St. PJ's eNews: October 3, 2025 | | |
- Weekly Reflection: Just another sleepy Friday... not!
- This weekend, 10/4-5: Blessing of the Animals (aka, Bring Your Pet to Church Day)
- Also this Sunday in the Season of Creation: [Un]Rooted adult formation series + postcard advocacy
- Next Friday, 10/10: "Sound and Style" concert
- Saturday, 10/25: "Neurodivine"
- New State Street traffic patterns
- News from the Wider Church: National creation care compline, Pope Leo speaks for immigrants, choosing dialogue over violence, and more
- This Week at St. PJ's and Cycles of Prayer
- Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
- Safe Church Training
- There's Always More...
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Weekly Reflection: Just another sleepy Friday.... not!
We have a new Archbishop of Canterbury, and HER name is Sarah!
(Plus St. PJ's on the radio)
By the Rev. Nathan Empsall, priest-in-charge
I like to tell myself that I send the eNews on Thursdays, and that sometimes I'm just a little late... but looking in Constant Contact, I see now that I've only sent the eNews on a Thursday twice in the last three months.
Oops!
Like all disrupted plans, maybe some weeks I'm just behind the ball while other times it's the Spirit at work, pushing me to slow down. Certainly today, by 7:45 a.m. there were already two great announcements I couldn't have shared yesterday, completely changing my plans for this space. (Anyone who can guess what I was originally going to write wins... I dunno, bragging rights and a fist bump?)
First, what a joy it was to wake up and immediately learn that we have a new Archbishop of Canterbury, and HER name is Sarah!
As Episcopalians, we are the U.S.'s only official presence of the global Anglican Communion, the world's third-largest denomination. This means that we share basic worship structure, common history and tradition, and conversation venues with 41 other "member churches" around the globe. We also share a symbolic figurehead leader in the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the first-among-equals when the 42 church leaders (or "primates") gather. Now for the first time in its 1,400-year history, a woman will finally hold that holy office.
I don't know much about Dame Sarah Mullally, other than that she is clearly a trailblazer who has leaves a deep spiritual impression on those she leads. She was the first female Bishop of London, as well as the youngest-ever Chief Nursing Office in the UK's National Health Service. But as she says, "I prefer to think that I have always had one vocation: to follow Jesus Christ."
This will almost undoubtedly bring hard and perhaps even hostile conversations within the Anglican Communion, as there are quite a few member churches (or "provinces") that still reject women's ordination. Nevertheless, we can and will still celebrate this as the truly wonderful news that it is, reminding the world that Jesus is for everyone and that all are welcome in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.
Meanwhile, I'm also happy to say that St. PJ's was featured on the New Haven Independent's radio station WNHH and its livestream this morning.
Vestry member Dr. Maurice Harris and I appeared on "LoveBabz LoveTalk with Babz Rawls-Ivy" to promote the upcoming October 10 concert in the undercroft, "Sound & Style," an evening of jazz, electronica, and more with Ionne and the St. PJ's Jazz Ensemble.
We also talked about Maurice's (Ionne's) musical projects, some St. PJ's history, the New Haven apizza wars, and this weekend's Blessing of the Animals.
These two announcements might sound disjointed, but I took note when Maurice said that jazz and the church's focus on justice are linked together by the message of inclusivity. How true it is! So in the spirit of Jazz, let us give thanks for an increasingly inclusive throne in Canterbury, and let us celebrate together next Friday evening.
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This Weekend: Blessing of the Animals
(aka, Bring Your Pet to Church Day)
This weekend, we celebrate the end of the Season of Creation with our annual Blessing of the Animals! There are not one but two chances to receive a blessing from St. PJ's Episcopal Church for your best furry, feathered, or scaly friend:
- Saturday, 10/4, 9:30 - noon: Stop by Wooster Square Park for a drop-in blessing from the Revs Nathan Empsall and Harlon Dalton
- Sunday, 10/5, 10:30am: Pets are welcome during the Jazz Eucharist at St. PJ's for a special blessing
We can also bless children's stuffed animals or pictures (including on your phone) of a beloved pet that can't travel or has passed on.
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Also this Sunday in the Season of Creation: [Un]Rooted adult formation series + postcard advocacy
Following worship and Coffee & Community this Sunday, come to the chapel for [Up]Rooted, our new adult formation series designed and led by our seminary intern Kelly Park.
Particularly in unstable and uncertain times, being deeply rooted in God can ground us, nourish us, and connect us together as a faith community. (Up)Rooted is a earning and conversation series where we'll engage with Scriptures that focus on rootedness and being uprooted, learn a little about (and from!) tree roots, and think together about how being firmly rooted both individually and as a community of faith can help us weather the storms of this world.
We will also be putting our faith into action by writing to our lawmakers during Coffee & Community, urging them to protect creation. A table has been set up with church postcards, lawmakers’ addresses, and suggestions for how write them about renewable energy and wilderness protection. Just place your postcard(s) in the basket when you're done, and staff will stamp and mail them.
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Get ready for "Sound and Style"
Concert on Friday, October 10, 6:30 p.m.
Sound & Style benefit concert for St. PJ's
feat. Ionne, the St. PJ's Jazz Ensemble, and Friends
Friday, October 10, 2025
St. PJ's Undercroft
Doors open and food sales: 6:30 p.m.
Concert begins: 7:00 p.m.
Reserve your tickets now >>
Please join an unforgettable evening of music and community at "The Square @ St. PJ's," featuring a headline performance by Ionne (Maurice Harris) from his new genre-bending double-releases, “Pathos” and “A Light Untruth,” along with Will Cleary and Dylan Rowland of the St. PJ’s Jazz Ensemble and guest artists.
Each artist will bring their unique sound and style, creating a diverse and enriching musical tapestry.
This is a benefit concert for St. PJ's. Tickets are a suggested donation of $25, available online or at the door. Reserve your spot today and be part of a night that celebrates harmony, hope, and the power of music to bring us together!
Heavy hors d'oeuvres and small bites will be available for purchase, featuring homemade catering with diverse cultural options by our administrative director Monifa Atkinson and her family.
Reserve your tickets now >>
To pay a different amount for a ticket than the listed options, select "I'd just like to donate" instead, and your contribution will still be honored as a ticket.
Please let Will Cleary know if you can volunteer at the door!
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Saturday, 10/25, 2 p.m.:
"Neurodivine," a new worship service for neurodivergent families
If it’s too hard to bring your neurodiverse family member to church -- whether you fear they will disrupt church or because church could disrupt them -- then this is the low-key, low-stimulation worship service for you.
Designed and led by the Rev. Lynne Severance, Neurodivine will be an interactive service for families, groups, and people of all ages with stories, singing, and simple prayers. Come learn how God loves YOU.
And please spread the word and invite those you know who might be interested!
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New State Street Traffic Patterns
If your route to church includes lower State Street, note that as of last week, "between Chapel Street and Audubon streets, the northbound lane is now closed, with the southbound lane being converted to two-way traffic."
These new traffic patterns could make your drive take a little longer, but are part of a long-term project to make the city friendlier to pedestrians and bikers, not just drivers.
Please either consider a slightly different route or give yourself a few extra minutes!
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Come to worship this Sunday, October 5, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate the 17th Sunday after Pentecost and the final Sunday in the Season of Creation.
Tudy Hill will preach and Rev. Nathan will celebrate the Eucharist and bless pets.
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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 and St. PJ's Prayer List
In the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's cycle of prayer, we pray this week for Trinity, Torrington; Christ Church, Trumbull; and Trinity, Trumbull; and for all creatures great and small.
In the global Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Anglican Church of Tanzania.
ST. PJ’S PRAYER LIST: Rachel, Doug Parker, Anne Matthies, Calvin Griffin, Lenny Santarsiero, 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, Vanetta Lloyd, Janea Barthle, Lydia Hamnquist, Kate Galambos, Rita Valenti-Piovane, Stephen Lett, Rev. Nihal de Lanerolle, William Evans, Sr., Pam Sayre, Marilyn Bergen, Marietta D’Albero, Leonilda Sanchez, Maria Rodriquez, Brian Bussey, Marietta Coppola, Heather de Lanerolle, Cheryl Harrigan, Paul Mangels, Alexandra Sanseverino, Dr. Milton Coke, Rev. Deacon Felix Rivera, Peter Loden, Pam Yesner, Rev. Carl Scovel
Our postulant for ordination: Milton Gilder
Birthday: David Tate (10/10)
Deceased: Martin O’ Brien (9/21) (son-in-law of Tony Gagliardi)
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VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
If you either missed or want to revisit last Sunday at St. PJ's, you can find the recorded livestream on our Facebook and/or YouTube pages.
David Tate preached and Tudy Hill led Morning Prayer.
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New Fall Dates for
Safe Church Training
In an important effort to build and protect community for everyone, the Episcopal Church requires that all church leaders (including vestry), staff, and anyone interacting with youth or pastoral ministries take Safe Church Training every three years.
The training is free and can be done in person or online. New fall dates have now been announced by the diocese, and you can find them (and more information) online here.
Bishop Jeff Mello says: "Safe Church Training, and our commitment to creating a church that is safe for all of God’s beloved children, is at the center of our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those most at risk for abuse are the very ones Jesus drew close; children, the frail, and those at the margins. To be made more and more into the likeness of Christ is to take seriously the safety and welfare of those Safe Church is meant to protect."
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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
- Director of Music: Will Cleary
- Associate Director of Music: Dylan Rowland
- Tech and Music Intern: Dontae James
- Seminary Intern: Kelly Park
- 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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