In this week's edition:

- Priest's Corner: Jumping in puddles

- TOMORROW: Memorial service for Sara Ohly, May 2

- May 11: Spring Concert with the St. PJ's Jazz Collective

- May 9: "Another Octave" Concert with St. PJ's Members

- "Episco-PALS" family day, Saturday, May 16

- Margins and Movements: Social-justice book club titles and dates

- News from the Wider Church: Bishop Miguelina Howell installed, Archbishop Sarah visits Pope Leo, Black churches respond to Voting Rights Act gutting, and more

- This Sunday at St. PJ's

• Farewell to the Claytons
• Cycles of Prayer
• Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon

- March Vestry Minutes

- There's Always More...

Priest's Corner:

Jumping in puddles

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

This week, I have a personal recommendation:

Spend some time jumping in puddles with a six-year-old if you can!

Last week, our intern Kelly Park began her wonderful sermon by sharing what she's looking forward to most about her pending YDS graduation: Having 3-5 things to do per day instead of 12-15, so that she "can spend my life a little more slowly and with a little more intention alongside others and alongside God". Then Kelly noted that life doesn't just feel fast-paced and overscheduled for students but also for parents of small children, for those beginning retirement, and for so many more of us.

I feel that in my bones. Rushing from one thing to another, I too often fail to pause and appreciate God's creation around me -- and in that rush, I no doubt hurry my little girl along too much, too. "I'm sorry, but we don't have time for that." "I said put that down, we're going too be late." "I've already told you four times, I won't tell you a fifth, let's go, NOW!!!"

But yesterday, she'd had a little bit of a rough day at school. When we got home, even though it was raining and dinner time, she asked to play outside. I started to say no, it's too late - but then the Spirit nudged me, I stopped myself, and we jumped in driveway puddles for 20 minutes. 

It was the best 20 minutes I've spent in a long time.

"Remember to stop and smell the roses" is such a cliche, but it's so deeply true. Jesus didn't chastise Martha for being in the kitchen while Mary was listening to his teaching: He simply pointed out that she was "worried and distracted by many things." This is a main throughline in his teaching to all men and women. Remember the sparrows and the lilies, he says: They don't worry and yet God still takes care of them, so we don't need to worry either, and God will still take care of us. Over and over, over and over: "Fear not." 

Easier said than done, of course, but a holy goal to set and work towards on our faithful horizon.

Our tasks, like the dishes I washed Martha-style this morning, do still need to get done. But are we letting it all distract us from our time with God and our time with one another? Are we focused more on what the world has created, or on the beauty of what God has created? 

It's hard to find the balance. It's very hard to slow down. Don't beat yourself up if you struggle with it. And do remember what Kelly said: That we will find transformation if we can "shape our lives around God and Christ's Body and the power of the Holy of Spirit as an initial consideration rather than one more calendar item to squeeze in." 

Start small, and just do your best. Whenever it crosses your mind, try to pause, take a deep breath, smile at the blue of the sky, listen to a child's laugh, and go jump in some of God's puddles.

Tomorrow: Sara Ohly Memorial Service, May 2

The memorial service for our friend and neighbor Sara Ohly, who passed away on January 2, will be held in the St. PJ's sanctuary tomorrow, Saturday, May 2, at 2 p.m. All are welcome. A reception will follow.

You can read Sara's obituary here >>

May 11: Spring Concert

with the St. PJ's Jazz Collective

Don't miss Dylan and the gang at their next community concert in the Sanctuary on Monday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 at http://givebutter.com/pjs-may11-concert

May 9: "Another Octave" Concert

with St. PJ's Members

The women's chorus Another Octave -- including St. PJ's members Becky Severance, Lynne Severance, and Judy Lhamon -- will perform next Saturday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Society of New Haven. The concert is titled "Building a More Perfect Union: 250 Years of Democracy."

Advance tickets are at AnotherOctave.org

"Episco-PALS" family day, Saturday, May 16

Families of all ages from Episcopal churches in the Greater New Haven area are invited to a fun, casual gathering at the College Woods (East Rock Park) pavilion and playground on Saturday, May 16, 10 am - noon.

Donuts, fruit, coffee, and children's activities will be provided. All ages are welcome. RSVPs are helpful but not required, and can keep you updated on possible changes to the event due to weather: family@trinitynewhaven.org

This event was jointly hatched by St. PJ's and Trinity on the Green, but with all credit for the actual work going to the staff at Trinity!

Margins and Movements:

Social-justice book club titles and dates

Our social-justice book club will meet again at the church on Tuesday, 5/26, to discuss "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson, with discussion led by Tudy Hill, and on Tuesday, 6/23, to discuss "Disarming Leviathan: Loving your Christian Nationalist Neighbor" by Pastor Caleb Campbell, with discussion led by Kelly Park.

News from the Wider Church: Bishop Miguelina Howell installed, Archbishop Sarah visits Pope Leo, Black churches respond to Voting Rights Act gutting, and more:

- [ENS] Connecticut's Miguelina Howell consecrated 10th bishop of Western Massachusetts

- [ENS] Massachusetts congregation touts its carbon neutrality through a mix of energy strategies

- [ENS] Episcopalians send thousands of origami cranes to Olympia for detained immigrants

- [Word & Way] William Barber Marching Against an ‘Illegal and Unholy War

- [NCR] Pope prays with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally in historic encounter, vows dialogue

- [RNS] Worship attendance at churches up for the first time in decades, according to new report

- [RNS, by the Rev. Traci Blackmon] The Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. Black churches know exactly what to do.

- [Sojourners] My Father Has Dementia. A Church Became Our Refuge.

- [Sojourners] Raised as a Preacher's Kid, Now She's a Black Butch Lesbian Writing Jesus Songs.

Come 10:30 a.m. this fifth Sunday of Easter, May 3, for a Jazz Eucharist, children's Sunday School, and Coffee & Community.

We will also say farewell to our dear friends the Claytons on the family's final Sunday with us.

Serving this Sunday:

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 May 3, we pray for St. Peter’s Grace, Monroe; St. Mark’s, Mystic; St. Michael’s, Naugatuck; retirement communities, especially Armsmear & Seabury Retirement community; chaplains at retirement communities and retired clergy chaplains; and for the ECCT Elder Ministry Network.

In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Church of North India.

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, Joan Cappella, Ruby Slade-Wooten, Joan Farrell, Yvonne Scott, Sharyn Kessler, D.J. Multer, Al Cimino, John Ayer, Mona Berman, Tiffany McDowell-Salley, Michael Montenegro, and Susan Yates.

Candidate for Ordination: Milton Gilder

Birthdays: Paul Clayton (05/05), Max Clayton (05/07), Dylan Rowland (05/07)

VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon

Last week, the fourth Sunday of Easter, Kelly Park preached and Tudy Hill officiated Morning Prayer.

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.

March Vestry Minutes

Your Vestry met this week via Zoom on Wednesday, April 22. As part of that meeting, the minutes for the previous meeting in March were approved.

You can read those now-approved March 18 minutes here (PDF).

The April minutes will be approved at the Vestry's next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May, at 6:30 p.m., in-person at the church. They will be made available here 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