In this week's edition of the eNews:

- Meet our 2026-2027 seminary intern: Shujin Zhang

- St. PJ's Memorial Wall

- News from the Wider Church: Episcopal dioceses decry ICE killings, summer reads, listening to the elderly, and more

- This Sunday at St. PJ's

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

- There's Always More...

Meet our 2026-2027 seminary intern:

Shujin Zhang

Hello everyone at St. PJ's! My name is Shujin ("Shoo-jin") Zhang, and this fall I will begin my third year in the M.Div. program at Yale Divinity School.

I come from mainland China and am the first Christian in my family. Though the journey was very difficult, my mother has since also come to faith! I first encountered Christianity in 2019 while studying ethnomusicology and researching Christian music among Chinese ethnic minorities. Later, during my anthropology studies in the Netherlands, I researched belonging among Chinese Christian women immigrants. Through my own struggles with mental health, I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and was baptized in 2022.

God’s healing and guidance led me here, where I now study under Professor Chloe Starr [a member of St. PJ's]. Although I may seem quiet at first because English is not my first language and I am naturally introverted, I carry a deep love for Christ and a heart for pastoral ministry. In my free time, I enjoy playing the violin and singing.

I am deeply grateful to join St. PJ's as an intern and look forward to growing through cross-cultural ministry and Anglican discernment alongside this community in the coming year!

St. PJ's Memorial Wall

Plaques on the Sanctuary’s back wall are available not only to remember friends and family who have died but also to welcome, honor, and thank those who have made an impact on our individual lives.

Please consider purchasing a plaque to honor someone while also supporting our church. For more information, contact Agatha Zichichi-Evans or Rev. Nathan.

News from the Wider Church: Episcopal dioceses decry ICE killings, summer reads, listening to the elderly, and more

- [ENS] Texas, Maine dioceses decry latest ICE killings in Trump administration’s deportation efforts: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/07/15/texas-maine-dioceses-decry-latest-ice-killings-in-trump-administrations-deportation-efforts/

- [ENS] Young Latin Americans, church leaders reflect on ‘beautiful’ experience at Evento de Jóvenes Episcopales: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/07/17/young-latin-americans-church-leaders-reflect-on-beautiful-experience-at-evento-de-jovenes-episcopales/

- [ENS] Antonio José Gallardo Lucena consecrated as Diocese of Los Angeles bishop: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/07/13/antonio-jose-gallardo-lucena-consecrated-as-diocese-of-los-angeles-bishop/

- [ACNS] South Sudan bishop issues call for emergency assistance as conflict worsens: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/07/17/south-sudan-bishop-issues-call-for-emergency-assistance-as-conflict-worsens/

- [Jim Wallis in RNS] A faithful call to abolish ICE: https://religionnews.com/2026/07/17/a-faithful-call-to-abolish-ice/

- [Kristen Du Mez on Substack] Summer Reads: https://kristindumez.substack.com/p/summer-reads?

- [America Jesuit Review] What happens when a society (and a church) stops listening to the elderly: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith-and-reason/2026/07/13/elderly-wisdom-intergenerational-relationships/

Come 10:30 a.m. this Sunday, July 19, for a service of Morning Prayer with a sermon from Kelly Park. We will also have jazz music and Coffee & Community to mark the eighth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Nathan will return next Sunday.

Children's Sunday School is on summer break until September.

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 July 19, we pray for St. Paul’s, Riverside; St. Andrew the Apostle, Rocky Hill; and Christ Church, Roxbury; for wardens, treasurers, clerks & all vestry members; and elected delegates.

In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan.

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, Tom Olds, Dawn Magliulo, the Gilder Family, Carolyn Wigley, Wendy McLeod, Anne Cheney, Sandy Sanford, Judy Hopkins, Cotton Burlingame, Richard Holcomb, Deacon Felix Rivera, Marie Blake, Hossna, Peter Loden, Shujin Zhang 

✠ Birthdays: Eric Jaske (7/20), Gary Sapp (7/20), Isis Jaske (7/25)

✠ Anniversary: Jeff & Janie Lange (7/18/87), Wendy Wagner Delehanty & James Delehanty (7/19/86, 40 years ago at then St. Paul's!)

✠ Deceased: Jane D’ Arista (7/04)

VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon

Last week was the sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Dr. Samuel Ernest officiated Morning Prayer, and in place of a sermon, our lectors Caroline McGraw and Brendan Titley read special readings from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Episcopal Church's Executive Council to connect us with the wider church.

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
• Tech and Music Intern: Dontae James
• 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