In this week's edition of the eNews:

- Priest's Corner: Thy Kingdom Come, at St. PJ's as in Heaven

- Submit Parish Directory Updates by 8/31

- St. PJ's at DWSCMT, and upcoming New Haven Events (including the day-long Black Wall Street Festival on the Green HAPPENING TODAY)

- September 1: The next St. PJ's Jazz Collective Concert

- August 28: "Club Lost" with IONNE (Maurice Harris)

- News from the Wider Church: Episcopal renewal, prayers and support Colombia earthquake, avoiding bitterness in old age, and more

- This Sunday at St. PJ's: Holy Eucharist

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

- There's Always More...

Priest's Corner: Thy Kingdom Come, at St. PJ's as in Heaven

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

I'd like to tell you about the momentous occasion that happened in the St. PJ's Parish Hall Friday evening. It was a remarkable night of diversity, justice, love, and joy: truly God’s beloved community.

As we know, ICE agents have been arresting and detaining people in Connecticut and beyond -- sometimes with just cause, but far too often without. Fortunately, a new nonprofit law firm launched by one of St. PJ's building partners, the nonpartisan nonprofit Connecticut Students for a Dream (C4D), has helped to so far free over 30 individuals from immigration detention over the past year.

Last night, C4D threw a potluck celebration in our Parish Hall to honor these 30 survivors and their families, and I was blessed to attend. It was a wonderfully diverse occasion with people (and food) from all corners of God's earth: Afghanistan, the Caribbean, South America, and more. Music and children’s laughter filled the room, and I opened the Sunday School room for the kids to play together. These families have been through hell and back -- and yet the parish hall was filled with a palpable sense of joy, love, and community. Attorneys and community organizers briefly spoke, including State Rep. Matt Blumenthal (who is also the son of one of our elected U.S. Senators).

But more importantly, many of the freed individuals and their spouses also spoke. They were not scheduled to talk and did not have formally prepared remarks, yet so many felt led by the Spirit to rise and speak, one after the other. Not a single person discussed the hardship of jail, the fear and anxiety of potentially losing your home of decades, or the nightmares their kids still suffer. Instead, to a person, every single one spoke of God's blessings in their life, often weeping as they expressed deep love for every single person in the room. They were all knit together in true community.

A little more about C4D, which rents the two Parish Hall offices above the kitchen and often holds other events at the church: They are part of the national "United We Dream," network serving undocumented students and youth (“Dreamers”) and sharing testimony with state legislators for education, health care, and more. Their new partner organization, The American Immigrant Legal Clinic (TAILC), provides free legal services to those in need. Both organizations also work with Bishop Mello and the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.

C4D's executive director, Tabitha Soodeko, was the Independent's New Havener of the Year in 2025 and is already known to many of us as a past St. PJ's capital campaign consultant. She also previously worked with Diana Empsall, my spouse, at IRIS.

In very rare instances, detention and deportation might become necessary. Certainly, having laws and enforcing them is important -- but what those laws are matters too. And as Jesus's confrontations with the Pharisees remind us, including in tomorrow's Gospel reading, the law is here to serve people. When we value laws more than people, then we've begun to lose sight of our actual values.

And what are those values? They begin and end with love. And for Christians (and Jews and Muslims), a key part of love is welcoming immigrants. Our Sunday-morning lectionary has been reminding us of this value all summer long through the stories of the nomadic patriarchs, and will soon do so once again with the stories of Moses and the Exodus: “You are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”

Some respond to this by saying that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were not illegal or undocumented immigrants; yes, we should love the stranger, but the stranger must also follow our laws. That’s technically true, but it’s also a false equivalency: The Hebrews did not face a complex, byzantine, cumbersome immigration system like America's, one that has in recent decades become harder and harder for anyone but the wealthy to follow. The very design of our current legal system is by nature unwelcoming to immigrants. It makes a mockery of our national values of freedom and liberty -- and becomes a downright heresy when defended by lawmakers who call America a "Christian nation."

When we say that we will only welcome those who follow laws that can't reasonably be followed... when arrests are driven by quotas... when individual circumstances are ignored... when we are told only the violent will be targeted, but the facts prove otherwise... when violent officers act above the very laws they claim to enforce... when citizens and Green-card holders get swept up in the mix... when deaths in detention reach record highs and keep going... when lawmakers and their spokespeople put on cross necklaces and cite twisted Scripture to justify these policies...

Then we are not honoring God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Yet that kingdom does still exist, and it was on full display in the St. PJ's Parish Hall last night. Taking in the love and joy shown by so many attorneys and immigrant families emerging from darkness, no one could deny it: There is always light and hope to be found.

The dinner wasn’t a St. PJ’s event, but it was held at St. PJ’s because we opened our doors to C4D, just as God opens heaven’s doors to each and every one of us. My heart could not be fuller. Thank you, St. PJ’s, for being God’s people, and for welcoming God’s people.

Submit Parish Directory Updates by 8/31

Homecoming Sunday will be September 13, and that means it's time for annual updates to the parish directory!

If your contact information has changed, please email office@stpaulstjames.org to let Monifa know by August 31.

St. PJ's at DWSCMT, and upcoming New Haven Events (including today!)

Over the past few months, an important civic organization has re-emerged in New Haven: DWSCMT -- the Downtown / Wooster Square Community Management Team. According to its website, "The Downtown Wooster Square Community Management Team (DWSCMT) is a forum for addressing quality-of-life issues in the Downtown and Wooster Square neighborhoods."

Alder members and police leaders are frequent attendees at the monthly meetings -- as are several St. PJ's Vestry members and other leaders, faithfully representing us to the broader Wooster Square community. Thank you Juhani, Pam, Brian, and more!!!

Here are several New Haven events announced at this month's DWSCMT meting that you may be interested in:

• TODAY, until 8pm: The Black Wall Street Festival
• Connecticut’s largest Black-owned festival celebrates its fifth year!
• Saturday, August 15, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the New Haven Green
• bwsfestival.com
• Movies in the Plaza
• Wednesdays, May through October, 8:00 PM
• Pitkin Plaza (145 Orange St)
• Free
• Salsa Nights on the Orange Street Promenade - last one!
• Thursday, August 20, 6:00–8:30 PM
• Orange Street between Center & Crown (Ninth Square)
• Free
• New Haven's Urban Forest Survey
• New Haven's Tree Warden is conducting a community survey for residents to inform the City's new Tree Plan
• https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/1f2ceb2af52c415492e5790c1fa103db ●
• Free trees
• Through a partnership with Urban Resources Initiative (URI), the City of New Haven is offering FREE TREES to be planted along the street in front of your home or business. Both renters and owners are eligible.
• To make a request, call URI at 203-432-6189, email uri@yale.edu, or fill out this online form: uri.yale.edu/request-tree. 
• You can view a catalog of street trees here, and URI staff will work with you to select a tree that suits your preferences. Each tree and location is reviewed by a certified arborist before planting.

The next St. PJ's Jazz Collective Concert:

Tuesday, September 1, 7 p.m.

The St. PJ’s Jazz Collective will play two more concerts this year: Tuesday, Sept. 1, and Friday, Dec. 4.

Get your tickets for September 1 now, and invite your friends!

August 28: "Club Lost" with IONNE

From St. PJ's member Dr. Maurice Harris, aka the artist "IONNE":

Club Lost: A Music. Dance. Poetry. Social Experience.

August 28, 2026

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Lost in New Haven

80 Hamilton St., New Haven, CT

Club Lost is a one-night music, dance, visual art, poetry, and social experience. IONNE (Maurice Harris) will perform a continuous DJ/live-song set featuring deep house, melodic house, and progressive house, along with two new original works connected to the 250th anniversary of the United States. The evening will also feature spoken word by New Haven Poet Laureate Yex and performances and artwork by several other New Haven artists.

The event is designed as an immersive, all-ages evening where guests can enjoy music and performances, move through the museum, see visual art, and spend time together in community.

IONNE has generously offered St. PJ's members the discount code CLUBLOST10, which provides 10% off orders of up to four tickets.

More information and tickets are available here: https://www.lostinnewhaven.org/events/clublost

News from the Wider Church

- [RNS] The Episcopal Church is a story of renewal, not decline - by New York Bishop Matthew Heyd: https://religionnews.com/2026/08/13/the-episcopal-church-is-a-story-of-renewal-not-decline/

- [ENS] Anglican primates of the Americas meet in Brazil, pledge to work together on global issues: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/08/13/anglican-primates-of-the-americas-meet-in-brazil-pledge-to-work-together-on-global-issues/

- [ENS] Years after Long Island church’s closure, renovated building offers home to Latino congregation: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/08/12/years-after-long-island-churchs-closure-renovated-building-offers-home-to-latino-congregation/

- [ENS] Episcopal leaders, organizations offer prayers and support for Colombia after earthquake strikes western region: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/08/11/episcopal-leaders-organizations-offer-prayers-and-support-for-colombia-after-earthquake-strikes-western-region/

- [RNS] With three prisoners scheduled for execution, southern churches toll their bells: https://religionnews.com/2026/08/13/with-three-scheduled-for-execution-tennessee-churches-toll-their-bells/

- [RNS] ICE detained Adventist pastor at Houston airport, church says he has legal work authorization: https://religionnews.com/2026/08/13/houston-pastor-detained-by-ice-at-airport-church-says-he-has-legal-work-authorization/

- [Substack - Very Rev. Andrew McGowan] A Jewish Jesus and a Canaanite Woman Chew the Fat: https://abmcg.substack.com/p/a-jewish-jesus-and-a-canaanite-woman-1d9

- [Substack - Rev. Jacqui Lewis] The Narrative of Blackness: https://jacquilewis.substack.com/p/the-narrative-of-blackness

- [Substack - Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber] Q: How do I guard against being a bitter and mean old lady? https://thecorners.substack.com/p/q-how-do-i-guard-against-being-a-d21

Come 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, August 16, the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. David Tate will preach and Rev. Nathan will celebrate Holy Eucharist.

Children's Sunday School is on summer break until Sunday, August 30.

Serving this Sunday:

Sunday

10:30 a.m.

Jazz Service

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 August 16, we pray for Wooster School, Danbury; Kent School, Kent; St. Thomas’s Day School, New Haven; and for students, teachers & chaplains at Episcopal schools preparing to begin the school year.

In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Church in Wales.

On the St. PJ's prayer list, we pray for Doug Parker, Calvin Griffin, the Rev. Walter MacNutt, Kevin Gerbe, Leota Tucker, Edwina Johnson, Cynthia King, Paul D'Agostino, Tiras Jaske, Uli Mackert and family, Charlie & Bridget Farrell, Alyce, Pam, Stephen Lett, Vanetta Lloyd, Marietta D'Albero, Marietta Coppola, Alexandra Sanseverino, Dr Milton Coke, Pam Yesner, the Rev. Carl Scovel, Karl Mini, Margaret Perry, Ryan Welch, Kyle Park, Fr. Tom, George Moore, A.J. Crosby, Joan Farrell, Sharyn Kessler, Michael Montenegro, Meryl Tate Triplett, Dawn Magliulo, the Gilder Family, Carolyn Wigley, Wendy McLeod, Cotton Burlingame, Deacon Felix Rivera, Marie Blake, Hossna, Peter Loden, Roni Holcomb & family, Mary Ellen Price, Judy Hopkins, the Forni family, Trish Farrell, Jay Lechausse, Nancy Hill, Stephen Livingstone Price

✠ Birthdays: Drew Karikari (8/18), Pam Sayre (8/18), Alvin Roach (8/19)

✠ Deceased: The Rev. Steven E. Hulme, Bishop Bob Gordon Jones

VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon

Last week was the tenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Nathan preached and celebrated the Eucharist.

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.

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
• 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