St. PJ's eNews: September 19, 2025 | | |
- This Sunday: Church in the Park (i.e., come to Wooster Square Park at 10:30, not the church building!)
- Weekly Reflection, Part 1: An update from our treasurer on current financial challenges
- Weekly Reflection, Part 2: "A Word to the Episcopal Church from the House of Bishops"
- Get ready for the "Sound and Style" concert on October 10 -- and listen to Maurice Harris's new Ionne albums now
- St. PJ's mentioned (albeit not by name) in USA Today
- Season of Creation events: "Margins and Movements" on 9/30, Blessing of the Animals on 10/4 and 10/5, postcard advocacy, and the return of adult formation
- News from the Wider Church: Season of Creation reflections, SSJE's monastic retreat schedule, faithful responses to a crackdown on progressive Americans, 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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This Sunday, 9/21:
Church in the Park!
Come to church this Sunday -- just not to the church building!
As part of our celebration of the Season of Creation, we will worship outdoors (John Wesley style!) in Wooster Square Park at 10:30 a.m., nearish the newish monument to immigrants. Trevor Babb will join the music team for an acoustic touch, Chloe Starr will preach, and Rev. Nathan will celebrate the Eucharist.
There is no Sunday School, although we certainly invite families with young children to sit together.
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Weekly Reflection, Part 1:
An update from our treasurer on current financial challenges
By David Hill, St. PJ's Treasurer
Dear Fellow Parishioners:
This past Sunday, in his Homecoming sermon, Rev. Nathan updated the parish on St. PJ's financial position, and asked that we consider making an extra one-time gift or increasing our pledge if able. I am following up on his sermon to provide more information on our finances through the month of August, two-thirds of the way through the 2025 financial year.
For the last several months our expenses have exceeded our income, and we have had to ‘borrow’ money from the Capital Campaign Fund to cover these expenses. To date, we have used $31,500 to cover necessary expenses. This has been with the approval of the vestry.
There are two major drivers for our current deficit: Our rental income through August is $30,500 under budget and our maintenance costs are $16,000 more than budgeted. Regarding rental income, St. PJ's lost a major renter ($3,000/month), Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK), at the end of last year. DESK was a temporary tenant, renting the undercroft while they renovated their own space. Given their unique needs and ability to share our common space, they will be hard to replace. Other, smaller, monthly rentals have also left, and to date, we have not been able to replace these.
For expenses, we had a major unanticipated expense of about $12,000 to upgrade our fire control service; clearly this was a necessary investment. Also, just prior to the end of 2024, the ECCT’s property insurance carrier informed us that our insurance costs for 2025 would go up by 18% - $6,000. At the last minute we had to incorporate this large expense into the 2025 budget, adding another challenge to our finances for this year. Fortunately, most other expense areas of our budget have been at or under budget.
On the positive side, our pledge payments to date have exceeded the budgeted amount, with several parishioners giving more than what they pledged. This means we as parishioners are doing a phenomenal job – thank you!
Our vestry and staff are working hard to decrease expenses and explore ways to bring in income such as fund raising events, improved advertising of our space to attract new rentals, writing grants (one of which has been funded; thank you Pam Sayre), and identifying savings in existing expense areas. Please consider giving a one-time gift to help defray our expenses. [Ed. note: Prayerful online donations are immediate and deeply appreciated, but also subject to a small processing fee; checks mailed or given on Sunday are fee-free.]
What we are doing, however, will not change things in the short term and we will continue to face financial challenges. We welcome your suggestions. Please feel free to reach out to me, Nathan, or your wardens (Bill Evans and Juhani Jaske) to discuss your ideas for moving forward.
Thank you!
David Hill
Treasurer
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Weekly Reflection, Part 2:
A word to the Episcopal Church from the House of Bishops
September 16, 2025
Dear people of God,
The bishops of The Episcopal Church gathered in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic, send greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. We are deeply grateful for the generous hospitality offered by our siblings in Christ in the Dominican Republic, and we give thanks for the faithful and visionary leadership of their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Moisés Quezada Mota, and his wife, Mary Jeannette. We also give thanks for the presence and leadership of our presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Sean Rowe, and we renew our commitment to the work of missional partnership and collaboration as together we seek to be a wholesome example for the entire flock of Christ.
While gathered, we have been keenly aware of the pain, fear, and uncertainty experienced by many in this present moment across our various contexts. On the first day of our meeting, we received reports of yet another school shooting, followed by the news of yet another politically motivated killing. The disturbing increase in political violence; the ongoing atrocities associated with war and global conflict; the continued starvation of God’s children; the intimidation and persecution of the vulnerable and those who have been marginalized; and the rise of authoritarianism across the globe all require a robust Christian response.
We believe this response must be grounded in the Good News of the Gospel that injustice, violence, suffering, and ultimately death itself, are not the last word. We commit ourselves and invite the whole church to boldly proclaim by word and example that the cross and empty tomb stand forever as signs of the decisive victory of God’s love over the forces of evil. We are being called to embody the values and imperatives expressed in the teachings of Jesus, the One we proclaim as Lord, who always stands with the poor, the vulnerable, the grieving, and the oppressed.
In light of this, we are engaged in deep conversations concerning our voices as bishops in our respective dioceses as well as our collective voice as the bishops of The Episcopal Church. These conversations have been faithful and challenging and have revealed to us both the possibilities and limits that exist with regard to speaking with a shared voice as your bishops. And yet, in this moment, we are choosing possibilities over limitations. We believe we are called to bear witness with clarity and unity to the power of the Gospel, and to the healing and transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, in our church, and in our world.
The challenges before us are myriad and varied according to our respective contexts. Our time in the Dominican Republic has underscored for us that The Episcopal Church is composed of many countries and cultures. Moreover, within our countries and cultures, we hold a diversity of views concerning the challenges we face. And yet, we are one in Jesus Christ, bound together by grace and our shared commitment to the fullness of our baptismal covenant.
We give thanks for the deep affection and friendships that exist among us as a community of bishops. Cultivating such communities of disciples is a critical component of our witness to the healing and reconciling power of God’s love in this present moment. We wish to express to the whole church our profound gratitude for the countless ways in which this witness is already made manifest, and for the immense trust you have placed in us as your bishops.
In the hope of Jesus, the One who is making all things new.
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Get ready for "Sound and Style"
Concert on Friday, October 10, 6:30 p.m.
Sound & Style benefit concert for St. PJ's
feat. Ionne, the St. PJ's Jazz Ensemble, and Friends
Friday, October 10, 2025
St. PJ's Undercroft
Doors open and food sales: 6:30 p.m.
Concert begins: 7:00 p.m.
Reserve your tickets now >>
Please join an unforgettable evening of music and community at "The Square @ St. PJ's," featuring a headline performance by Ionne (St. PJ's vestry member Dr. Maurice Harris) from his new genre-bending double-releases, “Pathos” and “A Light Untruth,” along with Will Cleary and Dylan Rowland of the St. PJ’s Jazz Ensemble and guest artists.
Each artist will bring their unique sound and style, creating a diverse and enriching musical tapestry.
This is a benefit concert for the jazz and justice center that is the Episcopal Church of St. Paul and St. James. Tickets are a suggested donation of $25 to support the ongoing work and mission of St. PJ's. Reserve your spot today and be part of a night that celebrates harmony, hope, and the power of music to bring us together!
Heavy hors d'oeuvres and small bites will be available for purchase, featuring homemade catering with diverse cultural options by our administrative director Monifa Atkinson and her family.
Reserve your tickets now >>
To pay a different amount for a ticket than the listed options, select "I'd just like to donate" instead, and your contribution will still be honored as a ticket.
And please let Will Cleary know if you can help volunteer at the door!
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St. PJ's in USA Today - sort of
Last week, Rev. Nathan condemned all political violence -- as well as all hatred -- in an eNews reflection about Charlie Kirk's assassination. After the eNews was sent, he turned that reflection into a post on his personal Substack blog, which he then shared into the Facebook group "Episcopalians on Facebook", where it gathered 740+ likes and 190+ comments.
And wouldn't you know it... USA Today saw that blog post and quoted it in a piece on religious leader responses to the assassination. Even better and more importantly for our purposes here, they also wrote a paragraph about past adult ed offerings at St. PJ's -- although sadly did not name the church (this time). Still, it's good enough to advertise the parish "As featured in USA Today" on our website, don't you think?
"Political violence is wrong. It might not be un-American, given our history, but it should be. This was an evil act that will set the country back, and Jesus weeps," Nathan Empsall, an Episcopal priest in New Haven, Connecticut, said in a Sept. 12 post on Substack.
Empsall's small church offers classes on Christian resistance to fascism and how to reject White Christian nationalism as a perversion of Christianity. Empsall said he wants congregants to recognize that cheering Kirk's death perpetuates violence.
"Yes, I have long wanted Kirk’s voice to diminish ‒ but by disgrace or conversion, never by violence. Jesus loves Charlie Kirk because he loves us all," Empsall said. "He weeps for both Kirk's assassination and for Kirk's legacy of hatred and harm."
A side note from Rev. Nathan: I have not previously mentioned my personal Substack blog, "Defiant Love," in the eNews. But now that we have cited it, I need to add this disclaimer: If you wish to subscribe (which you absolutely don't need to do), I'm honored, but do not select the paid option. For one thing, I promise you don't want it. There's nothing currently behind the paywall except the ability to comment. But more importantly, the diocese does not permit clergy to enrich ourselves from church members via our outside employment, a rule I whole-heartedly support. If you select the free option, I can then comp you the paid version; just reach out and ask. But again, you really don't need to subscribe; I only mention it at all because of the USA Today article. Thank you!
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The Season of Creation is here! This is an annual time for Christians from many global denominations to renew our relationship with our Creator and with all God's creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment. This year's theme is "Peace with Creation."
Through October 5, St. PJ's will mark the season with special lectionary readings and prayers, themed sermons, and the following events:
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Church in the Park outdoors in Wooster Square Park, this Sunday 9/21, 10:30 a.m. -- don't come to the church building!
- There will be no Sunday School, although families are invited to sit together.
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Advocacy: After Morning Prayer on 9/28, we will write postcards to our officials to show Christian support for creation and reject climate change during Coffee & Community.
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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 return of adult formation after Sunday worship on 9/28 and 10/5. Our seminary intern, Kelly Park, is developing a program on roots and rootedness.
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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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Come to Wooster Square Park -- not the church building -- this Sunday, September 21, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate the 15th Sunday after Pentecost and the 3rd Sunday in the Season of Creation.
Chloe Starr will preach and Rev. Nathan will celebrate the Eucharist.
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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. John’s, Stamford; Calvary, Stonington; St. Mark’s, Storrs; children & children’s ministries; and for ministries for children with special needs.
In the global Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.
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, Martin O’Brien, 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. Felix Rivera
Our postulant for ordination: Milton Gilder
Birthdays: Dorothy Harris (9/21), Tilly Clayton (9/24)
Deceased: Sandra Staton (friend of Vanetta Lloyd)
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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 for Homecoming Sunday -- previewing what's in store for St. PJ's this fall and winter -- and celebrated the Eucharist.
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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, (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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