the The Newsletter for Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
May 2014
A Heritage of Hope
the 6th grade Disciples Confirmation
4
Bishop Stanton’s final visit to Saint Michael before retirement
11
Adult Confirmation
18
Graduating Seniors Recognition Sunday Last Sunday School before summer break
Jane Hodges book signing at St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange
21 25
Sundaes on Sunday
Volume 25, No. 11 Volume 26, No. 5
The one indispensable factor in the equation of the future is hope. For the Christian, hope is born from Easter, and is an attitude of the heart, one of the three things which the Apostle Paul said abide. It is what gives us energy and passion to move forward in the unknown. Vaclav Havel, the remarkable Czech playwright and politician, spoke often of our world’s need for a “culture of hope.” Havel stated that hope is “an ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed. Hope is not the same as optimism, it is not the conviction that something will merely provide for individual material prosperity. Hope transcends the world that is immediately experienced, and is anchored somewhere beyond our own era.” If one were to say that a parish was spiritually, relationally, and vocationally hopeful, what would that look like? My assumption is that this is not just something a parish talks about, it is more something that it is doing. It is living the resurrection, expecting new life around every corner, being animated by and about God’s Spirit, and to have the capacity to take that which is traditional and add to it an innovative portion. Jesus turned the world upside down with the hopeful words and actions of resurrection. But he did so to get back to the core of the faith -- the rock of ages -- and away from the cont. on page 15
Women of Saint Michael Spring Luncheon Cites Programs of Outreach and Community The outstanding philanthropic programs of the Women of Saint Michael and its outreach into the community were heralded at the group’s annual meeting Tuesday, April 27. It was announced that the 40 member gifts committee had awarded grants of $500,000 to 101 charities primarily in the greater Dallas area. The grant money was raised through the proceeds from the St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange in Highland Park Village, and at the annual Parish Party staged by the women. At the luncheon, 2013 – 2014 president Jan Baldwin cited highlights of the past year including the accomplishments of the allvolunteer Exchange shop staffed by the Women of Saint Michael, the February Mardi Gras party, and the fall and winter luncheon programs which featured leading community leaders as speakers. Whitney Grogan was introduced as the incoming president of the Women of Saint Michael. She promised to following in the footsteps of her predecessors and to build on their successes.
Incoming President of the Women of Saint Michael Whitney Grogan on left; Jan Baldwin Women of Saint Michael President 2013-2014 on right