St. PJ's eNews: October 24, 2025 | | |
- Weekly Reflection: Participation in the Kingdom of God
- Announcement: A Generous $12,000 Match Offer
- Rev. Nathan's Newsweek Op-ed This Week
- Remembering Our Loved Ones on All Saints: Send names to the office by Wednesday
- Pray for Diocesan Convention Today and Tomorrow
- Tomorrow/Saturday: "Neurodivine," a new worship service for neurodivergent families
- No Children's Sunday School this weekend
- Next "Margins and Movements" book chat: This Tuesday, 10/28
- November 11: Eric Ward, VP of Race Forward, to speak on democracy at Congregation Mishkan Israel
- News from the Wider Church: Anglican conservative revolt falling flat, Episcopalians prepare for UN climate conference, ICE and clergy clash, and more
- This Week at St. PJ's and Cycles of Prayer
- Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
- Safe Church Training
- There's Always More...
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Weekly Reflection:
Participation in the Kingdom of God
From David Tate and Pam Sayre, stewardship co-chairs
Dear siblings in Christ and Creation,
We are at the start of our pledge drive for 2026. We write to invite you into prayerful reflection on your participation in the Kingdom of God. This includes how you give your time, talent, and treasure. What you might continue to do, or start doing, to support Jazz, Justice, and Jesus in the work of St. PJ's?
The money we raise is not merely about keeping the lights on and the boiler running. We are in a space where having light and warmth supports the ongoing ministries to all of God's people. We are asking you, in the words of Henri Nouwen, "to put [your] resources at the disposal of the Kingdom." We are asking you to invest your time, talents, and treasure to strengthen and expand the work of caring for all creation however God calls us.
Think about what is already happening at St. PJ's. We are incredibly blessed with high quality music led by Will Cleary and Dylan Rowland. Jazz has a long history rooted in early spirituals. As described by jazz drummer and priest Spike Wells, "Jazz has fed my soul throughout my life. I can't begin to describe the joy and fulfillment it has brought me." Jazz is also a place where the unchurched can enter into our community. Composer John Rutter said, "To express it simply, [jazz] is a meeting place where believers and non-believers can share something unique and spiritual - and agree." Try listening to Louis Armstrong's recording of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
We are also a place of Justice. What is happening at St. PJ's is part of a long legacy of God's work in this place. More than a few ministries developed here including IRIS; Neighborhood Music School; Integrity, the shoe ministry for newly arrived Italian immigrants in Wooster Square; Abraham's Tent, sheltering the homeless; and the Backpack Program which supplied recently released convicts. Consider the many ministries now occurring each week: Sunrise Cafe, Loaves and Fishes Food and Clothing Closet, DESK, and various 12-step meetings. Literally, we are living Jesus' charge to welcome the stranger feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and support the recovering. Looking forward, Rev. Nathan has announced the creation of three new ministry teams: Prophetic Voice (social justice and outreach), Resource and Renewal (outward-facing fundraising), and Tentmakers (building and facilities). What more will God do with us and this space?
All of this is centered in Jesus. We follow the barefoot rabbi who called us to love God with all our heart and all our soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are only the current stewards of this piece in God's creation. We are the recipients of the gifts which God gave to our predecessors, and it is our hope and challenge to continue this work and pass on this legacy of ministry to future parishioners.
Rev. Nathan regularly reminds us the church is not the building. The church is the people of God. We invite you to prayerfully discern how God is calling you to be a steward of creation in this place. Please see the pledge form online, and in the mail soon. We will gather our pledges on Sunday, November 23. When our worship is over, our service begins and continues.
Yours in Christ,
Pam Sayre, Stewardship Co-Chair
David Tate, Stewardship Co-Chair
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Announcement:
A Generous $12,000 Match Offer to Fill Our 2025 Gap
By Rev. Nathan Empsall, priest-in-charge
This year, the stewardship campaign has three asks to sustain and grow our shared mission of jazz, justice, and Jesus: To pledge our time and talent, to pledge our finances in 2026, and -- once our 2026 pledges are made -- to make a special one-time gift for the 2025 budget.
The week of September 14, treasurer David Hill and I shared the news that St. PJ's is facing a $31,500 shortfall for 2025. Pledge income has been on track, as have day-to-day expenses -- but rentals have been short of what we'd hoped, and there have been a few large, unexpected expenses (like hiked insurance premiums and an upgraded fire panel).
I am pleased and grateful to share that since that announcement, St. PJ's members have given an extra $7,500 to close the gap. Inspired by this generosity, an anonymous donor is now offering a $12,000 match to close the gap. Moved by the Spirit and a love of St. PJ's, this donor will match every penny given this year -- up to $12,000 -- to bring us to $31,500.
This means that whatever you donate above and beyond your 2025 pledge (and not as part of a 2026 pledge) -- whether $5 or $5,000 -- you will make double the difference.
To everyone who has given in the past month, bringing us to a point where a close-the-gap match became possible, THANK YOU. To this anonymous donor who has stepped up so generously (and dare I say spiritually), THANK YOU. And to everyone who can give anything - -even $2 - in the two months to come, THANK YOU!!!
| | "I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." - Philippians 1:3-5 | | |
Rev. Nathan's Newsweek Op-ed This Week
On Tuesday, Newsweek published my latest op-ed, "Trump’s Next Target: Religious Freedom."
At our first gathering of the church's Margins and Movements social-justice book club in August (which meets again on Tuesday!), those present discussed historian Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century." One of Snyder's lessons was to "be calm when the unthinkable arrives," because tyrants often weaponize national tragedies (and further oppress the marginalized) to consolidate their own power.
In the weeks since Charlie Kirk’s tragic and evil assassination, the president has indeed weaponized the murder as an excuse to undermine his opponents’ freedoms. In my op-ed, I write that this attack will not stop with freedom of speech and press; our religious liberty is clearly next (and indeed, the assault has already begun).
(Neither my writing nor sharing of this piece is not intended to be a partisan statement, for -- as the lawyers we retained at Faithful America would explain to me in my previous role -- it is a critique of the policies of a sitting official, not a critique of a current candidate. It is also a response to the authoritarian use (and abuse) of religion, which is obviously a concern of religious institutions like the church.)
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Remembering Our Loved Ones on All Saints
On All Saints Sunday, November 2, we will pray for those in our extended church family who have passed over the past year. Please submit names to office@stpaulstjames.org by this Wednesday, October 29.
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Pray for Diocesan Convention
The annual diocesan convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut will take place in Bristol this afternoon and tomorrow. This is a time when the whole church gathers for business, worship, and fellowship.
Please hold the three St. PJ's delegates -- David Tate, Bev Lett, and Rev. Nathan Empsall -- in your prayers, along with Bishops Jeff Mello and Laura Ahrens, Secretary of Convention Rev. Stacey Kohl, and all who will be attending and participating.
(And double thanks to both Bev for serving as lector the day after convention, and David for taking on stewardship and convention at the same time!)
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Tomorrow, Saturday, 10/25, 2 p.m.:
"Neurodivine," a new worship service for neurodivergent families
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Tomorrow, Saturday, October 25, St. PJ's will hold a special worship service for autistic and other neurodivergent children, families, and adults.
If it’s hard for you, your autistic child, or another neurodiverse family member to come to church -- whether you fear you'll disrupt church or because church could disrupt you -- then Neurodivine is the low-key, low-stimulation worship service you've been looking for.
Designed and led by a Methodist minister and psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioner at an Episcopal church, this ecumenical Christian gathering is an interactive service for families, groups, and people of all ages with stories, singing, and simple prayers. All are welcome -- come learn how God loves YOU.
(Questions? Or can you help volunteer at the service? Contact Lynne Severance at lynne.severance@gmail.com. And all credit to Lynne for making this offering happen!)
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No Children's Sunday School this weekend
The Children’s Garden will be on hiatus this Sunday, 10/26, and then resume as regularly scheduled next Sunday, 11/2.
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Next "Margins and Movements" book discussion: This Tuesday, October 28
Our social-justice book club will discuss "Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table" by the Rev. Brandan Robertson this Tuesday, 10/28, at 7 p.m. Thank you in advance to Sam Earnest for leading our conversation.
All are welcome, whether you've read (or listened to) the whole book, part of the book, or none of the book. Get your copy at the library or https://bookshop.org/shop/pjs to benefit the church, and invite your friends!
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Nov. 11: Eric Ward, VP of Race Forward, to Speak on Democracy at Congregation Mishkan Israel
What: A Community Conversation: Protecting our Multiracial, Multifaith Democracy
Who: Eric Ward, Vice President of Race Forward and senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center
Where: Congregation Mishkan Israel
785 Ridge Road
Hamden, CT
When: November 11, 2025
7 - 8:30 p.m.
Free Registration Required >>
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Come to worship this Sunday, October 26, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate the 20th Sunday after Pentecost.
Sam Earnest will preach and Bill Evans will officiate Morning Prayer.
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Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
In person and online
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Wednesday Prayer 12:30 p.m.
In person
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Thursday Compline 8 p.m.
On Zoom
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Cycles of Prayer and St. PJ's Prayer List
In the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's cycle of prayer, we pray this week (and last, when the website was down) for St. John’s, Waterbury; St. James’s, West Hartford; St. John’s, West Hartford; Holy Spirit, West Haven; and St. Paul’s, Westbrook.
We pray for the ECCT convention planning committee; the convention worship committee; and for all who participate in Annual Convention, including Bev Lett, David Tate, and Rev. Nathan Empsall. We also pray for Diocesan Episcopal Church Women, for Diocesan Altar Guild, and for local ECW chapters and parish altar guilds.
In the global Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Episcopal Church and for the Church in Wales.
ST. PJ’S PRAYER LIST: Rachel, Doug Parker, Anne Matthies, Calvin Griffin, Lenny Santarsiero, Rev. Walter MacNutt, Kevin Gerbe, Leota Tucker, Edwina Johnson, Cynthia King, Paul D'Agostino, Richard Holcomb, Tiras Jaske, Uli Mackert, Charlie & Bridget Farrell, Alyce, Pam, Tommy, Beverly Lett, Vanetta Lloyd, Janea Barthle, Lydia Hamnquist, Kate Galambos, Rita Valenti-Piovane, Stephen Lett, Rev. Nihal de Lanerolle, William Evans, Sr., Pam Sayre, Marilyn Bergen, Marietta D’Albero, Leonilda Sanchez, Maria Rodriquez, Brian Bussey, Marietta Coppola, Heather de Lanerolle, Cheryl Harrigan, Paul Mangels, Alexandra Sanseverino, Dr. Milton Coke, Rev. Deacon Felix Rivera, Peter Loden, Pam Yesner, Rev. Carl Scovel, Karl Mini, Patrick Reynolds
Our postulant for ordination: Milton Gilder
Social concerns: Those impacted by the federal shutdown, especially our hardworking civil servants and their families
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VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
If you either missed or want to revisit last Sunday at St. PJ's, you can find the recorded livestream on our Facebook and/or YouTube pages.
Rev. Nathan preached and celebrated the Eucharist.
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Fall Dates for Safe Church Training
In an important effort to build and protect community for everyone, the Episcopal Church requires that all church leaders (including vestry, staff, and anyone interacting with youth or pastoral ministries) take Safe Church Training every three years.
The training is free and can be done in person or online. Fall dates have now been announced by the diocese, and you can find them (and more information) online here.
Bishop Jeff Mello says: "Safe Church Training, and our commitment to creating a church that is safe for all of God’s beloved children, is at the center of our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those most at risk for abuse are the very ones Jesus drew close; children, the frail, and those at the margins. To be made more and more into the likeness of Christ is to take seriously the safety and welfare of those Safe Church is meant to protect."
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There's always more...
Please remember that there is a blue Lost & Found bin in the church office.
If you would like to submit an item for consideration in the eNews or bulletin announcements, please let Rev. Nathan know at revnathan@stpaulstjames.org by next Wednesday afternoon.
Please contact Monifa Atkinson in the church office at office@stpaulstjames.org or (203) 562-2143 if you are interested in receiving more information about any of the following:
- Renting space at St. PJ's for your next party, meeting, concert, wedding, or other event. More info at the St. PJ's website here >>
- Volunteering with St. PJ's
- Adding a name, birthday, or anniversary to the St. PJ's prayer list
- Arranging pastoral care needs
- Purchasing grocery-store gift cards to benefit St. PJ's
- Reserving a place in the St. PJ's columbarium or purchasing a plaque on the Memorial Wall
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St. PJ's Staff and Contacts
Administrative Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - Noon
Priest Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday by appointment
office@stpaulstjames.org
(203) 562-2143
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Priest-in-Charge: The Rev. Nathan Empsall, revnathan@stpaulstjames.org, (203) 278-9199
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Administrative Director: Monifa Atkinson, office@stpaulstjames.org
- Sexton: Sammy Rodriguez
- Children's Ministry: Molly Clayton
- Director of Music: Will Cleary
- Associate Director of Music: Dylan Rowland
- Tech and Music Intern: Dontae James
- Seminary Intern: Kelly Park
- Priest Associate: The Rev. Steve Crowson
- Vestry: Bill Evans (co-warden), Juhani Jaske (co-warden), David Hill (treasurer), Maggie King (clerk), Roni Holcomb, Steve Crowson, Maurice Harris, Pam Sayre, Vanetta Lloyd, Lynne Severance
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