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St. PJ's eNews: August 1, 2025
(Wait, that can't be right... how is it August already?!?!?)
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- Weekly Reflection: Bring Esdrás Home!
- A Thwarted Scam Attempt
- Fall Dates Announced for Safe Church Training
- New Date: Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social
- Donations for Gaza
- News from the Wider Church: ELCA elects first Black presiding bishop, and cool initiatives from multiple Episcopal churches and dioceses
- This Week at St. PJ's and Cycles of Prayer
- Video: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon
- Parish-wide Visits with Rev. Nathan
- There's Always More...
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Weekly Reflection:
Bring Esdras Home!
From the Rev. Nathan Empsall, priest-in-charge
| | Rev. Nathan stands with State Senator Gary Winfield at a press conference to free detained high-school junior Esdrás R. from cruel ICE custody on Wednesday. (Screenshot via WFSB 4) | |
On July 21, ICE agents seized a Wilbur Cross High School student named Esdrás R. while he was at his job at a car wash. They had no targeted warrant naming him; it was just a random worksite raid, one of many clear attempts by our rogue government to terrify the community.
Esdrás, now 18, is a rising junior who came to the United States in 2023 as an undocumented minor from Central America. He has no criminal record and is a student leader with a 3.64 GPA, active in the orchestra. He even once submitted testimony to the state legislature.
None of this stopped ICE from moving him from a New England facility to that inhumane center in Louisiana to seek "expedited removal," an attempt to deprive him of due process and deport him to Guatemala within two weeks of his arrest -- banning him from speaking to a lawyer, not permitting him to speak with a judge. Never mind that, again, he has no criminal record and came as a minor. Fortunately, that attempt failed (for now), which I'll say more about below.
First, on Wednesday, CT Students for a Dream (C4D) organized a press conference and rally for Esdrás at Wilbur Cross, with about 150 in the crowd. I was privileged to be one of two clergy members to speak, addressing the need for love rather than intentional cruelty and citing Scripture about treating immigrants as angels. But the real stand-outs -- the voices most worth listening to -- were Esdrás's classmates and fellow teachers. Some of the students even chained themselves together and sat in the heat for the final portion of the rally.
You can see video of the full press conference here. My own four-minute remarks begin about 13 minutes in.
"He was the kind of person that just cared for everyone and wanted to fight for everyone," said Esdrás's friend Melany Yunga. "He just wanted the world to be fair and right. He wanted justice."
Student Serana Musser bowled me over with his articulate, passionate, intelligent remarks. "The kids are alright," as they say:
"Diversity is the education of humanity and community. When I go into the world, I know the only places that are worth being in are the ones I will find conflicting ideas, interests, and people. I know that Wilbur Cross has prepared me for that.
“Students like Esdrás are not the problem. They repeat a story that is essential to the history of the formation of the United States. Coming to a new land for new opportunities. Leaving behind persecution, poverty, and starvation in their motherland. Are today’s immigrants any different from the Puritans, the Italians, the Germans? Why are we criminalizing institutional fear out of the American story?” Serana Musser said.
Thanks also to the school-district officials and elected officials who came and spoke or sent representatives and statements.
The rally was covered by NBC CT, CT Public, the Register, the Independent, the Yale Daily News, and many more. But here's the best news of all: C4D helped get Esdrás a lawyer on Wednesday. His Thursday deportation was canceled, and he is now being relocated back to a New England facility from that inhumane Louisiana detention center.
This isn't over, but it's another sign that speaking out works. Funding legal representation works. There is always hope for due process -- and for community organizing, like the efforts from C4D. We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us, and so there is always light in the darkness and always hope for one another. Together, let's keep raising our voices for a moral witness -- and keep standing together in community with students, organizers, activists, parents, teachers, and more.
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A Thwarted Scam Attempt
Gift-card scammers attempted to access new parishioner contact information from the church office this week, and we're pleased to say that we successfully stopped them.
They also failed when they tried to gain access to staff members' payroll information a few weeks ago.
Stay vigilant, friends. Remember that church leaders will not ask you to contact us without sharing what it's about. We will never ask you to buy gift cards online or for the church (just grocery cards at church for yourself), and we will never ask you to read the codes on the card to us. If you are ever unsure of communication planning to be from or for the church, double check it with the office directly.
If you do ever fall prey to an email or text scam that asks you to buy gift cards and give the scammer the card's code, please follow these steps:
1. Do not feel ashamed. You are not alone -- more than 45,000 people are victims each year.
2. Contact the companies you bought the cards from ASAP. If the gift cards have not been spent yet, companies can often cancel them and refund you.
3. Contact your credit card company. If it’s too late for a refund from the retailer, your credit card benefits may include liability protection.
4. Let Monifa and/or Rev. Nathan know what happened.
5. Join us in praying for the scammer -- that they may heal from whatever wounds and darkness they've suffered, accept God's forgiveness, and atone by working to heal the harm they've caused.
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New Fall Dates Announced for
Safe Church Training
In an important effort to build and protect community for everyone, the Episcopal Church requires that all church leaders, staff, and anyone interacting with youth or pastoral ministries take Safe Church Training every three years.
Personally, I would recommend that all volunteers take it, not just those assisting vulnerable populations. Knowing what to do or who to contact when problems arise is an important way to take care of each other!
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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New Date: Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social
Monday, September 8
After postponing for extreme heat (time for climate action...), we have a new date for the rescheduled Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social: It will now be Monday, September 8, at 6:45 p.m. in the parish hall!
Mark your calendars now to gather around the piano under the pretty lights in the parish hall, fill our hearts with song, have a sweet treat, and just simply be together.
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Donations for Gaza
What Hamas did in Israel on October 7, 2023, was evil. What the Israeli government is doing in Gaza today is equally horrific, brutal, immoral, and wrong.
Parishioners have asked me (Rev. Nathan) where they can send money to help Gaza. I can recommend three organizations:
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Shepherd Society - The charitable arm of the West Bank's Bethlehem Bible College. This Palestine-based organization was recommended to me by author/activist/preacher Shane Claiborne, one of the people I trust most on Gaza questions.
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Come for Jazz Eucharist this Sunday, August 3, at 10:30 a.m. as we celebrate the eighth Sunday after Pentecost.
Rev. Nathan will preach and celebrate.
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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
In the cycle of prayer for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, we pray this week for Good Shepherd/Immanuel; St. James, Shelton; and St. Paul’s, Shelton, and for Christ Church Cathedral’s ministry in Hartford, the Cathedral Chapter & the honorary canons of our Cathedral (including the Rev. Harlon Dalton!).
In the global Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Episcopal Church in the Philippines.
ST. PJ’S PRAYER LIST:
Rachel, Doug Parker, Anne Matthies, Betty Hill, Tim Barnes, Calvin Griffin, Lenny Santarsiero, Rev. Walter MacNutt, Tom Caffelle, Kevin Gerbe, Leota Tucker, Edwina Johnson, Cynthia King, Paul D'Agostino, Richard Holcomb, Tiras Jaske, Uli Mackert, Charlie & Bridget Farrell, Alyce, Judi, Tom, Leslie, Andrew, Pam, Tommy, Beverly Lett, Vanetta Lloyd, Janea Barthle, Lydia Hamnquist, Kate Galambos, Rita Valenti-Piovane, Stephen Lett, Rev. Nihal de Lanerolle, Martin O’Brien, William Evans, Sr., Pam Sayre, Marilyn Bergen
Birthdays: Robert Crowson (8/3), Agatha Evans (8/4)
Anniversaries: Tudy & David Hill (8/7), Max & Molly Clayton (8/9)
Faithful Departed: Bishop Jeffery Rowthorn (7/23)
New Haven concerns: Esdras R., Wilbur Cross junior seized by ICE
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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.
Last week, Lynne Severance preached a very well-received sermon, and Marilyn Bergen presided over a service of Morning Prayer.
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Upcoming Visits with Rev. Nathan
As previously announced, I am now trying to meet with every St. PJ's member -- as families or individuals -- and get to know you and your dreams for our community life together.
I want to hear about who you are, what makes you tick, what you believe and love, your history at St. PJ's, and your hopes for this congregation's future. Through these meetings, I hope to get a better feel for who we are as a community -- and where the Spirit might be leading us!
Ideally this meeting would be at your home, where I can also offer a home blessing. If you prefer a coffee shop, your office, or a park bench on a nice day, those are fine options too -- anywhere but the church itself.
Because I am half-time, it will undoubtedly take several months to get through these visits. If you would like to meet sooner, please let me know. Otherwise, I'm going to use an Excel random-number generator to determine the order in which I'll reach out. But whether it's next week or in September, know that I can't wait!
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There's always more...
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
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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
- 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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