St. Michael's Episcopal Church (Coolidge, Arizona)

St. Michael's Episcopal Church (Coolidge, Arizona) Come experience the warmth and hospitality inherent in this historic place. A welcoming Episcopal congregation located in Coolidge, Arizona.

We are young and old and in-between, all seeking to know God through our Savior Jesus Christ, to do God's work and show God's Love to the world around us. Mailing address:
PO Box 547
Coolidge, AZ 85128

It was a beautiful day for a baptism at St. Michael’s. “We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are bur...
09/06/2026

It was a beautiful day for a baptism at St. Michael’s.

“We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

In Preparation for September 6, 2026, Proper 18, The Fifteenth Sunday after PentecostScripture: Matthew 18:15-20In this ...
09/06/2026

In Preparation for September 6, 2026, Proper 18, The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20
In this season after Pentecost, we hear stories of Jesus’ ministry in the world and our call to engage in that mission. This season is also known as Ordinary Time coming from the word “ordinal” which means counted time. This time is not ordinary as in common or
regular, but it is the time of counted weeks between Pentecost and Advent. The color for this season is green and it is often referred to as the green growing time as we hear stories of what God is calling us to do in the world, we join in that call, and we grow in our faith.

A Notation for This Week’s Gospel
This passage in Matthew comes in the middle of a larger piece in which Jesus deals with matters that are important to life in this new community, how we treat others, what is important in this community and why this community may be different than other
communities. This section of Matthew speaks to us all being the body of Christ and that
we are all of value in the eyes of God. It is about how we treat each other and how we
are to best live as the family of God.

Reflection Questions:
• You have probably heard this Gospel before. Did anything new stand out for you this
time?
• I wonder why Jesus was teaching this to his disciples?
• Do you think this message would be any different today?
• Do you think this is something we can do today? Why or why not?
• If you are experienced at conflict resolution, does this seem like a good way to do it?

Closing Prayer: We thank you for guiding us about ways to solve conflicts or arguments in our lives. Please help us remember that our goal is wholeness with you and our communities and that you are with us as we gather. Help us to remember that as members of God’s family, we are responsible to and for one another. In your name we pray…

Abstracted from the Episcopal Church’s “Lesson Plans that Work” by the Rev. Henry J Hoffman

In preparation for August 30, 2026, Proper 17, The Fourteenth Sunday after PentecostScripture: Matthew 16:21-28In this s...
08/28/2026

In preparation for August 30, 2026, Proper 17, The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28
In this season after Pentecost, we hear stories of Jesus’ ministry in the world and our call to engage in that mission. This season is also known as Ordinary Time coming from the word “ordinal” which means counted time. This time is not ordinary as in common or regular, but it is the time of counted weeks between Pentecost and Advent. The color for this season is green and it is often referred to as the green growing time as we hear stories of what God is calling us to do in the world, we join in that call, and we grow in our faith.

A Notation for This Week’s Gospel and Reading
“From that time on…” this phrase signifies a shift in the Gospel of Matthew. After last week’s lesson where Peter professes that Jesus is the Messiah, we turn this week to Jesus getting down to business telling them what that means. Being the Messiah doesn’t mean that he is above anyone, but rather that he is one who is living out what he has been professing in his teachings, miracles, and parables. Peter does not want to believe that this is possible and wants to save him from this. Jesus reprimands him, saying that even though he had professed him as Messiah, he clearly doesn’t understand what that will mean.

Reflection Questions:
• “From that time on…” is how the reading begins today. This marks a shift from Jesus’
teaching ministry, to him telling the disciples again what is to come. If you
were hearing all the things that Jesus is telling the disciples would happen, what do you think your reaction would be?
• After getting it so right last week, I wonder why Peter gets it so wrong this week? (While Peter understands that Jesus is the Messiah, he still does not understand fully what that means. He probably is also shocked to hear what his mentor and teacher is telling him.)• Now, instead of being a rock, Peter is a stumbling block. What do you think Jesus meant by this? (Peter is worried about things of this world and not the things of heaven. If he keeps this up, he will not be following the way Jesus had taught him.)
• When have you found ourselves stumbling over something – thinking you were
getting it right, and finding out you were actually causing harm or getting it wrong?
• Jesus tells us that if we want to follow him, we must lose our lives to save them. What does this mean to you?
• What might you have to leave behind to more fully follow Jesus?

Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us not to stumble over earthly things that can get in our way and when we do stumble, help us to get back up and continue our journey with you just as Peter did. Guide our ears, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet that we may engage in your mission in the world. Amen.

Abstracted from the Episcopal Church’s “Lesson Plans that Work” by the Rev. Henry J Hoffman

In preparation for August 23, 2026, Proper 16, The Thirteenth Sunday after PentecostScripture: Matthew 16:13-20In this s...
08/22/2026

In preparation for August 23, 2026, Proper 16, The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20
In this season after Pentecost, we hear stories of Jesus’ ministry in the world and our call to engage in that mission. This season is also known as Ordinary Time coming from the word “ordinal” which means counted time. This time is not ordinary as in common or regular, but it is the time of counted weeks between Pentecost and Advent. The color for this season is green and it is often referred to as the green growing time as we hear stories of what God is calling us to do in the world, we join in that call, and we grow in our faith.

A Notation for This Week’s Gospel and Reading
After much instruction, story-telling, miracles, encounters, and prayer, Jesus finally asks two big questions to his disciples – Who do people say the Son of Man is? And Who do you say that I am. Whenever Jesus asks questions in the Gospels, it often has a way of marking an important teaching or an important moment, so we better pay attention. Questions are how Jesus can gauge how his mission in the world is going. Are the disciples and the people understanding who he is? What do they say about him and what he is doing? Who do they say he is?

Reflection Questions:
Jesus begins to question the disciples today, asking first, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Why do you think he wants to know this?
Then he drops the big question, “Who do you say that I am?” I wonder why he wanted to hear the answer to this question?
I wonder what we would say if Jesus asked us the question, “Who do you say that I am?”
Jesus tells Peter that his is the rock upon which he will build the church. What do you think that means? (Jesus trusts Peter to take the message forward because he has heard what Peter believes and professes)

Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us to not be afraid to profess who you are so that we can be the rocks upon which you build the church. Guide our ears, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet that we may engage in your mission in the world. Amen.

Abstracted from the Episcopal Church’s “Lesson Plans that Work” by the Rev. Henry J Hoffman

In preparation for August 16, 2026, Proper 15, The Twelfth Sunday after PentecostScripture: Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28A No...
08/16/2026

In preparation for August 16, 2026, Proper 15, The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture: Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28

A Notation for This Week’s Gospel and Reading
As we continue the journey with Jesus and the disciples, we first get a lesson about what is clean and unclean. Jesus’ words are important for us all to remember – that our words come from our heart and what comes from our mouths speaks of who we are and our intentions. Following this parable, Jesus encounters a woman from Tyre and Sidon who had somehow heard of his teaching and healing. She comes to him, speaking words from her heart, showing Jesus that she truly believes even though she is not from Israel. He heals her because of her deep faith.

There are two stories…first let us look at the story Jesus tells us.
• Knowing all of the cleanliness rules of the Old Testament, the rules about what one should eat and not eat, how do you think the crowd reacted when Jesus said that it mattered not what they ate?
Having caught their attention, he now tells them what does matter – and that is our words. I wonder what he may have been pointing to in talking about this?
What does this mean for us today?

The second part of the Gospel is the story about the Canaanite woman from Tyre and Sidon who comes to him begging Jesus to heal her daughter.
• At first, Jesus tries to ignore her because she is not from Israel. His response is perplexing at best. He does not speak to her, nor does he send her away. What might this be about? (Might he be using this moment as a teaching tool? As a way to hear the words from her heart – the same words he was just telling others about in his teaching? Might he want to know what she has to say?)
The woman kneels before Jesus, just as people knelt before kings and royalty, showing that she recognizes his power and that she needs his help. He tries to turn her away. Why do you think he tried to turn her away?
When she persists and shows her deep faith. She tells him that even if she only has a crumb, the smallest amount of possible, that her daughter will be healed. What does this say about her belief in Jesus’ power?
• Jesus praises her faith and heals her daughter. This woman was brave for standing up to Jesus and showing him her faith. How can we show our faith in the same way today.
• I wonder how the words that come from our hearts are showing our faith in Jesus.

Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us to not be afraid as we encounter you in the paths of our lives. Guide our ears, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet that we may engage in your mission in the world. Amen.

Abstracted from the Episcopal Church’s “Lesson Plans that Work” by the Rev. Henry J Hoffman

In preparation for August 9, 2026, Proper 14, The Eleventh Sunday after PentecostScripture: Matthew 14:22-33A Notation f...
08/08/2026

In preparation for August 9, 2026, Proper 14, The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

A Notation for This Week’s Gospel and Reading
Today’s Gospel lesson comes on the tails of the feeding of the 5,000. Imagine being a disciple and having fed that many people, having seen the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and now being in a boat going to the other side of the lake. Jesus stayed behind to dismiss the crowds and then went up the mountain to pray. This story has may important things for us to take away as we grow in becoming disciples.

Questions:
• What does this Gospel stir in you?
• The phrase, “do not be afraid” is said many times throughout the Gospels. Why do you think that is? What might people have feared?
• I wonder if each of you feels like you would have been like Peter who tried to walk on water and lost faith or like the other disciples who stayed in the boat? Where would you have fit into this story?

Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us to not be afraid and to not doubt your presence in our lives. Amen.

Abstracted from the Episcopal Church’s “Lesson Plans that Work” by the Rev. Henry J Hoffman

Sunday School will resume this Sunday! Sunday School goes from 10 to around 10:30 when the children then join the rest o...
08/05/2026

Sunday School will resume this Sunday! Sunday School goes from 10 to around 10:30 when the children then join the rest of congregation for communion.

In preparation for August 2, 2026, Proper 13, The Tenth Sunday after PentecostScripture: Matthew 14:13-21Today’s Gospel ...
07/31/2026

In preparation for August 2, 2026, Proper 13, The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Today’s Gospel lesson is one version of the well-known story about the feeding of the 5,000. It is so well known, we may not pay attention to it, but we have much to learn from it. The feeding of the 5,000 is more than a story about fishes and loaves. It is about Jesus’ compassion. It is about Jesus teaching the disciples how to feed people. It is about the generosity sharing what was there and being overwhelmed with the abundance. It is a foreshadowing of the last supper where Jesus also takes bread, breaks it, and shares it. What can we learn anew from this well-known story? Where can we feed others and where are we being fed?

Questions:
• This is a well-known story, what did you hear differently this time?
• Did anything stand out for you?
• This story about Jesus feeding us out of abundance is at its heart a miracle story. Where do you see Jesus feeding you today?
• What miracles have you witnessed in your life?
• Where are you being fed that you did not expect to be fed?

Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us understand your words and stories so that we can hold onto the gift of your message. Guide our ears, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet that we may engage in your mission in the world. Amen.

Abstracted from the Episcopal Church’s “Lesson Plans that Work” by the Rev. Henry J Hoffman

In preperation for July 26, 2026, Proper 12, The Ninth Sunday after PentecostScripture: Matthew 13:31-33,44-52In this se...
07/25/2026

In preperation for July 26, 2026, Proper 12, The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture: Matthew 13:31-33,44-52
In this season after Pentecost, we hear stories of Jesus’ ministry in the world and our call to engage in that mission. This season is also known as Ordinary Time coming from the word “ordinal” which means counted time. This time is not ordinary as in common or regular, but it is the time of counted weeks between Pentecost and Advent. The color for this season is green and it is often referred to as the green growing time as we hear stories of what God is calling us to do in the world, we join in that call, and we grow in our faith.

A Notation for This Week’s Gospel and Reading
Today, we have a series of parables from Jesus. All of them tell us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not what we would expect, that God does amazing things with the small, that God does the unexpected, that God is doing a new thing with both the old and the new.

Questions:
• What questions this Gospel brings up for us?
• Which parable stood out for you the most?
• Which parable made you have the most questions?

Closing Prayer: Loving God, help us understand your words and parables so that we can hold onto the gift you have given us in these parables that remind us that no matter how big or small, new or old, we are valued. Guide our ears, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet that we may engage in your mission in the world. Amen.

Abstracted from the Episcopal Church’s “Lesson Plans that Work” by the Rev. Henry J Hoffman

As many schools start back in these upcoming weeks we pray that God will look after the students, teachers and staff, th...
07/20/2026

As many schools start back in these upcoming weeks we pray that God will look after the students, teachers and staff, that their young minds may grow with curiosity and that they have a safe and fun school year. Amen.

Address

800 W Vah Ki Inn Road
Coolidge, AZ
85128

Opening Hours

Thursday 9:30am - 12pm
Sunday 10am - 12pm

Telephone

+15207233845

Website

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