Please note that Rev. Nathan will be away for the annual ECCT clergy conference on Monday and Tuesday this week.

In this week's edition of the eNews:

- Priest's Corner: Burglary Update

- Tomorrow is graduation weekend: Plan extra driving town

- The St. PJ's Jazz Collective in the New Haven Independent, and a scholarship for Dontae

- Dr. David Hill speaks out for vaccines in the Hartford Courant

- Obituary for Christian Gilder

- Preparing for Pentecost, 5/24

- Margins and Movements: Social-justice book club titles and dates

- News from the Wider Church:



- This Sunday at St. PJ's

• Cycles of Prayer
• Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon

- March Vestry Minutes

- There's Always More...

Priest's Corner: Burglary Update

By the Rev. Nathan Empsall, priest-in-charge

If you have worshipped at PJ's in-person or via livestream the last two weeks, you have heard the unfortunate news: We suffered a break-in and robbery earlier this month.

A thief or thieves broke a second-floor office window, pushed open the chapel door, and stole approximately $2,000 worth of A/V equipment. Without cameras or witnesses, it is unlikely that we will recover the stolen items. The ultimate financial cost to the church is thankfully low, but we also lose a psychological sense of security -- and of course it's always sad to see when someone targets a church.

My thanks to our musicians for their grace in discovering the theft last Sunday morning and then still leading our worship music beautifully, to Juhani for accompanying the police with me, and to Brian and Pam for boarding up the broken window so quickly.

I will also share that the break-in came shortly after a few homeless tents began reappearing in our parking lot at night this spring. To be clear, the broken window in question has been a vulnerable point for the church in the past, and there is no evidence linking any community or individuals to the crime other than circumstantial timing.

As a result of both issues, I have been in close touch with the New Haven Police Department and in particular with Lt. David Guliuzza, the police District Manager who oversees Downtown and Wooster Square. He has been very understanding and supportive, taking numerous proactive steps and even patrolling our parking lot himself.

I am grateful to Lt. Guliuzza and his officers. At the same time, to be candid, I am also grappling with the fact that I am a priest who called the police on the homeless. This is stressful. Jesus always put the poor and marginalized first, always. Moreover, I am always reluctant to involve the police in anything unless I absolutely have to, for a variety of reasons.

But ultimately, security for our property is security for the people in and on it, including those who come to our building for social services. Moreover, our lot is simply not a safe place to sleep - for our immediate neighbors, or for the unhoused themselves. This was true before the burglary, and it is even more true now.

When Jesus says the first shall be last and the last shall be first, it's true that the poor are brought to the front of the line -- but no one is removed from that line, even if they're sent to its back. Everyone needs love and security, and that often means finding a balance between needs and communities. Emotionally, I hate that bringing in the police is needed, but intellectually, I do not doubt that these are the right steps.

Pope Francis asked everyone he met to pray for him. In that vein, I ask you to pray for me, and for everyone navigating situations like this. Please pray for whomever broke into St. PJ's. Please pray for the police. Pray for our neighbors, both those with Wooster Square homes and those with no homes. Pray for a safer, gentler, peaceful, loving world -- for God's kingdom to come on earth as well as heaven. And know that I am praying for you.

Tomorrow is graduation weekend:

Plan extra driving time

It's graduation weekend for Yale University! There might not be any street closures until Monday morning, but Sunday still brings plenty of crowded events like Baccalaureate and their associated traffic. Please plan extra travel time if your route to church takes you through downtown New Haven.

On a brighter note, we also look forward to recognizing those graduating students among the St. PJ's community tomorrow: Kelly Park, Dr. Samuel Ernest, Jonas Howard, and in June, Dontae James. (Please let Rev. Nathan or Monifa know if we've left anyone off this list!)

The St. PJ's Jazz Collective in the New Haven Independent, and a scholarship for Dontae

Monday night, the St. PJ's Jazz Collective put on a fantastic concert in the sanctuary. Don't worry if you missed it - not only can you catch the next concert in the undercroft this fall, you can also watch a short excerpt in the New Haven Independent.

That's right, reporter Janday Wilson was on hand to write a wonderful review of the event, particularly of Dontae James' original composition "I Watched Satan Fall From Heaven." Read the NHI article and watch the band play Dontae's piece here >>

Speaking of Dontae: We were very excited when he announced that he will be attending the The Juilliard School this fall, perhaps America's premier performing-arts conservatory. We are also excited that St. PJ's can offer Dontae a $2,000 scholarship ($1,000 for 2026 and belated for 2025).

Both the scholarship and the concert series are made possible thanks to the bequest of St. PJ's musician Wilma Whitley, who lives on in eternal life and in our hearts.

Dr. David Hill speaks out for vaccines in the Hartford Courant

I'm sorry it's taken me a minute to share, but on April 17, St. PJ's member Dr. David Hill published an important op-ed in the Hartford Courant titled, "Opinion: Connecticut must continue to follow evidence-based medicine."

David's piece expresses support for public health, respect for science, concern for migrants and those in detention, and also a sense of hope -- all hallmarks of faith in action. Thank you, David!

Obituary for Christian Gilder

As previously shared, our friend and candidate for ordination Milton Gilder lost his brother Christian Gilder last month. Those who have asked to learn more about Christian can read his obituary here.

We continue to hold Milton and the Gilder family in our prayers, both as they grieve recent losses and as they give thanks and prepare for Milton's joyful upcoming ordination to the diaconate.

Preparing for Pentecost, 5/24

Next Sunday, May 24, is Pentecost, one of the three biggest church holidays of the year!

• Try to wear red, like the flames of the Holy Spirit and the faith that burns in our hearts

• Like on Easter, let’s have a festive Coffee & Community in the sanctuary with many treats from many hosts -- please bring something to share if you can!

• Please note that there will be no Sunday School on May 24; the children's programming will resume on 5/31, 6/7, and 6/14 before taking a summer break

Margins and Movements:

Social-justice book club titles and dates

Our social-justice book club will meet again at the church on Tuesday, 5/26, to discuss "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson, with discussion led by Tudy Hill, and on Tuesday, 6/23, to discuss "Disarming Leviathan: Loving your Christian Nationalist Neighbor" by Pastor Caleb Campbell, with discussion led by Kelly Park.

News from the Wider Church:

- [ENS] Ocean City church won’t close shelter after city threatens ‘enforcement action’: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/05/14/easton-dioceses-church-wont-close-shelter-after-city-threatens-enforcement-action/

- [ENS] Wisconsin priest’s survey of thousands of churches aims to pinpoint what fuels growth: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/05/13/wisconsin-priests-survey-of-thousands-of-churches-aims-to-pinpoint-what-fuels-growth/

- [ENS] Hope for peace keeps Sudanese Anglican priest among his people: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/05/13/hope-for-peace-keeps-sudanese-anglican-priest-among-his-people/

- [RNS] Black church leaders to march in Selma this weekend over Voting Rights Act ruling: https://religionnews.com/2026/05/15/black-church-leaders-will-march-in-selma-over-erosion-of-voting-rights-act/

- [The Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis] The March is Not Over; Let’s go! https://jacquilewis.substack.com/p/the-march-is-not-over-lets-go

- [Dr. Jemar Tisby] Pastors, You Cannot Stay Silent on Civil Rights: https://jemartisby.substack.com/p/pastors-you-cannot-stay-silent-on

- [Dr. Matthew Taylor] A Field Guide to Rededicate 250: https://matthewdtaylor.substack.com/p/a-field-guide-to-rededicate-250

Come 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, the seventh Sunday of Easter, May 17, for Jazz Eucharist, children's Sunday School, and Coffee & Community.

We will also honor the graduating students in our community.

Serving this Sunday:

Sunday

10:30 a.m.

Jazz Eucharist

In-person and online

Wednesday

12:30 p.m.



Quiet Communion

In-person only

Thursday

12:30 p.m.



Midday Prayers

In-person only

Cycles of Prayer and St. PJ's Prayer List

In the Episcopal Church in Connecticut cycle of prayer for May 10 (when the eNews failed to send) and May 17, we pray for St. Mark’s, New Canaan; Christ Church, New Haven; St. John’s, New Haven; St. Luke’s, New Haven; St. Paul & St. James, New Haven; St. Thomas’s, New Haven; and for parish prayer groups, intercessory prayer chains, healing prayer groups, parish & community Bible studies, regional Deans, clergy peer groups, & the Clergy Family Assistance Program.

In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Church of Pakistan (United) and for the Anglican Church of Papua new Guinea.

On the St. PJ’s prayer list, we pray for 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, Stephen Lett, Vanetta Lloyd, Janea Barthle, Lydia Hamnquist, Rita Valenti-Piovane, Heather de Lanerolle, Marietta D’Albero, Maria Rodriquez, Marietta Coppola, Paul Mangels, Alexandra Sanseverino, Dr. Milton Coke, Pam Yesner, Rev. Carl Scovel, Karl Mini, Patrick Reynolds, Margaret Perry, Ryan Welch, Jack Welch, Andy & Karla Codney, Kyle Park, Fr. Tom, George Moore, A. J. Crosby, Adrienne Brady, Jeannie & Clemente Campos, Jean Douglas, Joan Cappella, Ruby Slade-Wooten, Joan Farrell, Yvonne Scott, Sharyn Kessler, D.J. Multer, Al Cimino, John Ayer, Tiffany McDowell-Salley, Michael Montenegro, Susan Yates, Meryl Tate Triplett, Cheryl Tate Harrigan, Tom Olds, Anthony Marchitto, and Dawn Magliulo

Deceased: Don Edwards (of Loaves & Fishes and St. Thomas's Episcopal Church); the Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal, former Bishop of Southern Ohio

Candidate for Ordination: Milton Gilder

Birthdays: The Rev. Deacon Felix Rivera (5/31)

VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon

Last week, the sixth Sunday of Easter, David Tate preached and Rev. Nathan celebrated Communion. We also included special prayers for Mother's Day.

If you either missed or want to revisit last Sunday or other recent Sundays at St. PJ's, you can find the recorded livestream on our Facebook and/or YouTube pages.

March Vestry Minutes

Your Vestry met this week via Zoom on Wednesday, April 22. As part of that meeting, the minutes for the previous meeting in March were approved.

You can read those now-approved March 18 minutes here (PDF).

The April minutes will be approved at the Vestry's next meeting, scheduled for this Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m., in-person at the church. They will be made available here following approval.

Support Loaves & Fishes and Sunrise Cafe during renovation

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

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

• Priest-in-Charge: The Rev. Nathan Empsall, revnathan@stpaulstjames.org, (203) 278-9199
• Administrative Director: Monifa Atkinson, office@stpaulstjames.org
• Sexton: Sammy Rodriguez
• Children's Sunday School: Sarah Hill
• Interim Director of Music: Dylan Rowland
• Tech and Music Intern: Dontae James
• Seminary Intern: Kelly Park
• Vestry: Bill Evans (co-warden), Juhani Jaske (co-warden), David Hill (treasurer), Maggie King (clerk), Maurice Harris, Pam Sayre, Vanetta Lloyd, Lynne Severance, David Boyer, Roni Holcomb