St. Michael’s offers a variety of ministries and programs, including (but not limited to) the following. The best way to become more integrated in the life of a parish community is by getting involved in one of them. If you are interested in pursuing any of the following, contact the parish office for more information: office@all-angels.com, 505-345-8147.
All Angels Episcopal Day School is dedicated to helping children develop faith based on knowledge of God’s love, awareness of the wonder of God’s creation and respect for varying beliefs. We provide high quality, developmentally appropriate care for young children. We address their spiritual, emotional, social, physical and cognitive needs. All Angels believes that both what and how children learn in their early years is critical to their development. All Angels admits children regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, gender, or religion.
For more information, go to the All Angels Episcopal Preschool page.
The Contemplative Prayer Group offers a weekly prayer session on Mondays at 7 pm in the nave. We begin with a time of sharing as we reflect on the next Sunday’s Gospel. Then we sit together in silent prayer, opening ourselves more deeply and fully to the Spirit of God’s presence in all of life. This is followed by a short meditative walk, another period of silence, and Compline. We welcome you to join us.
For more information and guidance on the practice of contemplative prayer, see Fr. Brian Taylor’s book, Becoming Christ: Transformation through Contemplation. Excerpts from this book are found on this website under Articles.
You can also listen to a talk that Fr. Brian gave on Contemplative Prayer.
Twice a year we offer a 12-week course for new members, or for those who want a refresher in the basics of our faith. One course begins in February, and the other in September. Check our newsletter, the Angelus, or contact the office for current class dates, childcare is available. The talks and lively discussion are about parish life and ministry, spiritual resources, church history, scripture, and theology. Many who complete the course choose to become confirmed or received as Episcopalians.
For first-timers, come into the church and ask an usher for directions to the nursery. Children are normally brought into worship to be with their parents for the second half of worship, for communion, The Holy Eucharist.
Our Sunday morning program for children is called Godly Play. It is a multiage, multi-sensory program which deepens our children¹s understanding of God and faith. Participation in Godly Play helps prepare children for joining in the worship and life of the congregation as they develop that deeper understanding of stories, symbols and rites. Godly Play is a beautiful program with all the lessons and materials prepared and provided for volunteers. The lessons are stories from the bible, told in a quiet, thoughtful way with simple materials and figurines. Godly Play is for all children ages four through fifth grade. It takes place on Sundays during our education hour from 10:15 - 11:05 in the education wing. To learn more about our Godly Play program, please contact Francesca MacDowell or Fr. Christopher, 345-8147 x15.
Children ages 4 and up gather in age-appropriate groups to reflect on the scriptures of the day, come together for prayers, and then join their families in church for the second half of worship, The Holy Eucharist.
A Bible-based class for 6th graders
This curriculum is designed to assist young people as they take the first steps of passage away from their families and into their own lives, applying lessons of faith to the everyday concerns and pressures of their age.
This curriculum is designed on the belief that adulthood is learned through a process of maturation. The program offers experiences of discussion, prayer, social ministry, and pilgrimage in order to reflect faithfully on the issues of life that teenagers face.
After graduating from the J2A program, the next step is taking on increasing responsibility in the life of the parish and in the community at large. Here is where our young people learn to serve the world as lay ministers.
These are members of St. Michael’s who are scheduled to serve on Sundays in worship. Members are scheduled with varying frequency, depending upon the task, but many are once-a-month commitments. Every lay person you see acting in any capacity on Sundays is considered a “Servant of Worship,” and they function in these ways:
Acolytes, Ushers, Altar Guild, Altar Servers, Cantors, Vergers, Subdeacons, Lectors, Offerors, Chalice Bearers, Choir Members, and through the Aesthetics and Flower Guild.
You can inquire about being trained for any of these ministries by contacting the office.
This outreach ministry of St. Michael’s feeds (with basic food staples) approximately 50+ families each week. Members buy, package, and bag food each week for the families who come to the Food Pantry. The food given out will feed a family of four up to a month.
An extension of the Food Pantry is a project worked in coordination with the Title I program that feeds homeless children. A group of eight members have committed to go to an assigned Albuquerque Public School once a month, bringing food for the evening meal to feed 25 to 30 elementary students who are homeless. Following the meal the eight St. Michael’s members remain for another hour and a half to tutor the children.
A reintegration community for people coming out of prison. Residents live in a house together with supervision and support, and St. Michael's parishioners provide a meal with fellowship once a month.
A day shelter for the homeless in Albuquerque, begun by all of the Episcopal parishes in the city. All full range of services include showers, clothing, job referral, and psychosocial services for over 300 men, women and children daily. Parishioners at St. Michael's host a Sunday breakfast following Eucharist once every two months. Watch in the bulletin for times to bring food and other needed items or to volunteer to help.
We support charities such as the Episcopal Fund for Relief and Development, the United Thank Offering and others.
Appointments for pastoral care can be made via the office. Please contact us for details.
Pastoral care is offered to any member in need. Appointments with the clergy can be made by contacting the office. When members are in the hospital, they or their families are invited to inform the parish office so that a clergy visit might be arranged. When members anticipate surgery, they may be anointed beforehand, asking for God’s healing grace.
These pastoral support ministries of St. Michael’s include:
Ministries still in process
Fr. Brian Taylor, Rector of St. Michael's, speaks on this YouTube video at a press conference at the capitol building in Santa Fe on Feb. 8, 2008 on behalf of the Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act.
The following is a list of ways in which St. Michael's can support any committed couple, whether heterosexual or same-gender.
Saint Michael’s provides Sign Language Interpreting services for the Sunday Eucharist at 11:00 AM. Interpreters can be arranged for parish meetings, workshops, classes and other offerings by contacting the office and making a request. The office needs at least 5 working days notice for arranging interpreting services.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) are available and can be obtained from an usher at each Sunday service. A “Deaf Events” List serve is available to keep the community up to date on scheduled events that are interpreted. Your email address can be added to this list serve by contacting the office.
Sign Language classes are offered periodically in the Church Hall to provide basic conversational vocabulary and responses for the Liturgy. Hearing members are encouraged to sign responses with Deaf and hard of hearing people during the Liturgy.
End Document — St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church