Wilson Nancy Wilbur

Senior Warden Junior Warden Warden-at-Large Treasurer Chancellor Clerk

2021 FOUNDATION officers class Stewart Thomas 2021 President Larry Galvin 2023 Treasurer Peggy Carr 2021 Secretary trustees Dare Gillette David Martin Tamara O'Connor Mary Abrams Harriet Cousins Allen Lassiter Matt Waller Katherine Blachly Tony Briggle Nita Clark Joe Colonnetta Eric Conner

class 2021 2021 2021 2023 2023 2023 2023 2025 2025 2025 2025 2025

ex officio The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata, Rector Kathy Kelley, Saint Michael Treasurer Arnold Spencer, Vestry Representative

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George Baldwin, Louise Griffeth, Hallie Lawrence, John McFarland, Jr., Steve McKenney, Holly Peña, Darrel Rice, Carol Roehrig, Jack Rubarth, Ginger Sager, Erica Sartain, Arnold Spencer

2021 DIOCESAN DELEGATES Exp 2021 Exp 2022 Exp 2023 Exp 2021 Exp 2022 Exp 2023

Terry Demler, J.C. Snead, Scott Wilson Michael Blachly, Mary Henderson, Kelly Reddell Jane Greene, Bill McGannon, Steve McKenney alternates: Heather Lorch (1), Jack Rubarth (2), Blair Oden (3) Michael Reddell (1), David Henderson (2), Eric Gilmour(3) Keller Webster (1), Judy Mercer (2), Suzanne Lipscomb (3)

A SAINT MICHAEL CONTEMPORARY SERMON SERIES

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Jubilee Park and Community Center Announces

Expanding Our Health "Pillar" Article by: Libby Hayhurst, Advancement Coordinator at Jubilee Park & Community

When Jubilee Park resident Alejandra Saldaña returned to Dallas after graduating from Syracuse University in 2017, she felt triumphant. By every measure, she had made it and defeated the odds against her: she had graduated high school, gone to college, and now she was working at Jubilee, the same organization she had received services from as a young teen growing up in Southeast Dallas. “By working in Community Outreach at Jubilee, I wanted to help my neighbors overcome their circumstances, too”. But a frustrating experience with the healthcare system would cause her to rethink whether it was even possible for communities like hers to truly break free. Needing to see the doctor, Alejandra left her house before dawn to get in line for an appointment. For her, this was normal. Jubilee Park is designated as a Medically Underserved Area by the federal government, meaning that there are too few primary care physicians, a large senior population, and high

poverty. Only a small handful of clinics serve the entire Southeast Dallas sector, so getting a doctor’s appointment can take months. Instead, residents gather in front of the clinics before dawn in hopes of a last-minute cancellation or no-show. When Alejandra was turned away that day, she was tired, sick, and defeated. But she returned the next day, and the next. Waiting for hours outside the clinic, Alejandra realized how similar her experience was to so many of her neighbors that she was serving at Jubilee. She thought of one of her clients, Mrs. Doris, who ignored her abdominal pain before it became too much to bear, and who, like her, waited for days in the hot sun, desperate to be seen. Mrs. Doris stood here, where Alejanra stood, taking days off work and losing pay that she couldn’t afford to lose. When the doctor finally called Alejandra in, she didn’t feel relieved, she felt angry. “I thought—I went to college. I have a good job. I did not succumb to my circumstances yet I could not seem to escape them, even by doing everything ‘right’,” she recounts. “Three days off of work. Three days standing in a line before dawn. Those three days are what Mrs. Doris and I have in common.” Alejandra realized she was fighting against a system more far-reaching than she could have ever imagined. Over the next few months, her love of health ignited into a passion, and when Jubilee announced its plan to grow its health "pillar", it was clear that Alejandra should lead the newly expanded initiative as the first-ever Health and Wellness Manager. In preparation for her new role, Alejandra enrolled in a part-time Master’s in Public Health program and began poring over Dallas County health indexes. What she found was startling. “Our community is twice as likely to be diabetic, and our residents live twenty-two years less than people living just a few miles away. I have watched my family struggle with chronic illness, and I realized it was a much wider con't pg. 8

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A Farewell to the Rev. Dr. Eric Liles Dear Saint Michael Family,

Dear Friends, I write to you with the news that the Rev. Dr. Eric Liles will be leaving his position as Associate for Formation at the end of this school year to pursue new ministry opportunities. I am so very grateful for the time we’ve shared with Eric. He has served our Saint Michael community very well for the last four years, and his gifts and skills for ministry will serve him well in his next chapter. Saint Michael has a history of raising up leaders for the broader church, and I am excited to see where the Holy Spirit will lead him next. In early April, we will begin a search for a new Associate for Formation, with the hope of hiring someone in time for the new school year. Although we can’t have the kind of farewell party I wish we could, you are invited to celebrate Eric’s ministry with a special prayer of thanksgiving and blessing during both morning services on May 16th. Additionally, whenever priests leave a parish, it is customary to make a love offering to them in appreciation for their ministry among us. If you would like to make a contribution to Eric’s gift, please make your check payable to Saint Michael and designate “Liles Gift” in the memo line, and please send your gift no later than April 30th. As Eric, Allison, Hill, and Pailet prepare for their next chapter, please join me in giving thanks for their presence among us and lift them up in prayer. Our love and support go with them! With gratitude,

The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata Rector

I write to you today announcing my departure from the church staff at the end of this school year. I’m so grateful for the nearly four years of ministry together. Thank you for all the ways you have supported me, along with Allison, Hill and Pailet. Thank you for the growth we experienced together. Thank you for your questions, your spiritual curiosity, your hunger to be fed by God’s Word and to feed others. Thank you to our amazing clergy for the collegiality, discussions, trust, and prayer. Thank you to our Rector, Chris, for entrusting me with the Formation department. Thank you to our Vice Rector, Ken, for his leadership and support. Thank you to our awesome Formation team for the fun, laughter, and meaningful work together: Jill, Hannah, Chase, Tiffany, Madelyn, Regan, and Mary. Thank you to the Adult Formation Task Force for all their hard work and counsel, especially Kathy Hayes and Elizabeth Lang. Thank you to the Men of Saint Michael for the joy and depth of our studies. Thank you all for your faithfulness to Christ and commitment to discipleship. Your generosity, especially during this past most difficult year, is an inspiration to me and to the wider Church. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to serve as Chaplain to Saint Michael Episcopal School. The Liles family will spend the month of June ministering at the Chapel of the Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park. The rest of the summer and fall hold untold possibilities and opportunities. We are excited for the next chapter of ministry and grateful for this one as it comes to an end. God’s Peace,

The Rev. Dr. Eric J. Liles Associate for Formation

THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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EXPANDING con't.

problem that a lot of people in our community face. It felt very unfair. I thought, why is this happening?” Under Alejandra’s leadership, Jubilee began researching the barriers that Southeast Dallas residents face when accessing health care. Not only is there a dearth of doctors in the area, but only 20% of healthcare providers in Dallas accept Medicaid. Residents must compete to be seen by a limited pool of providers, while also dealing with obstacles like lack of transportation, lack of paid sick leave, and language barriers. Alejandra has seen firsthand how a lack of healthcare resources leads to poor outcomes like quality and length of life, but having recently earned a B.S at Syracuse in Health and Exercise Science, she understands, too, the impact of lifestyle on health outcomes. “Our community lacks access to fresh foods. We live in a USDA-designated food desert, and I have struggled to find staples like milk at our corner stores,” Alejandra tells me. Like the city’s disparate investment patterns that have left South Dallas without essential infrastructure like doctor’s offices and grocery stores, she notes that “even the way people eat has a history in racism,” noting how African-Americans fried and salted their foods to kill bacteria and preserve it because they historically lacked access to quality meat and refrigeration. That is why Alejandra is taking a multi-pronged approach to health at Jubilee. “I am focused on health inequities. Our neighbors deserve to live a well-rounded, healthy life. Health is being emotionally, mentally, and physically well.” In practice, this means that meditation classes are offered alongside aerobic classes, and clients do not simply receive healthy food, but are taught how to prepare fresh ingredients in cooking classes. Offering health-relat-

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ed programming that the entire family can attend in addition to classes targeted at specific age groups is also instrumental in making a cultural shift in health practices. It may be early days, but the Health pillar at Jubilee has seen enormous growth in 2020 alone. During the height of the pandemic, Jubilee distributed 2,000 healthy meals and bags of groceries a week, and at the time of writing this article, had distributed at least 1,000 meals and bags of groceries in the last two weeks in response to Winter Storm Uri. You can help by donating to fuel our health programming at jubileecenter.org/donate or by stocking our food pantry at jubileecenter.org/ community-pantry. By teaming up with health partners and practitioners, Jubilee has also hosted pop-up health clinics ranging from teeth cleanings to cancer screenings. The response to these pop-up clinics has been enormously positive, sparking an initiative to build a health clinic on Jubilee’s campus. For people who have grown to distrust the healthcare system, getting your flu shot at a place you attend BINGO or send your kids to play can be a lot lower stress than visiting a doctor’s office. “I'm taking an equity-focused perspective in our Health programs. Bringing health justice to our neighbors—that is the end goal, our North Star.” Are you a medical professional interested in hosting a pop-up clinic? Are you interested in donating medical or hygiene supplies? Email hello@jubileecenter.org to get involved!

FROM the EDITOR ...it’s impossible to thrive without connection. I came across this statement in my readings, and was oddly drawn to the subtext of its meaning. The article was about the impact of this pandemic life on the digitalization of nearly everything it seems, and prioritizing real connection strategically as we move forward. In it Forbes Council Member and Author Marzanne Oppel made mention of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, from what was a 1943 presentation, “A Theory of Human Motivation”, by Abraham Maslow. In short, Maslow presents a 5-tier pyramid in which the bottom four levels are foundational (basic/ physiological), while the fifth—the pinnacle—is the growth level: that place where we step out and grow to our own personal potential. However, the top is built and predicated upon the stability of the bottom four levels (needs): physiological, safety, belonging and love, and esteem. And that when everything is in place, we can thrive, or become our best self. The subtext, though, is that without those foundational needs, we limit ourselves. And there’s the rub. For so many, this last year has so significantly impacted everything from love and security to home and health. How we choose to live day-to-day is a real challenge, with real implications. In his latest column for the Katy Trail Weekly, Rector Chris Girata reminds us that “we live in a world in constant flux with constant need. Each one of us needs something we cannot provide ourselves, and each one of us can help meet the needs of someone else...we are not meant to live alone and isolated, but together and in community. We are meant to connect with one another, help one another, and lift one another up.” Connecting and lifting, then, is what Oppel goes on to present in the article above: excellent ways in which to pursue real connection; many of which we have employed here in working to maintain parish community during this sociallydistanced time. But as Christians, our greatest

connection with one another was missing—that connection which came with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Chris goes on to say, “the promise of Easter is one that can inspire each of us as we navigate our new post-pandemic world...this Easter, we have the opportunity to learn once more that the power of faith is the power to see beyond the pain of today to the hope of tomorrow.” I love the cover of this issue of The Archangel. There exists in it the representation of so many things for me: that community and life at Saint Michael are alive and well, that there is intention in action: both in the “Home Lenten Altars” campaign, but also in the individual choice to take part, the rich and royal purple color reminding us of Lent and the path of Christ towards the cross—but that we are ever-nearer also then to the hopefulness of the His resurrection, and the love of God in our lives. While “the numbers” have been in decline here in the U.S. after the second surge, India posted its most deadly day this week, while much of Europe is reeling. All that is to say, we live in a constant need for now is the time. We do not know when this will pass, so each day, now is the time to care for each other, now is the time to pick up the phone and say hello to family and friends, now is the time to step outside of ourselves and see how we can help those who are most vulnerable. Now is the time...

SOME COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS Just a few ways to join in, and enrich yourself and others

APR 6-27 The Enneagram Intensive: Triads & Spiritual Growth, p20 APR 6-30 Easter season coat drive, p20 APR 17 OPENING DAY, Saint Michael’s Farmers Market! p13 APR 18 Saint Michael 101, p10 APR 18 Register kids for Vacation Bible School (June 7-11) APR 25 SMP presents “Chanticleer” Concert, p25 Listen to the SMAA Easter podcast, back cover

Check out the parish calendar on pages 18-22 for many other ways to be a part and stay connected!

THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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SPRING PARISH MEETING Rector's Report

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Considering a year in review is typically a delightful challenge. Considering a review of 2020 may, on the surface, seem less than delightful. However, I believe Saint Michael rose to the v. challenge of this past year with energy and vision, and for that, we can be truly grateful! In ta Dr i ra . Ch G . total, last year was an excellent year of creativity, faithfulness, and commitment to the mission we r i st o p h e r D share to form Christian disciples for a transformed community. Let’s begin at the beginning. Going into 2020, we had only recently finished our large Refresh, Renew, and Revive project, updating our sacred spaces in meaningful ways. Through special gifts from so many in our community, we refreshed the creation window above our choir loft, as well as rebuilding the angel doors and replacing the red doors of our Saint Michael Chapel. In addition, we executed significant upgrades to our audio and video systems in the church and parish hall, investments that, in hindsight, seem Spirit-led. In January, we closed out our Annual Giving campaign, and for the first time in Saint Michael history, pledges totaled more than $6 million! Giving for 2020 was incredibly strong, and thanks to your generosity, we were able to expand critical areas of ministry to deepen engagement across all age groups. One of the first ways we invested in new engagement was through weekday podcasts, launched on Ash Wednesday. This early investment could not have been timed better, because when we entered the pandemic and were physically separated from one another, we had an automatic way to be with you in your homes. The incredible response we had to that first podcast series

SAINT MICHAEL 101 Sunday, April 18 | 12:30 - 1:30 PM CST | Zoom

Join the Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata and the Rev. Mary Lessmann at Saint Michael 101 If you are new to Saint Michael or just visiting, and want to learn more about membership, then this is for you! Meet members of our clergy and vestry, and hear about our many ministries, opportunities for involvement, and the exciting future of our parish.

saintmichael.org/101 10

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compelled us to create multiple “seasons” of our weekday podcasts. In 2021, we are planning podcasts in Lent, Easter, Fall, and Advent, just like in 2020. Before I get too far ahead of myself, prior to the pandemic changing the way we function day-to-day, an incredibly significant moment in the life of our parish occurred in February. After years of work, including hundreds of hours of conversations and negotiations, Saint Michael received unanimous approval for our rezoning application from the Dallas City Council. Seven years ago, Saint Michael began a process to evaluate the future of our campus. In that process, we reached two important decisions: (1) We want to grow our membership to extend God’s kingdom and (2) we know that we can grow our parish while remaining within the same physical footprint our church building currently occupies. Rezoning our campus allows us to move forward with leasing the northeast portion of our campus. This land lease (not sale) will more than double our parking capacity, dramatically increase our green space, and provide an income stream that will primarily support ministry in the community for generations to come. This is a significant step in a long journey into the next chapter of our life together and I continue to pray that God grants us the wisdom and courage to discern how best to use our gifts as we move faithfully into the future. Although many parish leaders contributed to this transformative moment, I want to lift up Jay Grogan in particular, a former warden of this parish, who made it his personal mission to shepherd this process. Jay, along with former wardens, Matt Waller and Stewart Thomas, deserve credit for the leadership and tenacity it took to change the future of our parish in this phenomenal way. I am truly grateful for their amazing gift! As we moved into March, the pandemic hit our country in an unprecedented way. So much of how we lived our lives changed, seemingly overnight. That change impacted us all in our homes, our schools, our businesses, and certainly in our church. Not missing a beat, our incredible clergy, staff, and worship volunteers pivoted to live, online worship from the very first Sunday. We were committed to continuing to worship together, even if we were worshiping in our homes, and we did just that. Only weeks after the quarantine order was given, we led our parish and countless others across the nation and around the world, in a beautiful journey from Holy Week and Easter. With nearly 6,000 IP addresses (households) watching live on Easter, the number of hearts and minds joining us in worship far exceeded what we have ever experienced. In our pandemic reality, our focus shifted squarely to two primary goals: (1) bringing our church experience into homes in new and impactful ways, and (2) caring for our most vulnerable neighbors with more energy than ever before. In addition to worship, our church team pivoted to engage our church family in new ways. We began posting formation videos for all ages each week, as well as hosting online small group meetings and studies, such as my Rector’s Bible Study and classes for the Men of Saint Michael (and dozens more). In addition, I began writing letters each Friday with updates about the goings-on of the church to help those feeling disconnected. We continued to invest in the production of our podcast series, which continues to receive excellent engagement.

STEWARDSHIP p. 39

SAINTMICHAEL.ORG/ NORTHLAND

SERMON SERIES & PODCAST Back cover

2020 PANDEMIC

PIVOT 2020 BY THE NUMBERS p. 24

LENTEN ALTARS p. 14

THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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Not only did we creatively meet the needs of our parishioners during the pandemic, but we also sought new ways to meet the needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. Tens of thousands of people around the Dallas community suffered from food insecurity as we entered the pandemic. Saint Michael immediately mobilized to provide more food more quickly than we ever have, partnering with wonderful agencies with which we have deep ties, including Jubilee Park, North Dallas Shared Ministries, and Austin Street Center. In addition, the Saint Michael Foundation activated $75,000 to support children’s education going into the 2020-2021 school year. Your support met the needs of families unable to bear the burden of at-home instruction alone. The response didn’t stop there! Going into the fall, we invested in providing free high-speed internet to the entire Jubilee Park community, a great gift to children and parents alike. We also emphasized holiday giving through, among other ministries, I Believe In Angels and Heart of Giving, both receiving gifts far exceeding years past. Through your generosity, we gave more time and money away through mission and outreach in 2020 than we have in anyone’s memory. Finally, I would be remiss not to mention the incredible impact of giving on display from our Saint Michael family. When the pandemic hit in March and we had to stop worshiping in person, the vestry and I began to plan for a 10% reduction in giving in 2020, and I thought that was being optimistic! In response to the economic downturn, we took measures to reduce expenses whenever possible, while remaining committed to our staff. I want to thank the vestry for their fidelity to all those employed at Saint Michael. In March, every staff member, including all the hourly employees who work in our choir, our nursery, and beyond, received the promise of full compensation even if they could not come to the building to work. Although this policy was adjusted in the fall, six months of consistency for those wonderful people was a source of security in an otherwise insecure world. As 2020 progressed, the economy stayed very strong in important sectors that buoyed our giving to meet and exceed our revenue expectations. This is an incredible story that bears repeating! In one of the most uncertain, unpredictable years in decades, the members of our church—you and me—were faithful to our mission as disciples of Christ in this world. We did not shy away from our commitment to extending God’s kingdom and loving our neighbors, and our increased impact is the fruit of our commitment. Even better, given that our expenses were naturally reduced because we could not physically be together, coupled with giving exceeding budget expectation, we ended 2020 with a surplus. That surplus is because of your generosity. We have thoughtfully and prayerfully allocated that surplus to grow our church’s impact on discipleship and engagement, along with helping our neighbors. This past year was remarkable in so many ways, not least of which is the example of faithfulness shone in this community. Saint Michael has experienced renewed growth and engagement, but this is only the beginning. Our mission to build Christian disciples for a transformed community is catching momentum and going into 2021 I’ve never felt so hopeful. We are experiencing church in new ways and when we come out of this pandemic, our community will be strong. Together, we will bear witness to the hope of Christ, because nothing heals the divisions in our world like a united church.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata Rector

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T MI CH A E L N I ’S A est . 2 012 Saint Michael's Farmers Market has a new logo for our 10th anniversary season!

FARMERS MARKET DA L

LAS, TEXAS

Opening day

Y SE ASON ANNIVERSAR

APRIL 17 Saturdays, 8 a.m. – Noon West Parking Lot

CURRENT

WINNER

Best of Big D BEST NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKET

We're an all-edible, award-winning, non-profit market devoted to building community, providing fresh local food to our neighbors and beyond, and supporting local small business owners. Volunteering, Information, or Questions: Contact SMFM Director, Tricia Stewart, 214-675-0586.

SAINTMICHAELSMARKET.COM THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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AT-HOME LENTEN ALTARS During this Lenten season, parishioners were encouraged to create an at-home altar by identifying a dedicated space in their home. Saint Michael mailed out a blessed cloth to start the creation of their very own sacred space. Home altars were adorned with crosses, meditations, candles, photos, flowers, and so much more! We hope they served as a quiet, holy place in your homes this Lent. The photos on these pages are just a few of many altars sent in to us at #MyHomeAltar.

THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

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INTRODUCING...

the Dallas Boys Course! Dr. Margaret Harper, Associate Director of Music and Organist

Saint Michael is thrilled to announce the formation of a new summer chorister camp for boys from across the country under the auspices of the Royal School of Church Music-America (RSCM-A). The Dallas Boys Course will launch in June of 2022. It joins the ranks of annual training camps offered across the country by the RSCM-A, and shines a spotlight on the thriving chorister program at Saint Michael, as well as the vibrant sacred music scene that is growing across Dallas. The opening of the Dallas Boys Course represents a significant mark of success for our music department, and a vote of confidence in what’s happening with chorister programs across Dallas. It is only the 10th such course offered by RSCM-A, and is the first to be opened in a decade. The launch of this course firmly roots Saint Michael in the role of training the future musicians of churches across the country. Choristers of today are music directors, choir members, and hymn-belting congregation members of tomorrow. By training our young people to sing, we ensure that the future of the church is vibrant and beautiful. And we ensure that our youth will have a strong and lasting connection to the church that will keep them coming back throughout life. The application and planning process to bring this all to fruition has taken nearly two years, and we couldn’t have done it alone. A generous grant from the Saint Michal and All Angels Foundation, as well as letters of support from numerous parishioners and countless hours and meetings all came together to make this possible. The inimitable course planning committee is made up of an impressive array of music directors from cathedrals and parish churches across the southern half of the country, important members of the Dallas sacred music community, and Saint Michael chorister parents. We are proud to be able to turn Dallas and Saint Michael into a haven for boy choristers from across the country, and are excited to see this course take root and thrive! WHAT IS THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF CHURCH MUSIC-AMERICA? The Royal School of Church Music is an international, ecumenical, professional organization which promotes high standards of church music throughout the English-speaking world. It seeks to provide for its 11,000 member choirs, in church, school, and community settings, quality publications and helpful programs to assist in the offering of the worthiest praises to God. Every summer, RSCM-America offers a series of summer courses for children, youths, and adults across the country. These provide opportunities for like-minded choristers to come together, form new friendships, and make great music together. For more information, visit rscmamerica.org.

THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE DALLAS BOYS COURSE? The Dallas Boys Course will be for boys aged 9-17. It is one of only two RSCM-A summer courses specifically for boys. Choristers will come together from across the country for a week of extraordinary music-making, fun, and friendships that will last a lifetime. Through daily rehearsals and workshops led by world-renowned musicians, choristers will learn and grow in their vocal technique and knowledge of sacred music. Choristers will sing in liturgies throughout the week, including Evensongs and Sunday Eucharist. Additional activities to promote fun and fellowship will include sports, recreation and social events, as well as outings which explore some of the many cultural treasures of Dallas, such as the downtown Arts District and museums. With its central location, ease of transportation, and cosmopolitan appeal, Dallas is the ideal location for this new course. In the past decade, Dallas has seen a major rebirth of chorister programs. Dallas is a city full of singing both in churches and in schools, and many of Dallas's major churches now feature large RSCM-based chorister programs. We are excited to welcome boy choristers from across the country to our city, to sing and make music together! HOW CAN SAINT MICHAEL PARISHIONERS GET INVOLVED? There are lots of ways to support the Dallas Boys Course, from being an active participant to enjoying the beautiful music made by our young singers. We will be looking to partner with various Saint Michael ministry groups and organizations to help provide meals for the choristers during camp. We will need individuals to help out with various logistical aspects of the program. We also need to get the word out about this exciting new offering. Share this news with anyone you know, especially families with boys who love to sing. And, perhaps most importantly, everyone will be welcome to attend the liturgies presented by these young singers during the course. Come, listen, participate, and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness with us!

Stay tuned in coming months for more news and details that will be made public about the Dallas Boys Course. This is a huge project, and we are excited to take on such an ambitious musical offering. We are excited for what the future holds for these young choristers!

saintmichael.org/rscmdallas

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PARISH CALENDAR for full listings, please visit saintmichael.org

CFM

To Contact Children & Family Ministry: Regan Wallace, Director, rwallace@saintmichael.org Madelyn Ivy, Asst. Director, mivy@saintmichael.org Jill Delabano, Admin., jdelebano@saintmichael.org GODLY PLAY Godly Play is a weekly email This class provides faithful and practical lessons for children to learn, not only about biblical teachings, but the specifics of the Christian faith. Tactile materials allow children to directly interact with and ponder each lesson individually. Please contact Regan or Madelyn with any questions. WEAVING GOD’S PROMISES WGP is a weekly email Kindergarten – 3rd grade In this engaging class, children will build upon their understanding of God and God’s promises to us through meaningful lessons and hands-on time with the Bible. Using prayer, art, games, and more, this class is sure to engage your youngster in their faith. For more information, contact Madelyn. THE BIBLE PROJECT The Bible Project is a weekly email 4th – 5th Grade Now that we’ve answered some of our questions about God, what about His Word, the Bible? Who wrote the Bible? How does it apply to me? What does it all mean? Join us as we explore the Bible through engaging videos, games, and discussions. For more information, please contact Regan.

WEDNESDAYS SAINT MICHAEL CHERUB CHOIR Pre-K–2nd grade Cherub Choir is a fun, engaging music exploration time in which young choristers are taught the basics of healthy singing, music literacy, and liturgical formation through simple songs and hymn singing. All are welcome, and no musical knowledge is required. Cherub Choir programming will continue with a variety of instructional techniques, including virtual instruction and in-person rehearsals, as possible. If your child loves to sing and you want them to grow into the Chorister program with confidence in their musicianship, then sign up for Cherub Choir. For more info, contact Monica Awbrey, mawbrey@saintmichael.org, or Regan. JUNE 7-11 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2021 Registration opens April 18! Registration is $60 per child West Field Come join us for VBS 2021: Destination Dig where children will discover amazing evidence that proves biblical events were not just stories and explore real-life archaeological finds that have helped to uncover the truth about Jesus! This year will be more exciting than ever as we host VBS outside, allowing us to truly DIG into the teachings and our theme. All children ages 4 (as of September 1, 2021) through upcoming 4th graders are welcome to join us for a fun week. WE NEED YOU! VBS takes an army to host and any who can help are appreciated! For more info, contact Regan. Sign up to register or volunteer at saintmichael.org/vbs.

Saint Michael offers many ways to stay informed and engaged with our parish community—we look forward to seeing you! saintmichael.org/LIVE /GIVE /CFM /YOUTH /LIVEFORMATION /C19 /ADULTS

THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

YOUTH

To Contact Youth Ministry: Tiffany LaMotte, Director, tlamotte@saintmichael.org Chase Monson, Asst. Director, cmonson@saintmichael.org Jill Delabano, Admin., jdelebano@saintmichael.org 1ST AND 3RD SUNDAYS OF THE MONTH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND ARTS & CRAFTS SMALL GROUPS 4 – 5:30 p.m. West Lot Porte Cochere

youth car ministry We need a car! Sunday Afternoon West Lot FREE

Join Tiffany and Chase for small groups! We will not meet on Easter Day. SUNDAYS (DURING FORMATION) 8TH GRADE CONFIRMATION 10 AM CT Zoom saintmichael.org/youthconfirmation Enroll your rising 8th graders (or older) for fall confirmation! 2ND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH HIGH SCHOOLERS TACO TOUR OF DALLAS 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. North Field $10 High schoolers are invited to join Tiffany and Chase for fellowship and some of the best tacos Dallas has to offer!

Our mission is simple: we want to teach our youth basic car care skills while doing something good for the community. After repairing the car, we will donate it to a resident of Jubilee Park and Community Center. Reach out to Chase Monson to start the process.

learn | repair | give

SUNDAYS (DURING FORMATION) ONLINE SUNDAY SCHOOL 10 AM CT @SMAAYouth Facebook and Instagram page Join us for a different lesson each week with ideas to continue growing your faith. We will not be meeting April 4 or 11.

SAINTMICHAEL .ORG/YOUTHMISSIONS

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ADULT FORMATION

PASTORAL CARE

SUNDAYS, APRIL 11–MAY 16 CARE OF CREATION | MY STORY Led by Elizabeth Lang 10 AM CT Zoom

APRIL 21 AND MAY 19 PRAYING OUR GOODBYES Led by Hiltrude Nusser-Telfer 10 – 11:30 a.m. Parlor

“For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies...” “Give us a reverence for the earth as your own creation...” “And God saw that it was good...”

Praying our Goodbyes is a mourning and grief support ministry that addresses grief of any kind—such as a death, a job loss, a business, a home, or divorce. Utilizing readings from the book, Praying Our Goodbyes by Joyce Rupp, Hiltrude helps those in attendance examine their grief and recognize it. All are losses that we grieve and we must grieve in order to recognize that loss. Hiltrude tells us “that for humans to shorten or circumvent the grieving process is to invite illness and even severe depression”. For questions or to RSVP, please contact Hiltrude, hnussertelfer@aol.com.

To Contact Adult Formation: Eric Liles, Associate for Formation, eliles@saintmichael.org Hannah Fisher, Assistant, hfisher@saintmichael.org

Through prayers, hymns, and scripture our worship praises God for the blessing of creation and invites us to care for God’s created order. In this tough time of the pandemic, many people have found solace and peace in nature. In the midst of the wobbling polar vortex that brought suffering to Texas, we noticed our dependence on resources for life and comfort. What is a faithful response to both our love for and fear of nature? This course will bring together wisdom from our Christian tradition and current knowledge to address how we can protect the earth and preserve ourselves and our fellow creatures. We invite people to join in reading and discussing To Serve and Guard the Earth by Beth Bojarski as a way to explore faithful responses to our situation. Instead of listening to a lecture, people will be invited to engage in group discussion facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Lang. For questions or to register, please contact Hannah. TUESDAYS, APRIL 6–27 ENNEAGRAM INTENSIVES: TRIADS & SPIRITUAL GROWTH Led by Mary Lessmann 3 – 4 PM CT Zoom To grow spiritually we must be willing to look at ourselves honestly and truly know ourselves. Enneagram work helps us to recognize and name our ways of operating in the world, in ways that are both attractive and unattractive. Many of our habitual ways of engaging life are explainable by our Enneagram Triad—Gut, Heart or Head. In this class we’ll use our Triads as the starting point for engaging our spiritual work. Completion of The Enneagram Journey class is required in order to participate. For questions and registration, please contact Mary at mlessmann@saintmichael.org.

THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

To Contact Pastoral Care: Greg Pickens, Associate for PC, gpickens@saintmichael.org Katherine Bowen, PC Assistant, kbowen@saintmichael.org

THURSDAYS PRAYER MINISTRY BOOK STUDY Led by Kimberly Colonnetta 1 – 1:50 PM CT Zoom Who is the Holy Spirit? How can we unleash the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives? The Prayer Ministry Book Study will examine these questions by delving into The Rev. Billy Graham’s insightful book, The Holy Spirit: Activating God’s Power in Your life. With prayerful reverence and focused wisdom, Dr. Graham puts an understandable face on this mysterious third Person of the Trinity and reminds us that God’s power is available through the Holy Spirit. Newcomers are welcome to join at any time. For information, contact Kimberly Colonnetta, kimberly@colonnetta.com.

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MISSION & OUTREACH

To Contact Mission & Outreach: Chanta Bhan, Associate for M&O, cbhan@saintmichael.org Christi Morrow, Coordinator, cmorrow@saintmichael.org APRIL 6 – 30 EASTER SEASON COAT DRIVE | ST. PHILIP’S SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY CENTER We are requesting new or gently used coats of all sizes! You can drop them off in the collection bins located at the South Entrance. Coats will be dry cleaned, stored, and distributed at the St. Philip’s annual Christmas Store in December. AUSTIN STREET COOKS! saintmichael.org/austinstreet Each month, parishioners prepare and serve food for 250 residents experiencing home insecurity. Parishioners gather for fellowship to cook a full-course dinner which is delivered and served the following day. Currently, Austin Street staff members are serving dinner due to COVID restrictions. TUESDAY, APRIL 6 | COOKING 5:30 – 7 p.m. Parish Hall kitchen

During this final year of our three-year journey, our upcoming series will explore who we are, and the reason God gave each of us to help form our faith.

SERIES VI: SECOND TEMPLE JUDAISM with Eric Liles

APR 4 | Easter (No Class)

SERIES VII: CARE OF CREATION with Elizabeth Lang APR 11 Let There Be Light

TUESDAY, MAY 4 | COOKING 5:30 – 7 p.m. Parish Hall kitchen

APR 18 The Lord of Sea and Sky

TUESDAY, JUNE 1 | COOKING 5:30 – 7 p.m. Parish Hall kitchen

APR 25 Love for the Land

APRIL 7 AUSTIN STREET CENTER "HELP THEM HOME" HOUSEWARMING BASKETS We will be collecting baskets during church hours now through April 7. Contact Chanta with questions.

MAY 2 Birds of the Air and Fish of the Sea

APRIL 21, MAY 12, 19, & 26 ASC BREAKFAST BAGS To register! We are in need of families or small groups to provide breakfast bags for clients at Austin Street Center. Austin Street has transitioned to a 24-hour shelter housing 250 adults and needs extra support to provide 3 meals/day for residents. Contact Chanta with additional questions.

MAY 9 And It Was Very Good MAY 16 Rest to Celebrate Creation

MY STORY SUNDAYS at 10 AM CT saintmichael.org/MyStory For questions, please email eliles@saintmichael.org or call 214.363.5471 THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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SMAA is on Twitter!

! s u w o l l o F

@SMAADallas

APRIL-JUNE JUBILEE PARK AND COMMUNITY CENTER Due to COVID-19, all spring events at Jubilee including the Mother Daughter Tea are cancelled. Jubilee has opened a Food Pantry and invites parishioners to purchase and contribute through our Amazon Wish List. APRIL 21 JUBILEE VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT 5:30 – 7pm Outdoor Tent Do you volunteer with Jubilee? Would you like to volunteer with Jubilee? Join us under the Tent to socialize with parishioners and Jubilee staff as we learn more about opportunities to serve together. Contact Chanta with any questions.

WORSHIP & LITURGY To Contact Worship & Liturgy Andrew Grosso, agrosso@saintmichael.org Bob Johnston, bjohnston@saintmichael.org Jonathan Ryan, jryan@saintmichael.org Justin Brooks, jbrooks@saintmichael.org Dianne Boyd, dboyd@saintmichael.org EVERY SUNDAY THROUGH MAY 2 CHORAL COMPLINE Sunday nights at 8 PM CT Online Only saintmichael.org/live Coming from the Latin completorium, from which we have our word “complete,” this meditative service is designed as the concluding prayer of our day. Lasting about 25 minutes and offered in our candlelit church, this liturgy centers around Psalms, Scripture, and prayers taken from Scripture (including the Nunc Dimittis – the Song of Simeon). The service is entirely unaccompanied music by the Compline Choir consisting of Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony - no sermon or Holy Eucharist. The particular liturgical aesthetic of Compline is aimed at concluding our weekend with reflection, calm, and peace. Compline will not take place Easter Day or April 25. MAY 5 PENTECOST OUTDOOR WORSHIP SERVICE 5:30 p.m.

Since wind and breath are symbols of the Holy Spirit, we are literally “letting the air in” by holding this service outside. We will also have a fire-breather at the service, so come early or stay after and enjoy the performance. THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

'm thrilled to bring you the news that we have called the Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso as our next Associate for Worship and Liturgy. Andrew comes to Saint Michael having most recently served as Acting Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Columbia, SC. His passion for the rich experience of worship is apparent and his thoughtfulness and skill will be a great gift to the worship life of our church community. Andrew and his wife, Diana, will be joining us before Holy Week, and although we will still be physically distant, I hope you will get to meet him very soon! Join me in giving thanks, and please keep Andrew and Diana in your prayers during their transition.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata Rector

t is my distinct honor to introduce you to the Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso, our new Associate for Worship and Liturgy. Andrew will oversee all aspects of worship at Saint Michael and will work closely with staff and volunteer leaders to ensure continued excellence in this area. He will also serve as a member of the executive staff, bless us with his substantial teaching skills, and provide pastoral care as part of the priest on-call rotation.

you know about opportunities to meet them, whether virtually, in livestream worship, or in a socially distant, outdoor setting. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Rev. Canon Rene Somodevilla, who has assisted in the worship and liturgy department for the past several months as we conducted the search for a new Associate. Once Andrew gets settled in, Rene will return to his usual assisting duties in pastoral care and worship. I thank God for this new expression of faithfulness, and I thank each of you for the ways that you will bless Andrew and Diana in their ministry at Saint Michael, as they bless yours as well.

The Rev. Kenneth H. Brannon Vice Rector

ear Saint Michael and All Angels Church,

I have very much enjoyed getting to know Andrew and I am confident that we have found a person of remarkable intellect, strong character, and Christ-centered faith. In addition to being an experienced Episcopal priest, Andrew also has significant executive experience leading a cathedral, serving as associate dean of a seminary, and shepherding a parish.

One of the great gifts and joys of priestly ministry is the opportunity to help lead God’s people in worship and prayer, and I’m grateful for the call to serve as the Associate for Worship and Liturgy at Saint Michael and All Angels. It’s clear the congregation supports a wide range of vibrant ministries, and now finds itself in the enviable position of having to exercise careful discernment as to how best to strengthen existing ministries, while also incorporating new initiatives into a strategically aligned vision for mission in today’s changing world. I very much appreciate Saint Michael’s commitment to the traditions that have brought the congregation to this point in its life as a community of faith, and its willingness to engage the opportunities and challenges appearing on the horizon. Serving at Saint Michael will be both a privilege and a blessing.

Diana, his wife, is an accomplished visual artist, loves to play music (she has studied piano, guitar, Celtic harp, Scottish bagpipes, and viola), and enjoys cooking. Andrew and Diana are scheduled to arrive in Dallas in mid-March, and we will let

The Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso Associate for Worship & Liturgy THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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2020 by the numbers

ti o

S te

After taking wise counsel, I am re-issuing my directive from this morning, as follows: Effective Sunday March 15th, all public gatherings in Diocese of Dallas churches and facilities are suspended for two weeks. This suspension includes mid-week services and Lenten activities, Bibles studies, small groups, etc....

l, D

i re c t o r o f C o m

n mu

This was March 13, 2020, and the Diocese of Dallas was about to join the global response to something the news was calling COVID-19.

Church services, formation, choirs, youth, CFM, giving—before long it became apparent this would be more than just a few weeks of being careful, but rather an exhaustive pivot in almost everything we do in ministry in response to this pandemic. For Communications, the primary goal was to assist and support the departments while there was collectively a mad-dash to discover ways to maintain connection between the church and the parishioners. To find ways to mitigate this isolation. We settled on the primary need to increase opportunities to engage digitally (as most of the world did), and began updating our infrastucture to allow not only for a return to weekly Sunday streams, but also digital Formation, small group opportunities, podcasting, the weekly Rector’s Bible Study, special compline, and other moments. Conversely, we expanded our analog presence with the Archangel VIEWS OF RECTOR magazine, increasing circulation and WEEKLY STREAMS making the decision to mail a copy to parish households in an effort to provide photos, stories, and editorial, keeping people informed about our changed parish life.

2020 PANDEMIC

PIVOT

DIGITAL ENGAGEMENTS

25,690 138

122

77,634

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CHURCH SERVICE ENGAGEMENTS

31,539 FORMATION ENGAGEMENTS

4,153

PODCAST EPISODES OVER FOUR SEASONS: LENT, EASTER, FALL, & ADVENT

4,227

83,706

ANALOG ENGAGEMENTS

CHURCH SERVICES STREAMED

18,861

At right are a few specifics pertaining to our efforts, and the response in engagement online. While we are continually looking for PODCAST LISTENS new and better ways to engage, we hope this has helped keep our parish family knitted together!

220,120

AVERAGE WEEKLY ENGAGEMENTS

JOY FAMILY SERVICE ENGAGEMENTS

17,040

8,650

DIRECT MAIL PIECES SENT OVER 10 CAMPAIGNS

ARCHANGEL MAGAZINES MAILED TO HOMES

CHA NTI CLE E R GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING MALE VOCAL ENSEMBLE

APRIL 25, 2021 | 7 P.M. 6 P.M.

Food Trucks and Fun on the Field (BYOB)

6:45 P.M.

Pre-Show by Saint Michael Choristers

7 P.M.

Saint Michael Presents: Chanticleer

Are you ready? The globally-renowned CHANTICLEER ensemble will be presented Sunday, April 25 at 7 p.m., as part of the Saint Michael Presents series. This speciallycurated, pre-recorded concert will inspire and move you. Grab your blankets, lawn chairs, and favorite beverage, and view the concert on the enormous LED digital billboard after enjoying a social-distanced picnic with the Saint Michael community! Food trucks will be available starting an hour before the concert.

SAINTMICHAEL.ORG/SMP THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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Project Moses and the Journey Toward Freedom

Elizabeth Lang

Why do we call the Saint Michael and All Angels ministry that is concerned with fighting human trafficking Project Moses? In our early collaboration we wanted a name that reflected our mission and was descriptive of those we wanted to serve. Project Moses resonates with the Biblical story of the Exodus—the story of God’s freeing people from slavery in Egypt. Moses was the agent whom God called to lead God’s people to freedom and empowerment. Their journey from Egypt was a pilgrimage of liberation. As a child I heard the story as a wonderful tale featuring a burning bush, crossing the Red Sea, and receiving the Ten Commandments. Since then, I have learned that this story is more complex and arduous. To show how the ancient story of Moses and the Exodus forms a theological basis for Project Moses, I want to draw some parallels between the Biblical story and the contemporary journey of a survivor of human trafficking, particularly the long path to recovery from the trauma of sex trafficking. A CRY OF PAIN “The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them.“ Exodus 2:23-25 God has compassion on those who are enslaved, which suggests that we also should be concerned about those suffering under the burden of contemporary slavery—those controlled by trafficking. Yet, there is more to this than the attention of God and our compassion. Until the victim of sexual trafficking realizes that he or she is suffering under a burden, it is hard for the victim to seek change. Before then, those abused may not see themselves as oppressed. Sadly, the trafficker who controls the one being exploited is too often a family member, boyfriend, or other trusted adult. Those who seek people to use for profit know how to groom and manipulate them. The potential victim may think that she is being helped and loved by the one who will abuse and misuse her. The one she perceives as her protector is the one who begins to exert power and control. The once mutual relationship now becomes a struggle for survival and escape from a pernicious web of control. It’s only after the one being trafficked realizes that she is suffering and wonders what to do about the situation that she begins to think of leaving.

THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

MAKING BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW When Moses returned to Egypt from his exile near Mount Horeb in order to free God’s people, the Pharaoh and his system, of course, resisted any movement to free the people. Why should those on top of the economic pyramid set free those at the bottom? Moses demanded in the name of God, “Let my people go.” Pharaoh and his taskmasters complained that Moses and his brother Aaron were taking the people away from their work. Therefore, they increased the burden of the enslaved by no longer furnishing supplies for making bricks. The slaves now had to produce their quota of bricks with greater hardship. Naturally, the slaves turned against Moses and Aaron and blamed them for worsening their condition Exodus 5. If a victim of trafficking begins to resist his and her captivity, the trafficker has means to keep his or her economic resource in place. Those wielding the power use isolation, emotional abuse, and economic power to keep their sex worker under their control. They use threats and employ physical and sexual violence. In addition to hurting their victim, they may threaten to harm a victim’s friend of family member. These are effective means of making the ones enslaved prefer slavery to the consequences of escaping their situation. As trauma reinforces trauma, those trafficked are further damaged and trapped, especially due to the strong emotional hold exerted over them.

THE WILDERNESS JOURNEY

THE RED SEA Finally, after a series of plagues, culminating in the death of the firstborn, the Pharaoh and the Egyptians sent away the Hebrews. The former slaves moved out walking on the way toward freedom. But then, Pharaoh sent an army against them. As the people were trapped between the army and the Red Sea, they asked Moses, “Were there no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?” But, of course, we know the rest of the story. Moses raised his rod, the wind blew, the waters parted, and the people walked to safety. Which was the greatest miracle? The lifting of the rod? The blowing wind? Or the first person stepping between the risen waves? As the story continues, the people arrive safely on the further shore, and their pursuers are destroyed. The women lead the people with song and dance rejoicing in God’s salvation Exodus 14 & 15. Those who have been sexually trafficked have been traumatized on so many levels that it is hard for them to imagine that they are on a safe path toward inner security and freedom. Even if survivors of sexual trafficking are in a safe house, they do not initially feel safe. Disturbing emotional and physical flashbacks are “triggered” by things in their new environment. They may cycle through and return to various rehabilitation stages as they move toward recovery. They get glimpses of a new life and may rejoice in this. But the work of liberation is just beginning.

As a child, I thought that the Exodus story ended with the crossing of the Red Sea and the receiving of the gift of the 10 Commandments. But the story continues with much backsliding. The people complain about manna from heaven and yearn for the stew pots, garlic, leeks, cucumber, and melons of Egypt. The people turn against Moses, grumble about water, worship a golden calf, are too frightened to enter the Promised Land. Repeatedly they complain, resist, and even rebel on the journey toward freedom. The story of the wilderness journey not only takes up a lot of space in Exodus but also continues in other books of Torah. After all, there are forty years after the people approached the border of the Promised Land. Again and again, they had to be recalled to their identity as the people of God and return to the redemptive path. So, it is with recovering survivors of trafficking. When someone who has been extracted from “the life” enters a program of recovery and a safe house, they have a lot of work to do. Victims go through stages such as withdrawing, shutting down, getting better and fitting into the rules and routine of the safe place, relapsing, rebelling, working on therapy with great difficulty, and periods of resistance. The progress of healing is never a straight line. There are relapses and repetition of stages of recovery. Survivors need to recommit to their journey toward adjusting to a new life. Counseling, structure, education, mentoring, discipline, being members of a supportive community are all parts of a journey toward a new life. Project Moses is involved in this journey through supporting those agencies and organizations that take on this work of recovery. Engaging in prayer, contributing financial and material resources, volunteering in service, lobbying the legislature, and educating about human trafficking are some of the ways Project Moses fights the evils of human trafficking and encourages those journeying toward freedom. Perhaps you would like to join this endeavor. If so, please contact Mark or Terry Demler at projectmosesht@gmail.com. THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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AROUND THE PARISH

ABOVE The Snowbirds from left to right JC Snead, Jeanne Snead, Ambyr Baker, Brianna Baker, Sam Jackson, Parker Hall, Brayden Girata, Layna Girata and Tony Briggle. LEFT A young parishioner eagerly greeting Jesus after the return to in-person worship. BELOW Being bed bound did not stop Fredna Stewart from building her home altar during Lent. John Bergner and his partner, Charles Stewart, join Fredna, their mom, each Sunday to worship together via the Saint Michael YouTube livestream. They are grateful technology supports Saint Michael’s outreach ministries and that they can participate at home!

THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP A parishioner's home decorated for the Lenten season; Father Greg Pickens with his "housewarming basket", which will be donated to former Austin Street residents moving into their own housing; During the "Ice-pocalypse", parishioners donated enough money to Austin Street Center to house 131 homeless persons in a hotel for one night. Watch a thank you video from Austin Street with the QR code below; Father Chris Girata during one of the digital Ash Wednesday services.

OPEN PHONE CAMERA AND SCAN!

THE ARCHANGEL | 75TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

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WE WALK THIS ROAD TOGETHER RECTOR CHRIS GIRATA

hen day comes we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?” These words opened Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” on January 20. As she began her recitation, I was captivated with her poise and confidence. But what I found most magnetic was her ability to capture so much of what we all seem to be feeling as we begin this new year. No matter your politics, this new year brings with it an exhaustion that is unmatched in recent decades. The weight of 2020 was felt by us all. Whether you felt isolated and scared because of the pandemic, stressed about the economy or heavy from the uncertainty of the election, 2020 wore us out. Into that moment of exhaustion came a shot of hope. With a clear and present voice, Ms. Gorman told our story. She exposed our imperfections not to shame, but to enlighten. She aspired to point us in a direction of growth, rather than leave us in the mess. “And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another.”

Brokenness is not something we should fear, but rather a human condition we must accept. As we begin this new year, we cannot deny the chasm that divides our country. We have gotten to a point in our common life when conversations are precarious, and we worry about saying the wrong thing to a stranger or bringing up certain topics with a friend. Some of us are sensitive not to upset the apple cart of our relationships, while others are happy to cut people

THE ARCHANGEL EASTER 2021

out of their lives. What has come of us when we can no longer engage with those we once loved? What has come of us when we settle for division, rather than work for common ground? Into this painful void, we heard the words of a poet that challenged our way of being and of a future that holds the promise of being better than our past. “If we're to live up to our own time, then victory won't lie in the blade. But in all the bridges we've made, that is the promise to glade, the hill we climb. If only we dare. It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit, it's the past we step into and how we repair it.” It’s time we work to repair what is broken. Brokenness is not something we should fear, but rather a human condition we must accept. We are only human, and our humanity means we are all broken in unique ways. Yet, in our brokenness, we find the unity we all need to heal. We are not alone in the struggle of life. We walk this hard road together. We walk this hard road together. My faith reminds me of one thing over and over again: “Do not be afraid.” Fear is the great tempter. Fear is a debilitating anchor that keeps us from being able to move forward toward healing. Our inherent fear has been fanned in unprecedented ways in 2020. Yet we have the strength, together, to recover. As I look out onto this new year, with so much promise to shift out of our pandemic reality, I hope you see the light at the end of the tunnel. The dawn brings new opportunities and new hope. “When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid, the new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.” We can be the light for one another, and together, we can rise. WE WALK THIS ROAD TOGETHER was published in the Katy Trail Weekly, "The Good Word" Column, January 29, 2021 Chris Girata is the Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX.

The Archangel - Easter 2021

Articles inside

WE WALK THIS ROAD TOGETHER

WELCOME TO THE REV. DR. ANDREW GROSSO

THE DALLAS BOYS COURSE

FROM THE EDITOR

PHOTOS] AT-HOME LENTEN ALTARS

RECTOR'S REPORT

THE JOURNEY TOWARD FREEDOM

JUBILEE: EXPANDING OUR HEALTH PILLAR

PHOTOS] AROUND THE PARISH