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St. PJ's eNews: March 28, 2026
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday
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- Grab your coat: Tomorrow is Palm Sunday!
- TODAY: Episcopal prayer service at No Kings protest
- TODAY: St. PJ's Polishing Party
- Remembering the Rev. Nihal de Lanerolle
- Maundy Thursday: Notes on the Agape Meal and Parking
- Full Holy Week schedule
- New logo (and events) for the St. PJ's Jazz Collective!
- Wednesday, April 8: Easter Hymn Sing
- Easter Music and Flowers
- News from the Wider Church: The Installation of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally (and more)
- This Sunday at St. PJ's
- Cycles of Prayer
- Lenten Adult Formation: Final "Harden Not Your Hearts"
- Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
- Recent Vestry Minutes
- There's Always More...
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Grab your coat: Tomorrow is Palm Sunday!
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday -- and that means our annual second-line jazz parade through Wooster Square, singing Hosanna and proclaiming Christ as liberator to the world!
A huge thanks in advance to our guest musicians and friends, plus a few logistical notes:
- DRESS WARMLY: It will be mostly sunny, with no rain or snow in the forecast! Yay! But on the other, it's going to be COLD -- right around 39 degrees at 10:30. Bundle up!
- THE SERVICE: We will once again begin outside on the Chapel Street steps, promptly at 10:30, before processing down Olive Street away from the church, making a right onto Court Street, a right at Wooster Square Park, a right onto Chapel Street, and a left into the warm and welcoming church doors.
Feel free to leave your belongings on your chairs and head outside; an announcement will be made a few minutes prior.
- SUNDAY SCHOOL: Families are invited to join the procession together. Children will head upstairs with Ms. Molly once we return to the church. There will be no separate announcement calling them forward.
- ADULT FORMATION: The service will end in silence following the Passion reading, without music or coffee. We will still have adult formation -- the final meeting of Kelly Park's "Harden Not Your Hearts" Lenten series -- which will gather in the Chapel approximately 10 quiet minutes after the service ends.
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TODAY: Episcopal prayer service at No Kings protest
ECCT clergy from multiple other parishes are inviting Episcopalians to provide a faith witness together at today's giant national pro-democracy No Kings protest.
We will gather outside Trinity on the Green for a brief prayer service at 2:45, then move up Temple Street to United Church on the Green to join other faith groups as the full democracy rally starts on the Green at 3.
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TODAY: St. PJ's Polishing Party
Please join the Altar Guild for the annual polishing party today, Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m.
Volunteers are also needed next Saturday, April 4, to help decorate the church for Easter.
Contact Janie Lange with questions or for more details.
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Remembering
the Rev. Dr. Nihal de Lanerolle
We honor, love, and remember the Rev. Dr. Nihal de Lanerolle, neuroscientist and former member and later interim priest of this parish, who died on Wednesday.
"Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Nihal. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, sheep of your own fold, lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
His funeral will be this Holy Wednesday, April 1, at 2 p.m. at St. Paul's in Westbrook (53 South Main Street, Westbrook). A reception will follow at the Westbrook Volunteer Fire Department diagonally across South Main. Suggested parking for both the service and the reception is behind the firehouse.
Here is the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's obituary for Rev. Nihal:
"The Reverend Dr. Nihal C. de Lanerolle is a Sri Lankan-born neuroscientist and Episcopal priest whose career has combined academic medicine, pastoral ministry, and international scholarship. He has been a tenured faculty member at the Yale School of Medicine, where he is identified publicly as Professor Emeritus of Neurosurgery, and his research has focused on epilepsy and related brain disorders. Alongside his medical career, he has served in a wide range of Episcopal ministries in Connecticut and New Haven.
"Ordained deacon on May 31, 1977, and priest on July 11, 1978, in the Diocese of Minnesota on behalf of the Bishops of Colombo, he later became canonically resident in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut on April 6, 1998. His Connecticut ministry has included service as interim rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, New Haven; work with the Middlesex Area Cluster Ministry; chaplain at the Episcopal Church at Yale; and, later, Priest-in-Charge at St. Paul’s, Westbrook."
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Maundy Thursday:
Notes on the Agape Meal and Parking
MEAL: Please consider signing up to bring soup or bread for this week's Maundy Thursday Agape Meal at 6:30 pm -- or helping Kelly Park with setting and cleaning up. You may either email the office at office@stpaulstjames.org or use the sign-up sheet on the coffee table in church.
PARKING: Weekdays are different than Sundays! Jeff Lange reminds us that parking tickets have been given during Holy Week in the past, especially on Maundy Thursday. Please pay attention to signs announcing parking zones and restrictions; consider parking in a paid metered spot on Olive Street or a similar location to avoid a ticket.
NO MIDDAY PRAYERS: There will be no 12:30 lay-led Thursday service this week.
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Holy Week Schedule
Be sure to come to at least one extra service this week -- and ideally both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at St. PJ's, and the Saturday Easter Vigil elsewhere.
Attending multiple Holy Week services is a powerful way to walk with Christ through his sorrowful journey, experience a deeper spirit, and ultimately heighten the power and joy of your Easter celebration.
HOLY WEEK 2026 AT ST PJ’S
Palm Sunday, March 29
- 10:30 AM: Blessing of the Palms & Second-line Jazz Parade
Holy Wednesday, April 1
- 12:30 PM: Quiet Communion
Maundy Thursday, April 2
- 6:30 PM: Eucharist with Agape Supper and Footwashing
Good Friday, April 3
- Noon: Solemn Collects and Passion
Easter Sunday, April 5
- 10:30 AM: Resurrection Celebration with full jazz band
ADDITIONAL HOLY WEEK SERVICES IN NEW HAVEN
Holy Wednesday, April 1
- 6:30 PM, both Christ Church and St. Thomas’s: Tenebrae
Maundy Thursday, April 2
- 2-4 PM, Trinity on the Green: Outdoor Service with Community Foot Washing
Good Friday, April 3
- 10 AM, Trinity: Prayer Walk for children and their adults
- 5:30 PM, Christ Church: Evening Prayer & Stations of the Cross
- 6:30 PM, St. Thomas’s: Liturgy with choir
- 7 PM, St. Luke’s: Good Friday service
- 7 PM, St. John’s: Seven Last Words contemplative service
- 7 PM, Trinity: Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
Holy Saturday, April 4
- 11 AM, Christ Church: Liturgy for Families & Children
- 6:30 PM, St. Thomas’s: Easter Vigil
- 7 PM: Easter Vigils at Trinity, St. Luke’s, and St. John’s
- 8 PM, Christ Church: Great Vigil & First Mass of Easter
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New Logo (and Events)
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). | |
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Wednesday, April 8: Easter Hymn Sing
Speaking of musical events: Let’s gather next Easter Wednesday, April 8, in the sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. to sing all the great seasonal hymns and many other favorites!
There's no agenda other than being together, singing together, calling out hymn numbers for Dylan to play. Like the community concerts, this will be the first of three hymn sings scheduled for this year.
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Easter Music & Flowers
Contributions to brighten our beautiful Easter celebration can be made in honor or memory of someone special, who will then be named in our Easter bulletin.
Giving envelopes will be included with each bulletin tomorrow and next Sunday. You may also donate online; if you choose this option, please check the "add note" box and write that the donation is for Easter music and flowers, along with who it is in honor or memory of.
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Come by 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, March 29 -- Palm Sunday and the final Sunday in Lent -- for a neighborhood jazz parade, Holy Eucharist, children's Sunday School, and adult formation after church.
Serving this Sunday:
| | | Celebrant + Preacher | The Rev. Nathan Empsall | | Liturgical Assistant | David Tate | | Lectors | Tudy Hill & David Hill | | Adult Formation Leader | Kelly Park | | Bread Baker | Sue Galvin | | Altar Guild | Suzy McDowell | | | |
Palm Sunday
10:30 a.m.
Jazz Eucharist
In person and online
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Holy Wednesday
12:30 p.m.
Quiet Communion
In person only
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Thursday
12:30 p.m.
Midday Prayers
Canceled this week -- see Holy Week schedule above instead, including Maundy Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Good Friday at noon
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Cycles of Prayer and St. PJ's Prayer List
In the Episcopal Church in Connecticut cycle of prayer, we pray this week for St. Michael’s, Litchfield; St. Andrew’s, Madison; St. Andrew’s, Marble Dale; for the ECCT Regions & Region Leadership
Teams, and for the Holy Landers Ministry Network.
In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Melanesia.
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, 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, Marilyn Bergen, Jean Douglas, Joan Cappella, Ruby Slade-Wooten, Yvonne Scott, Joan Farrell, Yvonne Scott, and Sharyn Kessler.
Candidate for Ordination: Milton Gilder
Departed: The Rev. Nihal de Lanerolle (03/25)
Birthdays: Shirley Mero (04/01), Molly Clayton (04/03)
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VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
Last week, Chloe Starr preached and Bill Evans celebrated Morning Prayer for the fifth Sunday in Lent.
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.
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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.
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Support Loaves & Fishes and Sunrise Cafe during renovation
The long-awaited replacement of the steps to the undercroft, right on the corner of Chapel and Olive, is underway! This means that our front yard along Olive Street is fenced off. Please direct questions to Brian Fillmore as Capital Campaign Project Manager.
Sunrise Cafe and Loaves & Fishes continue to operate, using alternate entryways to the undercroft. We acknowledge that though fruitful in the long run, this is an inconvenience for now, so please donate to either important organization if you can:
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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
- 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
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