St. PJ's eNews: August 8, 2025 | | |
- Weekly Reflection: Announcing "Margins and Movements: A New Haven Social-Justice Book Club"
- 9/14: Homecoming Sunday Potluck (volunteers needed)
- Updating the Parish Directory
- Parking Space Reminder
- Safe Church Training
- Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social: Monday, September 8
- News from the Wider Church: The UK's first female Archbishop, Faith and AI, Immigration updates, and more
- This Week at St. PJ's and Cycles of Prayer
- Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
- Visits with Rev. Nathan
- There's Always More...
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Weekly Reflection:
Announcing "Margins and Movements,"
a New Haven social-justice book club
From the Rev. Nathan Empsall, priest-in-charge
As a church, what does it look like to love our neighbors in Jesus's name?
It can look like a great many things.
It can mean providing opportunities for community in this lonely age, both among our current members and the broader neighborhood -- inviting everyone over without shame, judgement, or agenda.
It can mean organizing, advocating, and engaging on pressing social concerns like democracy, immigration, and creation care.
It can mean looking inward to ensure that we're living our values and guaranteeing equality for those within our own walls.
It can mean trying to grow the church, in order to spread the good news of Jesus Christ farther and farther.
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With all four of these approaches in mind, I'm excited to announce the launch of a New Haven social-justice book club at St. PJ's, "Margins and Movements."
We'll kick off with light refreshments and a discussion of Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny" on Tuesday, August 26, at 7 p.m. in the parish hall.
With an eye on keeping things accessible and opening our doors to all our neighbors in Wooster Square and beyond, we'll focus on (mostly) secular titles that strongly align with our Christian values. I began spreading the word in various local Facebook groups and on coffee-shop bulletin boards yesterday.
Please invite your friends, as well!
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To obtain copies of each month's book, I recommend checking out our local libraries, or purchasing titles on Bookshop.org rather than... certain other big book websites. Bookshop proceeds benefit independent booksellers instead of tech billionaires, and soon, St. PJ's will have its own Bookshop affiliate page where 10% of each sale comes back to the church. Once the retailer has verified our new account, I'll be sure to share the affiliate links!
For each Margins and Movements meeting, we will invite community organizers to give brief presentations on local efforts related to the evening's topic. I also hope to follow some of the in-person discussions with Zoom meetings with some of the authors.
I've picked titles for the rest of 2025 to get things going, which you can see by clicking on the image above. That said, I would be absolutely delighted to hand this project off to lay leaders in 2026, if there is interest and energy. Until then, I hope to see you (with friends in tow) on August 26 for "On Tyranny."
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Proverbs 1:7
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9/14: Homecoming Sunday Potluck
Volunteers Needed!
Homecoming Sunday returns! Mark your calendars for a special service and potluck on September 14.
For this luncheon to be a success, we will need a few volunteers to help set up and take down, set tables, put food out, etc. Please let the church office know if you can help! Email office@stpaulstjames.org, or call (203) 562-2143 (office hours are M-F, 8-noon).
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Updating the Parish Directory
Speaking of Homecoming Sunday, we are updating the parish directory, and would like to have the new 2025-2026 edition ready to distribute that day. If there have been any changes to your contact information -- or if you are not in the directory and would like to be added -- please let Monifa in the church office know.
Simply email her at office@stpaulstjames.org, or call (203) 562-2143 (office hours are M-F, 8-noon).
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When using the church parking lot off Chapel Street, please only park in church-owned spots along the fence by Sally's Apizza or in the handicapped spaces next to the building itself.
The four perpendicular spots on your left when you drive in (but on the right in this picture) – against the playground fence and next to the houses – are privately owned spots, always for residential-use only.
Thank you!
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New Fall Dates Announced for
Safe Church Training
In an important effort to build and protect community for everyone, the Episcopal Church requires that all church leaders, 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. New 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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Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social
Monday, September 8
We have a new date for the Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social: It will now be Monday, September 8, at 6:45 p.m. in the parish hall! Mark your calendars now to gather around the piano under the pretty lights in the parish hall, fill our hearts with song, have a sweet treat, and just simply be together.
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Come for Jazz Eucharist this Sunday, August 10, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate the ninth Sunday after Pentecost.
Rev. Nathan will preach and celebrate Communion.
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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
In the cycle of prayer for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, we pray this week for St. Alban’s, Simsbury, and St. Peter’s, South Windsor; and for parish liturgical assistants, lectors, lay readers, Eucharistic ministers, Eucharistic visitors, lay evangelists & vergers.
In the global Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda (the Anglican Church of Rwanda).
ST. PJ’S PRAYER LIST:
Rachel, Doug Parker, Anne Matthies, Betty Hill, Tim Barnes, Calvin Griffin, Lenny Santarsiero, Rev. Walter MacNutt, Tom Caffelle, Kevin Gerbe, Leota Tucker, Edwina Johnson, Cynthia King, Paul D'Agostino, Richard Holcomb, Tiras Jaske, Uli Mackert, Charlie & Bridget Farrell, Alyce, Judi, Tom, Leslie, Andrew, Pam, Tommy, Beverly Lett, Vanetta Lloyd, Janea Barthle, Lydia Hamnquist, Kate Galambos, Rita Valenti-Piovane, Stephen Lett, Rev. Nihal de Lanerolle, Martin O’Brien, William Evans, Sr., Pam Sayre, Marilyn Bergen, Marietta D’Albero
Faithful departed: Wendy (cousin to Bev Lett)
New Haven concerns: Esdras R., Wilbur Cross junior seized by ICE
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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.
Last week, Rev. Nathan preached and celebrated the Eucharist.
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Visits with Rev. Nathan
As previously announced, I am now trying to meet with every St. PJ's member -- as families or individuals -- and get to know you and your dreams for our community life together.
I want to hear about who you are, what makes you tick, what you believe and love, your history at St. PJ's, and your hopes for this congregation's future. Through these meetings, I hope to get a better feel for who we are as a community -- and where the Spirit might be leading us!
Ideally this meeting would be at your home, where I can also offer a home blessing. If you prefer a coffee shop, your office, or a park bench on a nice day, those are fine options too -- anywhere but the church itself.
Because I am half-time, it will undoubtedly take several months to get through these visits. If you would like to meet sooner, please let me know. Otherwise, I'm going to use an Excel random-number generator to determine the order in which I'll reach out. But whether it's next week or in November, know that I can't wait!
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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
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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
- 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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