Day School Openings for 2021-22

St. Michael's Parish Day School offers half-day classes for ages 6 months-Kindergarten.

Our Kindergarten class meets from 9:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the curriculum is based on kindergarten standards set forth by the NC Department of Public Instruction. All other Day School classes (ages 6 month-Pre-K) meet from 9:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

We have ended our official registration period for the 2021-22 school year, but we will continue to accept applications for the classes that have spaces remaining: Pre-K, 4 day 3 year olds, 5 day 3 year olds, TuTh Older 2 year olds, TuTh Younger 2 year olds, and TuTh Babies.

The following classes are full, but you may add your child's name to the wait list by contacting our director, Mandy Annunziata: Kindergarten, MWF Older 2s, MWF Younger 2s, MW Older Toddlers, TuTh Younger Toddlers. If there is enough interest, we have room to add another TuTh Toddler class.

For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact Mandy at annunziata@holymichael.org or 919-782-6430.



Teachable Moment Series for Epipany: The Return of the Prodigal Son

Beginning Sunday, Jan.10 and continuing through Sunday, Feb.14, please tune-in for the short "Teachable Moment" videos on the Prodigal Son. As we enter the new year and now Epiphany (the Season of Lights), we begin a six-week series based on the book The Return of the Prodigal Son by the late Catholic priest and theologian, Henri Nouwen. This is not a book study per se, rather short teachings each week based on the book that will take us deeper into this parable from the Gospel of Luke 15.

Nouwen wrote this book based on his experience with Rembrandt’s famous rendition of the Prodigal Son that is on display in the Hermitage in Russia. As he sat across from the painting for hours, new revelations of this parable manifested themselves as the light hit the painting from different angles. For to be human is to encounter nature, people, art and ideas.When we allow these encounters to speak to us, challenge us, change us, then we are truly human, created anew over and over by Gods transforming power through the created world. Are we observers or participants? Presented by clergy and others. Join us!

Drive-in Church & Eucharist on Sunday!

Each Sunday, we invited you to attend the Eucharist on Facebook Live, followed by in-person distribution of the bread by clergy while everyone remains masked and in their cars.

Parishioners are instructed to drive into the parking lot from Canterbury Road and park in EVERY OTHER SPACE. Please be in place no later than 10 a.m. Everyone is asked to remain in cars until the service has been completed and all are dismissed. Exit by Lewis Farm Road only.

New Time! Join Us for Morning Prayer

Our Sunday morning virtual Morning Prayer on Sundays changes time to 11 a.m. to accommodate those who would like to attend the 10 a.m. Drive-In service. Join members of the St. Michael's community as parishioners lead us in Morning Prayer every Sunday. Whether you pray Morning Prayer every day or never have before, all are welcome to join! For more info. on how to pray the Daily Office, check out this video. Join for Morning Prayer on Sundays by Zoom here:

Join a Reflection Circle–Week of Jan. 10

St Michael’s Reflection Circles are continuing in 2021, beginning the week of January 10!  All are welcome to join. What are Reflection Circles? Here are some thoughts from participant Hayden Constance. 

“When God closes a door, he opens a window, but it's up to you to find it.” —Jeannette Walls

When concern for the health and lives of our St. Michael's community forced the doors to close, I felt such a sense of sadness and loss. Our church has become the central glue of my life. How could I possibly replace the spiritual growth, love, and purpose I felt within those walls, with my people? 

I decided to join a Reflection Circle in an attempt to fill the void. From the first time the Zoom "window" opened, I felt peace and joy begin to seep into that void. I saw familiar and unfamiliar faces, and we read and shared our reflections on the lectionary for the week. The Circle has introduced me to new friends and reunited me with existing ones. I have grown by listening to how the words of the readings have meaning for each person. I have a dedicated time to reflect on what the Word means to me and calls me to do. I look forward to this time every week and miss it when I cannot attend.

Yes, our doors sadly remain closed, and I continue to feel that loss. However, the Reflection Circle has opened a window which has led me into an opportunity for deeper spiritual growth and new community.

Come join us. Our window is open to all.


The New Year is a great time to join a group. All of the established Reflection Circles will continue into 2021. They are also welcoming new participants.

These small groups (typically 5-9 people in each) meet weekly via Zoom to share our lives, pray, and reflect on upcoming Sunday lectionary readings. Each meeting is scheduled to last 40 minutes and is led by a trained facilitator.

The groups will meet the week of Jan. 10–Feb. 28:

  • Want to join a group?

  • Want more information?

  • All you need to do is e-mail Sam Taylor

Current Group Meeting Times:

  • Mondays at 9 a.m.

  • Mondays at 7:30 p.m.

  • Tuesdays at 10 a.m. (2 groups)

  • Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

  • Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

To sign up, or for more information contact Sam Taylor (908-399-5566) and let him know which time works best for you. If a specific time fills up, or if you would like a different day or time, let us know. We’ll work to create a new group at a time that works.

Did You Miss our Christmas Eve Service? Watch Now!

Our virtual service of Lessons & Carols remains on YouTube and here. Gather the family and hear many of your favorite hymns sung by St. Michael’s Choirs. Listen as our readers share the story of God’s people. (Feel free to sing along!) The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones is the preacher.

We hope you will join us for this special evening though we are unable to gather. And please continue to pray for healing for all those who have been affected by COVID-19, and for the healing of our nation.

Our Drive-In services on Sunday morning continue. Join us on Sundays at 10 a.m., watch the Eucharist on Facebook Live, and wait in your cars while clergy delivers the wafer safely to you.

Drive-Through Eucharist

Sunday, Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. (Recorded service available at 8 a.m.)

Spanish Eucharist on Facebook Live at 5 p.m.




Our Lives Through the Lens: Weekly Slideshow

Missed Our Advent Series? Watch Here

Special Advent Offering—Preparing Our Voices for the Birth of Christ—with Helen Moses, author of "Voice Unleashed"

Missed it? Watch all three sessions here.

Resources for Children

St. Michael's Children's Ministry Team is excited to bring new virtual programs this fall to children ages 2-Fifth Grade. The programs will engage all of our children with visual storytelling and crafts. Stories of the Bible will be taught using a program new to us called Beulah Land (for ages 2-kindergarten) and we will continue using Godly Play for older children.

Stella Attaway will be using Beulah Land©, an interactive felt storyboard kit storytelling and imaginative play. Beulah Land© uses hands-on materials to tell Scripture stories in the context of worship. The felt pieces will be used to tell the original story but can be recombined in an infinite number of ways.

Carolyn L'Italien will continue using Godly Play for our 1st-3rd grade Sunday School classes. The program allows children to see where God is present in their own lives while exploring Bible stories with play and wonder. In Godly Play, children are led through the story with play figures and after are focused on “I wonder” questions from what they have heard. 

Both programs will be presented on video and posted each Sunday morning on holymichael.org. We hope parents will tune in with their children to learn about these programs and how together they can explore the stories of God's love in our world.

Chapel Videos

Fall 2020 Archangel

Though Archangel has been delayed in mailing, you can now read your copy here. Read stories from our clergy, find yourselves in the pews, in the hallways of Rex Hospital and in your own driveway, as we navigate our world, together though apart.

The Blessing of God's Animals

St. Francis was the Patron Saint of Animals. Each October, we honor him and our faithful companions.

Last Sunday, we had a lovely afternoon honoring our faithful companions
at our drive-thru-blessing of the animals.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the SPCA collection! We received several bags of pet food/supplies as well as monetary donations.

Watch our slide show below.

Online Choir Registration for Children & Youth

Although in-person rehearsals are suspended temporarily, we'll offer online activities this fall to support our wonderful choir community and prepare for the day when we can rehearse together again! Register online now for choirs for children and teens (4 years of age through 12th grade). Learn more about our choirs HERE.

Holy Eucharist Live Videos on Wednesdays and Sundays

Starting Wednesday, July 22, the Rev. Greg Jones will celebrate Holy Eucharist live via Facebook Live, and we invite everyone to participate.

Services times:

Wednesdays, 12:15 pm

Sundays, 5 pm

Following the Sunday services, parishioners are invited to share in an agape meal — love feast — in their homes.

Read more about it here. We hope to continue these services as long as our doors are closed.

An Order for At Home Love Feast

  • Set out a plate with bread, olive oil, olives, grapes, or other items.

  • Light a candle on the table.

  • Blessing over the food: Come Lord Jesus, our Guest to be, And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee. Bless thy dear ones everywhere, and keep them in thy loving care. Amen

  • Conclude with the Lord's Prayer

Participating in the live broadcast is easy!

Connect with us on the St. Michael’s Facebook page.

Don’t have a Facebook account? We’ll email a direct link to the video, but you can access it here. You do not need a Facebook account to watch.

We hope you’ll take advantage of these new offerings, as our time apart from each other continues.

New Adult Forum Program—Fall 2020

This fall, St. Michael’s will be offering short, five- to 10-minute video teachings called, “Teachable Moments.” These engaging Sunday videos will be taking a closer look at the lesser-known saints and feast days we recognize in the Church.

  • Who were they?

  • What did they do?

  • When did they live?

  • Where did they carry-out their ministry?

  • Why were they so passionate.

  • What impact do they have upon us today?

September 13—Holy Cross Day
The Rev. Dr. James L. Pahl, Jr.
It was in Jerusalem on Sept. 14, that a relic of the true cross was discovered, and that day has been set aside for commemoration ever since.

September 20—Mildred Holland, Wife of The Rev. William Holland Huntingfield, Suffolk, England
The Rev. Holly Gloff

Mrs. Holland lay on her back on scaffolding to recreate the splendor of a 15th century Angel ceiling in a parish called St. Mary the Virgin.

September 27—Remigius, Bishop of Rheims
The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones

At the age of 22, Remigius became Bishop of Rheims. He gave the famous charge: “Worship what you have burned, and burn what you have worshiped.”

October 4—Bishops Atkinson, Delaney, & Curry
The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones

Greg will take a look at these Bishops.

October 11—St. Francis of Assisi & Animal Blessings
The Rev. Holly Gloff

Son of a prosperous businessman, Francis gave it all up to serve the Lord with great meekness and gentleness of spirit. He is associated with the blessing of all creatures. And at 4 p.m. on October 4, we’ll host a drive-through Animal Blessing for all.

October 18—Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, & Thomas Cranmer
The Rev. Dr. James L. Pahl, Jr.

Hugh Latimer said to his friend Nicholas Ridley, as they were both about to be burned as heretics for their teachings and beliefs: “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as (I trust) shall never be put out.” Greg will take a look at these men and at Thomas Cranmer, who wrote the Book of Common Prayer.

October 25—St. Simon & St. Jude, Apostles
Two faithful disciples of the Lord, who were zealous in their mission.

October 25—All Saints’ Day
The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones

“I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true, who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew.”

November 8—Virtual Gifts of Grace

November 15 —Hilda, Abbess of Whitby
The Rev. Holly Gloff

Renowned for her wisdom, eagerness for learning, and devotion to God, Hilda entered the monastic life and played a major role in preaching the gospel of peace. November 22—Clement of Rome Early Church father, third Bishop of Rome, Clement preached the Gospel of Christ and set forth a hierarchical view of Church authority.

November 22—Clement of Rome
Early Church father, third Bishop of Rome, Clement preached the Gospel of Christ and set forth a hierarchical view of Church authority.

We've Missed You!

Our clergy & staff miss everyone so much, and we’ve created short videos to let you know what we’ve been doing since we closed our doors in March. We pray that we’ll soon be able to be together again, but in the mean time, we hope you’ll take advantage of all of our online offerings for kids and adults alike! And please follow us on Facebook and on our YouTube channel for more videos like these!


Archangel Summer 2020

During the pandemic of COVID-19, we closed our church doors. But in doing so, we opened our hearts and imaginations and brought a new kind of church to every household in our congregation. Read the story of how we raised up our faith during the Easter season and became Easter People.

Statement on Racial Reconciliation

FROM THE CLERGY & VESTRY

St. Michael's Episcopal Church

Dear Friends,

In the wake of recent events in our city and nation, we the Vestry and Clergy of St. Michael’s are reminded yet again of our need to formally decry the sin of racism and to commit ourselves to the work of reconciliation in our church and society. As followers of Jesus, we believe our mission involves loving, liberating and life-giving work to address racial inequities in our marginalized communities.  

For some, adopting this work may mean attending protests and putting our bodies on the front lines. For others, it may mean showing concern and compassion toward our sisters and brothers of color through our many outreach ministries. For many, it will mean educating ourselves on the history and current prevailing issues of race and systemic racial oppression, including in our religious institutions. For all of us, it means prayer — prayer for people of color, for the police who serve our community, and for struggling business owners as we seek justice, forgiveness, unity, and love. 

We understand that the fight against racism and oppression begins with listening. We pray God will allow us to listen with our heart, hands, feet and bodies, so that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.

Signed,

The Vestry and Clergy of St. Michael's 

Rector's Epistle on Reopening

The Diocese of North Carolina has sent out its plan for how we enter into the next stages of our life together as a Christian body. The diocesan task force, which produced the plan, includes our very own the Rev. Dr. Vince Kopp and others with experience in medicine, public health, and other pertinent areas. 

It is the plan we must go by and while rigorous, it is deeply thought out. To be sure, the choices and decisions the diocese has made differ in various points from governmental directives. In a nutshell, the diocesan plan is going to be more cautious than what we will see in the secular realm, and perhaps from other religious groups. 

The key values of the diocese are the commands to love God and to love one another, and with a particular eye toward keeping safe the most vulnerable. As such, it will be some time before we are all just ‘going back to church.’

The plan is 21 pages long and highly detailed, but I will try and share the framework quickly. The diocese discusses four stages. Each stage is principally determined by Public Health Indicators (PHI), such as rates of Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Stage 1 — where we are now — is when the PHI numbers are rising. Stage 2 is when they are declining. We pray that the decline will be around July 1. Stage 3 is when PHI are near zero. Stage 4 is when vaccines and perhaps treatment are available.

When we reach Stage 2 — tentatively July 1 — a limited amount of ‘reopening’ will be permitted. However, let me emphasize the word ‘limited.’ The guidelines talk about indoor worship not to exceed 25 people, including leaders. All will need to wear masks. There will be no singing. No shaking hands. Household groups will sit six feet apart. Outdoor worship of up to 35 may take place. Conceivably, one group of 25 could be in the main church and another in the Parish Hall at the same time. Extensive cleaning must take place after each gathering. It’s very hard to imagine how we decide who attends and how often, when so few out of 2,100+ members could attend on any given Sunday.

Given these limitations defined by Stage 2, we intend to continue with our Sunday worship video as we have been, along with our other virtual offerings. Thanks be to God and our video crew, these have been a blessing. Many are watching them — we have hundreds of views and participants each week. 

As the secular guidelines of social gatherings unfold, I would like to encourage you all to think about getting together with others, in permissible numbers as defined by the Governor, to have “house church.” Think of this as a holy tailgate party. Watch the video and pray together, and enjoy fellowship, while following social distancing standards.

In the coming days, we will be sending out a survey to gather feedback from you, as part of our planning for the next stages of our life together.

Thank you for your ongoing support of St. Michael’s. I miss you all so much!

In Christ,

Greg