St. PJ's eNews: November 28, 2025 | | |
- Bring your Advent wreaths and calendars this Sunday
- Deacons' Advent Diaper Drive
- Get your tickets now: The St. PJ's Jazz Ensemble presents: A Wooster Square Christmas Concert, Dec. 8
- Final social-justice book club of the year, plus taking book suggestions for 2026
- Additional upcoming St. PJ's dates and events
- Reach out to Rev. Nathan to schedule your household visit
- News from the Wider Church: Multiple new bishops, Pittsburgh choir travels to churches with no choir, conservative Christians against ICE, national church efforts against Indigenous boarding schools, and more
- This Week at St. PJ's
- Cycles of Prayer
- Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
- Support Loaves & Fishes and Sunrise Cafe during renovation
- There's Always More...
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Bring your Advent wreaths and
calendars this Sunday
Advent begins this Sunday! Have a favorite Advent piece you bring out each Thanksgiving weekend, such as a wreath or calendar? Bring it to church on Sunday, and Rev. Nathan will bless these special items during the service.
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Deacons' Advent Diaper Drive
The deacons of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut are inviting us to join an important, diocesan-wide diaper drive this Advent Season, in partnership with the Diaper Bank of Connecticut.
Please consider bringing packages of diapers -- open or closed! -- to church from now through December 21. Place diapers on the side table in the front of the Sanctuary, next to the door to the office hallway.
According to The Diaper Bank website, 1 in 2 Connecticut families struggle to afford diapers to keep their babies clean, dry, and healthy. Diapers can cost up to $150 or more each month and are not covered by SNAP or WIC assistance. Without an adequate supply of clean diapers, babies are more likely to suffer from diaper rash, urinary tract infections, and other medical problems.
We are pleased to share that St. PJ's will also serve as one of 11 collection points across the diocese for other parishes to bring their diapers for the deacons to gather.
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The St. PJ's Jazz Ensemble presents:
A Wooster Square Christmas Concert
Next Monday, December 8
Featuring holiday favorites, selections from Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and more!
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- Monday, December 8, 7 p.m., in the Sanctuary
- Please invite your friends and neighbors!
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Final social-justice book club of the year, plus taking book suggestions for 2026
The Margins & Movements social-justice book club will gather on Tuesday, December 9, at 7 p.m. in the parish hall to read "The Undocumented Americans" by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio.
Come whether you've read the whole book, read just a couple chapters, listened to the audio book, or didn't get a chance to read even one sentence but would still like to listen to and learn from those who did! Get your copy from Bookshop.org at the link above to benefit the church, and invite your friends and neighbors.
Also: Do you have a suggestion for a social-justice book we should read together in 2026? Send it to Rev. Nathan at revnathan@stpaulstjames.org by this Thursday, December 4. Preference will be given to secular titles (in order to appeal to the broader community), and to books published with the past four years.
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Additional upcoming dates and events
- Thursday, Dec. 18, 7 PM: Blue Christmas service
- Sunday, Dec. 21, 4 PM: Neurodivine, a low-stimulus worship service for neurodivergent families
- Monday, Dec. 22, 6:30 PM: Christmas Hymn Sing + Social
- Wednesday, Dec 24: Christmas Eve Services
- 3:30 PM: Children's Christmas Eve Service
- 8:30 PM: Traditional Christmas Eve Communion w/Jazz Ensemble
- Sunday, January 18: St. PJ's Annual Meeting and Potluck
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Reach out to Rev. Nathan to Schedule Your Household Visit
By the Rev. Nathan Empsall, priest-in-charge
By now, you've likely heard me say that I want to visit every St. PJ's household. 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 the future of our common life together. Ideally this meeting would be at your home, where I can get to know you in your own environment and also offer a home blessing, but coffee shops and walks in the park are okay too.
These meetings are happening, and I have greatly enjoyed them -- but I am also realizing that I am my own bottleneck when it comes to scheduling, as I reach out to families one or two at a time. To try and speed things up, I invite you to reach out to me with some suggested times and dates we might meet.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are ideal, but Fridays and Saturdays are okay too. While weekday daytimes are certainly best, I understand that work schedules can necessitate evenings or Saturdays. Please email me at revnathan@stpaulstjames.org, and I hope to see you outside the church building soon!
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News from the Wider Church
- [Living Church] East Carolina elects the Rev. Sarah Fisher as TEC's third openly lesbian bishop: https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/georgia-priest-elected-bishop-of-east-carolina/
- [Living Church] Los Angeles elects the Rev. Dr. Antonio Gallardo as its first Latino bishop: https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/los-angeles-elects-first-latino-bishop/
- [ENS] Pittsburgh traveling choir brings live music to the pews in underserved communities: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/11/25/pittsburgh-traveling-choir-brings-live-music-to-the-pews-in-underserved-communities/
- [ENS] Diocese of Texas, other faith partners launch effort to feed hungry people: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/11/24/diocese-of-texas-other-faith-partners-launch-effort-to-feed-hungry-people/
- [ENS] Indigenous boarding school research groups merge as Truth, Justice and Healing Commission: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/11/26/indigenous-boarding-school-research-groups-merge-as-truth-justice-and-healing-commission/
- [RNS] New Jersey Episcopal diocese gives $1 million to treat Palestinian children: https://religionnews.com/2025/11/21/episcopal-diocese-of-nj-gives-1-million-to-treat-palestinian-child/
- [RNS] How one conservative Christian family is pushing back against ICE: https://religionnews.com/2025/11/25/how-one-conservative-christian-family-is-pushing-back-against-ice/
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Come to worship this Sunday, November 30, at 10:30 a.m. for the first Sunday of Advent.
Our priest-in-charge, the Rev. Nathan Empsall, will preach and celebrate the Eucharist.
Adult formation will return next week, December 7, with a three-part Advent series on praying with the Psalms.
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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 for Christ Church, Ansonia; and for St. Paul’s Parish: St. Paul’s Church with Christ Church Chapel, Bantam. And we pray for postulants & candidates for Holy Orders; and for the Commission on Ministry & its members.
In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Anglican Church of Australia.
ST. PJ’S PRAYER LIST: Rachel, Doug Parker, Anne Matthies, Calvin Griffin, 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, Pam Sayre, Marietta D’Albero, Leonilda Sanchez, Maria Rodriquez, Marietta Coppola, Heather de Lanerolle, Paul Mangels, Alexandra Sanseverino, Dr. Milton Coke, Rev. Deacon Felix Rivera, Pam Yesner, Rev. Carl Scovel, Karl Mini, Patrick Reynolds, Margaret Perry, Ryan Welch, Jack Welch, Freddy and Amy Swindal-Endres, Kyle Park, Carol Brennan, Fr. Tom, George Moore
Postulant for Ordination: Milton Gilder
Deceased: Jim Harris, Bishop Chester Talton, Bishop Joe Burnett
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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, the Rev. D Littlepage, ECCT's Canon for Mission Advocacy, Racial Justice and Reconciliation preached, and Rev. Nathan celebrated the Eucharist.
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Support Loaves & Fishes and Sunrise Cafe during renovation
The long-awaited replacement of the steps to the undercroft, right on the corner of Chapel and Olive, has begun! The old steps have been ripped up, and the work proceeds. This means that our front yard along Olive Street is fenced off while construction is underway. It is anticipated that the process will take about eight weeks total -- essentially the rest of the year.
While we are disappointed that we are not able to include a ramp in the project, the new steps will be wider, safer and more welcoming to the community. Please direct questions to Brian Fillmore as Capital Campaign Project Manager.
Sunrise Cafe and Loaves & Fishes continue to operate, using alternate entryways to the undercroft. We acknowledge that this may be difficult timing for such an inconvenience -- with the holidays coming and people still reeling from the pause in SNAP benefits -- so please donate to either important organization if you can.
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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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