In this week's edition:

- Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe's Easter Message

- ECCT Easter Message from Bishop Jeff and Bishop Laura

- Rev. Nathan on Vacation

- Margins and Movements: Social-justice book club dates

- New logo and May 11 concert for the St. PJ's Jazz Collective

- News from the Wider Church:

- This Sunday at St. PJ's

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

- There's Always More...

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe's Easter Message

Dear friends in Christ: 

One of the paradoxical truths of our faith is that Easter morning begins with sorrow. In John’s telling of the Easter story, we can almost feel the panic and confusion of the disciples in the predawn hours when Mary Magdalene discovers that the tomb is empty.

Jesus had told them that he would rise from the dead, but how could they trust that promise after they had witnessed the brutality of his death on the cross? They were afraid, maybe even in hiding. As we know from the story of Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus, some of them were heading out of town as fast as they could go.

But Mary Magdalene did not hide or flee. She stayed at the foot of the cross until the end, and she arrived to anoint Jesus’ body before the sun was up on the first day of the week. Because of her devotion, she became the first witness to the resurrection and the first to proclaim the Good News.

Like Mary Magdalene, we are called to be faithful in the face of grief, injustice, and anguish—even when the world is groaning with despair, and even when we cannot recognize Jesus standing right before our eyes. We believe, against all odds, that God has the power to turn death into life and despair into hope.  

This Easter, our world badly needs to hear this message. As we embrace our vocation to proclaim the resurrection, I pray that God gives us the courage to withstand the sin and violence in our midst and the grace to watch for Jesus in the most unlikely places.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

The Most. Rev. Sean Rowe

Presiding Bishop

The Episcopal Church

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Easter Message from ECCT Bishops Jeff Mello and Laura Ahrens

Watch the video >>

Bishop Jeff: “Greetings, Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Alleluia! Christ is risen!” 

Bishop Laura: “The Lord is risen, indeed!”

Both: “Alleluia!”

Bishop Jeff: “As you know, recently, I had the incredible privilege of traveling to the Holy Land and spending time with our siblings in Christ in that place. And while we were there, war broke out, and things got quite scary and dark, as they continue to be for those who live in the place where Jesus walked, ministered, healed, died, and rose again. But while I was there, I want you to know that even in the midst of the very scariest moments of that time, when things seemed at their darkest, the people of the Holy Land kept the hope of the resurrection ever before us. They are filled with light and life and hope against all odds.” 

Bishop Laura: “I love that message of them keeping the hope ever in front of them—and that’s our calling, as well, as Christians seeking to follow the Lord and Savior. How do we keep hope in front of us in the spaces in our lives all around us, locally, nationally, globally? We have so much anxiety and fear and concern. How do we hold on to that hope and be proclaimers of that hope for others in the midst of these challenging times?” 

Bishop Jeff: “Our prayer for you this day is that you make lots of room for joy and celebration on this Easter day and in this Eastertide. But, in the days and weeks and months ahead that you hold on to that Easter hope and tell the good news of Christ’s resurrection, the victory over death, that love always wins, that hope wins out over fear, and spread that news to a world aching to know the truth of the resurrection.” 

Bishop Laura: “And may the blessing of God almighty, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit be with you this Easter day, this Easter season, and remain with you always.”

Rev. Nathan on vacation

Rev. Nathan is on vacation. He will celebrate the Eucharist next Sunday, April 19, and be back in the office on Tuesday, April 21.

There will be no Wednesday communion on April 15.

Margins and Movements:

Social-justice book club dates

Our social-justice book club will meet at the church on Tuesday, 4/28, 7 p.m., to discuss "The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You" by Dina Nayeri.

Looking ahead, we will also gather on Tuesday, 5/26, to discuss "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson, and again on Tuesday, 6/23, to discuss "Disarming Leviathan: Loving your Christian Nationalist Neighbor" by Pastor Caleb Campbell.

New Logo and May 11 Concert

for the St. PJ's Jazz Collective!

We're excited to announce that our old friend Nate Solberg, former St. PJ's member and professional designer, has graciously made this new logo for the church jazz program (based on the parish logo, which he also designed).

What do you think: Is it a great church band logo, or the greatest church band logo ever?

The new logo is just in time for use at two upcoming events: The St. PJ's Jazz Collective will have a table at the Wooster Square Cherry Blossom Festival on Sunday, April 19, before performing its first community concert of the year on Monday, May 11 (one of three).

News from the Wider Church:

- [RNS] Photos of the Week: Holy Week, Passover: https://religionnews.com/2026/04/08/photos-of-the-week-holy-week-easter-celebrations/

- [RNS] Faith has always gone to space. Artemis II shows how much it has changed: https://wordandway.org/2026/04/08/faith-has-always-gone-to-space-artemis-ii-shows-how-much-it-has-changed/

- [ENS] NASA’s Artemis II mission holds special meaning for Alabama ‘rocket science’ Episcopalians: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/04/08/nasas-artemis-ii-mission-holds-special-meaning-for-alabama-rocket-science-episcopalians/

- [ENS] Easton diocese’s church becomes overnight shelter to keep unhoused people from facing jail time: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/04/07/easton-dioceses-church-becomes-overnight-shelter-to-keep-unhoused-people-from-facing-jail-time/

- [RNS] In ‘Jesus Was a Migrant,’ Jemar Tisby makes a Christian case for humanizing immigrants: https://religionnews.com/2026/04/09/in-jesus-was-a-migrant-jemar-tisby-makes-a-christian-case-for-humanizing-immigrants/

- [RNS] 'Unusual' Pentagon-Vatican meeting sparks intrigue, denials and whispers of a diplomatic clash: https://religionnews.com/2026/04/10/unusual-pentagon-vatican-meeting-sparks-intrigue-denials-and-whispers-of-a-diplomatic-clash/

- [RNS] Hegseth’s removal of top Army chaplain raises ‘troubling questions’ from Black denomination: https://religionnews.com/2026/04/09/army-chaplains-chiefs-firing-prompts-serious-concern-from-black-baptist-denomination/

- [RNS] From Jim Wallis: How Easter turned to blasphemy at the White House: https://religionnews.com/2026/04/10/how-easter-turned-to-blasphemy-at-the-white-house/

Come by 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, April 12, for a service of Morning Praying with jazz worship music, children's Sunday School, and Coffee and Community Hour.

Serving this Sunday:

Easter 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 April 12, we pray for Todos Los Santos/ All Saints’, Meriden; St. Andrew’s, Meriden; hospital chaplains, Stephen Ministries, pastoral care groups, ministries of healing, and wellness programs & recovery ministries.

In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Igreja Anglicana de Mocambique e Angola (the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola).

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, Melissa & George Cunningham, Joan Cappella, Ruby Slade-Wooten, Yvonne Scott, Joan Farrell, Sharyn Kessler, D.J. Multer   

Candidate for Ordination: Milton Gilder

Departed: Christian Gilder (brother of Milton Gilder)

Birthdays: Letitia Mukwaya (4/11), Sammy Rodriguez (4/11) 

VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon

Last week was Easter Sunday, with seven jazz musicians, two Baptisms, and a sermon on hope from Rev. Nathan. Our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services were also livestreamed.

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.

Recent Vestry Minutes

Your Vestry met on Wednesday, March 18. As part of that meeting, the minutes for the previous meeting in January were approved (there was no February meeting).

You can read the now-approved January 14 minutes here (PDF).

The March minutes will be approved at the Vestry's next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. They will be made available 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 Ministry: Molly Clayton
• 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