St. PJ's eNews: May 23, 2025 | | |
- Weekly Reflection: 50 Days of Easter
- Monday, June 23: Hymn Sing and Ice-Cream Social
- Church Office Closed for Memorial Day
- Have You Seen the Parish Hall Mixer?
- News from the Wider Church: Wyoming Episcopalians confront Indigenous boarding school legacy, Supreme Court strikes down religious charter school, bishops decry antisemitism, and more
- This Week at St. PJ's and Cycles of Prayer
- Adult Formation This Sunday: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
- Upcoming Visits with Rev. Nathan
- There's Always More...
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Weekly Reflection:
50 Days of Easter
This week's reflection on our current liturgical season is an excerpt from the book "Welcome to the Church Year", written by Deacon Vicki K. Black, published by Church Publishing, copyright 2004.
Easter, the oldest celebration of the Christian year, is not a single day but an entire season: Easter lasts fifty days, from Easter Day (the Sunday of the Resurrection) through the Day of Pentecost. The season also includes the feast of the Ascension, when the resurrected Jesus ascended to heaven and was seen on earth no longer. Throughout the year every Sunday—even during Lent— is considered a little Easter, a mini feast of the resurrection on what Christians have called the first day of the week.
All the other seasons grew up around this most ancient feast. Lent, for example, developed as a time of preparation for Easter baptisms. Our churches tend to be filled with classes, forums, retreats, and activities during Lent, but after Easter the schedule of events slows down. In the early catechumenate, this season was a time called mystagogia—the learning of the “mysteries” of the faith, particularly baptism and Eucharist. And many congregations today are likewise making an effort to provide ongoing opportunities for continued prayer, learning, and formation in the Christian faith and life during the seven weeks of Easter.
Easter Themes
The primary theme of Easter is the resurrection: on this day Jesus was raised from the dead, overcoming the power of death and the grave. We celebrate that we, too, are raised to everlasting life with him in our baptism... In addition to the theme of Christ’s resurrection, the popular Easter focus on new life in the springtime of the year has been incorporated into Christian tradition as well. In the spring we see flowers emerging from the barren ground, trees in bud, birds building nests in which to lay their eggs. ...
The Sunday Liturgy in Easter
On the Sundays of the Great Fifty Days you will notice an abundance of “Alleluias” in the services, as well as the singing of glorious Easter hymns. The paschal candle remains lit for all of these services, through the Day of Pentecost, reminding us of the light of the resurrection. This is a time for reflecting on the meaning of our baptism and on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the community we call the church. That makes it a time also to focus on the mission of the church as it seeks to live out its call to serve the world in Christ’s name.
During the weeks of Easter we read passages from the Acts of the Apostles, the continuation of the gospel according to Luke that tells the story of the early days of the church. There we hear about how the first Christians spread the news of their experience of Jesus and their conviction that in Jesus God had brought about a new reign of love and mercy. Hearing their story helps the church today understand its mission to witness to its own experience of Christ in the Holy Spirit. In Acts we see men and women who were fearful, disappointed, and distraught on Good Friday transformed into leaders and evangelists filled with joyful assurance, teaching and healing as Jesus had done. ...
The gospel readings during these weeks tell of Jesus’ appearances to the disciples. We hear of the request of “doubting Thomas” to see the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side, of the dejected disciples returning to Emmaus after the Passover who recognized Jesus only as they broke bread together, and of Jesus’ appearance to the seven disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, as he showed the fishermen where to find an enormous catch while he prepared breakfast for them on the shore. The gospel readings also recount Jesus’ final words to his disciples concerning the community they would be establishing after his death and resurrection:
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."(John 13:34–35)
"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." (John 14:25–27)
- By Deacon Vicki K. Black, "Welcome to the Church Year"
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Monday, June 23:
Hymn Sing and Ice-Cream Social
Will, Dylan, and Rev. Nathan are excited to announce an upcoming Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social on Monday, June 23, at 6:45 p.m.!
This is a chance to gather in the Parish Hall around the piano and under the pretty lights to fill our hearts with song, have a sweet treat, and just simply be together for an hour.
Will is creating a reusable "PJ's Pick-up Hymnal" of a few dozen tunes that can bring together various sources - the Hymnal 1982, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and so many more. If there’s a hymn that's particularly special to you and that you want to be sure we include, please email revnathan@stpaulstjames.org ASAP.
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Church Office Closed for Memorial Day
Please note the church office will be closed on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.
Sunrise Cafe will remain open.
We encourage you to take this time to rest, reflect, and enjoy the day with your loved ones as we remember and honor those who gave their lives. Have a safe and blessed holiday!
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Have you seen our mixer?
The audio mixer from the parish hall sound system is missing. If you have seen it, please let Monifa in the church office know – email office@stpaulstjames.org or call (203) 562-2143.
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Come for Jazz Eucharist this Sunday, May 25, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate the sixth Sunday of Easter.
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 St. John’s, New Milford; Grace Church, Newington; and Trinity, Newtown; and for environmental ministry networks, eco-justice work, and community gardens.
In the global Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Kenya.
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, Gwen Chapin, Uli Mackert, Steve Crowson, Charlie & Bridget Farrell, Calvin, Charlie, Bridget, Alyce, Judi, Tom, Leslie, Andrew, Pam, Tommy, Beverly Lett
Birthdays & Anniversaries: John De Rosa (5/28), Felix (5/31)
Faithful Departed: David Obser (5/21)
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Adult Formation This Sunday:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
If you thought you missed our adult-education forum on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, have no fear -- it has been rescheduled for this Sunday, May 25!
"God's Microphones" is a discussion of church figures who opposed authoritarian governments. After this weekend's discussion, we will conclude on June 1 with a look at such other World War II figures as Sophie Scholl, St. Maximillian, and the Saints of Dachau.
"Each one of you has to be God's microphone. Each one of you has to be a messenger, a prophet. The church will always exist as long as there is someone who has been baptized." - St. Oscar Romero
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VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermons
If you either missed or want to revisit last Sunday at St. PJ's, you can find the recorded livestream on Facebook or YouTube.
In a Berkeley takeover for graduation weekend, Deacon Andrew Stump officiated Morning Prayer and Milton Gilder preached a wonderful sermon.
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Upcoming Visits with Rev. Nathan
As previously announced, beginning this month, I would love to meet with every St. PJ's member -- as families or individuals -- and get to know you and your dreams for our community life together.
Ideally this meeting would be at your home, where I can also offer a home blessing. If you prefer a coffee shop, your office, or a park bench on a nice day, those are fine options too -- just not the church.
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 this congregation's future. Through these meetings, I hope to get a better feel for who we are as a community -- and where the Spirit might be leading us.
Because I am half-time, it will undoubtedly take several months to get through these visits. If you would like to meet sooner, please let me know. Otherwise, I'm going to use an Excel random-number generator to determine the order in which I'll reach out. But whether it's next week or in September, know that I can't wait!
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There's always more...
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
- 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
(Talk to parishioner Kate Galambos on Sundays)
- 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
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - Noon
office@stpaulstjames.org
(203) 562-2143
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Priest-in-Charge: The Rev. Nathan Empsall, revnathan@stpaulstjames.org
- Administrative Director: Monifa Atkinson
- 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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