Saint Michael & All Angels

Visiting Saint Michael

 Click on the video icon to view a welcome video from our rector, The Reverend Dr. Bob Dannals

If you are visiting Saint Michael for the first time, WELCOME! We are delighted you have chosen to be with us. We feel it’s our collective call to “clear the way” for you to become an integral part of this church. We want you to be able to experience God in and through all aspects of our parish life: fellowship with other pilgrims, transformative worship, service to “the least of these,” spiritual formation, pastoral care, and the sacramental gifts given at Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation, Eucharist, or Burial. Knowing that a first visit to any church brings up some questions, please click here to see our FAQs which we hope will help you become more familiar with this church and its ministries.

If you still have unanswered questions or just want to get a glimpse of the atmosphere, please feel free to contact any of the staff personally by email or by the main church telephone line: 214-363-5471. Whether you’re just starting to ask questions about God or are a committed Christian looking for deeper life in formation and fellowship, we hope you’ll find a home here at Saint Michael.

·      To learn more about our Newcomers Ministry, click here.
·      View a map of St. Michael and All Angels
·      To learn more about becoming a member, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT MY FIRST VISIT?
If you are arriving for worship, whether in Saint Michael Chapel, the main sanctuary, the Parish Hall or the Theater, you will be warmly welcomed by a Saint Michael greeter. Ushers will then give you a bulletin and help you find a place to sit if you need it. Please stop by the Hospitality Booth in The Lanai where volunteers will help you with any questions you may have. While you're there, pick up a copy of the Sunday News and the Archangel, both of which tell you about events, programs and classes taking place at SMAA. You also might want to visit the "Give Into Temptation" table in the Lanai for a little bite to eat and then head to the bookshop just down the hall where there are many terrific resources to help you along.
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WHAT DOES SAINT MICHAEL BELIEVE?
View Our Church Vision & Values
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DO I NEED TO BECOME A MEMBER OF SAINT MICHAEL TO PARTICIPATE IN WORSHIP AND OTHER ACTIVITIES?
You do not need to be a member to worship at SMAA or to participate in other programs and activities. However, we encourage you to think and pray about becoming a member and perhaps at some point beginning to live a deeper life of faith and discipleship within the context of this community of faith.
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WHAT ARE WORSHIP SERVICES LIKE? HOW DO THEY DIFFER?
There are many types of worship services at SMAA. Please click here to link to service descriptions and times.
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DOES SAINT MICHAEL HAVE A DRESS CODE?
Saint Michael has no dress code. If you attend services in the main sanctuary, you’re likely to find people more formally dressed than in the Theater or the Parish Hall. Services on Saturday and Sunday nights tend to be less formal than those on Sunday mornings. However, you will find all kinds of people dressed in all kinds of clothing every time you come to Saint Michael.
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HOW DO I GET TO SAINT MICHAEL?
View directions to the church
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WHERE DO I PARK?
There is a large parking lot off of Colgate, a smaller parking lot on the north side of the church on Douglas or on-street parking on both of those streets. There is also some parking along the Christ the King playing field off of Douglas.
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IS THE CHURCH HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE?
Yes. You may gain access to the church building off the handicap parking lot on Colgate, either directly into the main sanctuary or through the electronic door that leads to the Saint Michael Chapel (just to the left of the porte cachere entrance). There is an elevator located next to the Theater for anyone wishing to travel between the first floor and the Parish Hall in the basement of the church.
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WHERE WILL MY CHILDREN BE?
View our Sunday School schedules
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HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE SERVICE?  
In the Episcopal Church, all our worship is taken from The Book of Common Prayer, affectionately known as the BCP. There are BCPs in every pew in the main sanctuary and in the Chapel along with The Hymnal 1982, in which are located most of our hymns. Individualized booklets are used in the Parish Hall and the Theater. Your worship bulletin, which includes an insert containing the readings, directs you to page numbers in the BCP and with those two resources, you can follow along with the service. 
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AM I REQUIRED TO GIVE MONEY AT WORSHIP?
There is no monetary requirement to worship at SMAA. Most people find, however, that as they move into a deeper relationship with God and become more involved in ministry and community, giving becomes a very natural next step in their Christian lives.
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CAN I TAKE COMMUNION? HOW DOES IT WORK?
All baptized Christians of any denomination or tradition are welcome to receive Holy Communion at Saint Michael, in any service. We have an open table and all are welcome. When your pew is released by the usher, walk forward toward the altar. Another usher will direct you to a portion of the altar rail where you may kneel or stand to receive. (Only the main sanctuary and the Chapel have altar rails; in the Parish Hall and Theater, we generally receive Communion standing up.) To receive the bread, place one hand over the other, palms up, so that the priest may put a wafer on your palm. If you are going to drink from the chalice, you may consume the wafer immediately. When the chalice comes to you, you can help the chalice bearer guide it to your mouth by placing your hand on the bottom of the chalice and tilting it or by gently taking it in your hands and guiding it. If you choose to intinct — or dip — the wafer in the wine, you’ll want to hold it until the chalice comes to you.
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WHAT ELSE HAPPENS ON SUNDAY?
Sundays are busy and exciting at Saint Michael. In addition to six worship services, you may choose from many adult Sunday school classes at the 10 a.m. education hour. Children go to their Sunday school classes at the same time. Saint Michael has many parish and volunteer groups that hold meetings on Sundays. Sometimes we’ll have training or a luncheon for a particular ministry area. Sometimes, we’ll have a reception for a special occasion. There are always various tables in the hallways to register for a class or a dinner or to talk with our Parish Nurse. And September through May, the St. Mary’s Guild offers sweet things to eat in the Lanai reception area.
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ARE THE CLERGY CONSIDERED MINISTERS OR PRIESTS? HOW SHOULD I ADDRESS THEM? REVEREND? FATHER? MR. OR MS.?
The catechism in The Book of Common Prayer (p. 845) tells us not only that the ministers of the church are the Laity or the non-ordained people in the church. However, there are three orders of clergy in The Episcopal Church: deacons, priests, and bishops. Even though it is not grammatically correct, many address priests and deacons as “Reverend Smith” or “Reverend Kathy” and “Deacon Smith” or “Deacon Kathy.” At Saint Michael, some parishioners still use “Father” to address the male clergy. Since we have three women clergy on staff, some address them as “Mother.” The way to know how to address the priests and deacons at Saint Michael, and we have both, is to ask them how they like to be addressed. Chances are it will be their first name!
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CAN I MEET WITH A PRIEST?
Of course! All the clergy are listed under the “About” heading at the top of the home page of the website. Once you’ve clicked on “About,” click on “Staff” on the left side of the page and you will find phone extensions and an instruction on how to address emails. You may also check the box on the blue Connect Card you receive in the services that indicates you’d like to visit with a priest. All the clergy at Saint Michael feel privileged to meet with you.
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