St. PJ's eNews: September 5, 2025 | | |
- Weekly Reflection: Open Hearts, Open Doors
- The Season of Creation is here
- How to help vulnerable immigrants in New Haven
- Repeat but important items of note: Meet our new intern Kelly, Hymn Sing this Monday 9/8, Homecoming Sunday and Potluck 9/14, submit your updated info for the new Parish Directory
- News from the Wider Church: Wilbur Cross student released from ICE detention; Remembering Bishop Thomas Ely; Pope Leo meets with LGBTQ advocate Jim Martin; 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:
Open Hearts, Open Doors
By the Rev. Nathan Empsall, priest-in-charge
Wednesday morning -- on a whim -- I set up my laptop in the sanctuary instead of my office, opened our doors, and put out a sign that said "Church Open for Prayer."
It was only the second time I've done this since starting here in February. Last time, I sat for three hours and no one came in.
This time, someone popped her head in within five minutes. She was born in the neighborhood but hadn't been inside St. PJ's for years and years. She marveled at the architecture for a bit, then we had a lovely chat about beauty, change, and how big the image of God truly is. She said with a smile that she'd missed her bus and this was just what she needed to fill the time.
Over the course of the next 2.5 hours, 12 people came in: Five to pray, three to look around at the stained glass windows and architecture, and four to use the bathroom. Some had been waiting in line for Loaves & Fishes' Wednesday distribution with DESK, including one social worker who wanted to pray as preparation for work, while others were just passersby.
This is something I've always hoped to do regularly, yet haven't yet. I think I've held off because I can't yet set up a regular schedule for doing so consistently, because the sign is chalk in my bad handwriting rather than printed with nice graphics, and because I don't (yet) have flyers to put by the door with more info about us.
But so what? All that's just me letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. No need to overcomplicate things. Like the old shoe commercials said: Just do it. Going for the low-hanging fruit is a great place to start -- it's certainly better than waiting for something more and going hungry.
So what's next? I'll try to find time to make some flyers to put inside our door, and I'll definitely do this on Wednesday mornings for the next few weeks -- and perhaps try an afternoon or two as well. If I'm going to type on my laptop, I might as well do it at the usher table instead of my office every now and then! Maybe I'll bring in a Bluetooth speaker and play some jazz hymns by the door.
If it keeps going well, perhaps we can set up a volunteer schedule too. What do you think, would you take a shift? All you'd have to do is sit for a bit during the week (maybe with a friend), read a book, smile every once in a while, and tell folks hello and come on in!
It's easy to open our hearts. It's even easier to open our doors, even if only for a couple hours. You never know who needs it -- outside or in.
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I should also note that I wrote a Substack and Facebook post about this experience (the first draft of this eNews reflection) - and wow, did it take off! More than 1,700 likes and 149 comments in the "Episcopalians on Facebook" group and counting.
Many of the comments expressed gratitude for the times they'd found a private place to pray when they needed it most. Probably half focused on the chalk sign, saying they found it more welcome and personal than something slick, despite my first-grade handwriting. (Seriously, I recently found some old first-grade journals of mine and... yikes, the lack of change is embarrassing.) Even some ECCT clergy colleagues in my "New Call Group" were excited when they read the post.
It was truly a small thing, yet it generated quite the response -- a helpful reminder to us all that opening ourselves and simply showing up for one another in small ways is something we can all do where we already are, and quite easily at that.
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The Season of Creation is here!
This is an annual time for Christians from many global denominations -- including our Anglican Communion, our friends in the Lutheran World Federation, the World Council of Churches, and many prominent Catholic institutions -- to renew our relationship with our Creator and with all God's creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment.
The season starts 9/1, the World Day of Prayer for Creation started by the Orthodox Church in 1989, and ends 10/4, the Feast of St. Francis. This year's theme is "Peace with Creation."
Throughout this season, St. PJ's will join our ecumenical siblings in prayer and action for our common home and all the living beings who depend upon it. We'll have special lectionary readings and prayers (authorized by ECCT), themed sermons, letter writing, and the following events:
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Church in the Park outdoors in Wooster Square, Sunday 9/21, 10:30 a.m.
- The city approved our permit application yesterday!
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The “Margins and Movements” social-justice book club will feature a creation-themed book selection at its next gathering on Tuesday, 9/30, at 7 p.m.
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"The Serviceberry" is a short read by Potawatomi botanist Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer -- grab it from the St. PJ's Bookshop affiliate page and support the church
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The annual Blessing of the Animals
- Saturday, 10/4, 9 a.m. - noon in Wooster Square Park
- Sunday, 10/5, 10:30 a.m. during worship
"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." - Genesis 1:31
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Call to action (and love): How to help vulnerable immigrants in New Haven
New Haven's immigration advocacy networks are asking for help from communities of faith, including St. PJ's.
Volunteers are needed to provide direct, personal help to vulnerable immigrants who are under siege from this authoritarian government. Put simply, we are being asked to provide direct concern, care, and compassion or immigrants and their families, letting them know that they are seen and not alone.
Please let Rev. Nathan know if you are willing to do any of the following if and when a specific need arises, and he can put you in touch with the proper organizers:
- Give rides to appointments or grocery shopping
- Provide childcare, perhaps during appointments
- Cook a meal
- Accompany a family member to Court hearings
- Assist in gathering documents needed for an attorney
- Open your home for a couple hours to someone who needs somewhere safe and quiet to gather their thoughts
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2
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Meet our new seminarian intern, Kelly Park
As the new program and school year begins, we are delighted to welcome our new seminarian intern, Kelly Park, a third-year Berkeley Divinity School at Yale! Be sure to say hi this Sunday, her first with us. Kelly will focus primarily on adult formation and education, but you'll see her engage in other areas of community and parish life as well. Here is her greeting and bio:
Hello St. Paul and St. James! I am your new seminary intern, Kelly Park. My family is my wife Melanie, sister Karmen, brother-in-law Phil, niece Frances (age 6) and nephew Otis (age 2). We all moved to New Haven in July of 2023 for me to begin seminary at Yale Divinity School. I’m a member of Berkeley Divinity School as well, and serve as one of their Hospitality Ministers.
Though I’m originally from Cleveland, Ohio, we moved here after spending four years in San Diego. I graduated from Marietta College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and History. After undergrad, I worked for nine years as a nanny and three years as a housekeeper, which is work that I really love.
When I’m not doing school things, I enjoy cooking, embroidery and mending, museums and reading, taking pictures, and going for lots of walks. I am looking forward to spending this year in community with you all, learning about your congregational life and ministry and shaping our spiritual formation together.
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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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9/14: Homecoming Sunday Potluck
Food and Volunteers Needed!
Homecoming Sunday returns! Mark your calendars for a special service and potluck luncheon on September 14 -- and please consider bringing something for the potluck.
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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Come for Morning Prayer this Sunday, September 7, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate both the 13th Sunday after Pentecost and the 1st Sunday in the Season of Creation.
Rev. Nathan will preach and preside.
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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 Trinity, Southport; Grace Church, Stafford Springs; and Iglesia Betania, Stamford; for those involved in the ministry of Christian Formation in parishes; for church school & youth group directors, teachers & mentors; and for adult education leaders.
(For our Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Molly Clayton, and our new seminary intern, Kelly Park, we pray and give thanks!)
In the global Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Church of South India (United).
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, Leonilda Sanchez, Maria Rodriquez, Brian Bussey, Marietta Coppola, Heather de Lanerolle
Faithful Departed: Bishop Thomas Ely (8/30), Douglas Reeder (brother to Susan and uncle to Karen Yates)
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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, we were joined by a guest celebrant and preacher, the Rev. Cecil Tengatenga.
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New 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. 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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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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