In this week's edition of the eNews:

- Tomorrow, Sunday, October 4: Blessing of the Animals

(AKA Bring Your Pet to Church Day!)

- Next Saturday, October 10: "Celebrate!", an all-ages Episcopal event

- Adult Education will kick off October 18

- News from the Wider Church: The Archbishop of Canterbury just visited Connecticut, plus Episcopal bishops are speaking out on the death penalty, immigration, the Pentagon, and more

- This Sunday at St. PJ's

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

- There's Always More...

Tomorrow, 10/4: Blessing of the Animals

(AKA Bring Your Pet to Church Day!)

Bring your furry and scaly friends to church tomorrow, Sunday, October 4, to receive a blessing during the service and joyously conclude the Season of Creation!

We can also bless children's stuffed animals or pictures (including on your phone) of a beloved pet that either can't travel or has passed on.

New: "Celebrate!" all-ages Episcopal event

Saturday, October 10

Next Saturday, October 10, at 4 p.m., please join Episcopalians from across south-central Connecticut for fellowship, food, praise, and even a kids' bounce house.

This all-ages event is a chance to make joyful connections with the wider region of our diocese and see the broader Body of Christ beyond our parish walls. We will gather outside St. John's in North Haven (3 Trumbull Place) for a casual Eucharist, food truck tacos for purchase, lawn games, and community.  Bring a tasty treat for the Autumn Dessert Potluck!

This diocesan event may have sprung from an idea of Rev. Nathan's, but a broader regional planning team gets all the credit for making it happen. We hope to see there!

Adult Education will kick off October 18

Following the 10:30 Sunday service later this month on 10/18, we will begin our year-long exploration of "The Path: A Journey Through the Bible," getting back to basics to ground our faith and action in God’s word. The first Sunday’s title is “Living Discipleship: Getting Started with Exploring the Bible.” 

It is not necessary to read anything more than the announced Bible verses, but reading a chapter of “The Path” each will enhance your experience. You may purchase the book at this link, and the church will also make a limited number of copies available.

The children’s Sunday School is also walking the Path via its family curriculum, so all of St. PJ’s can explore the Bible in a year together!

News from the Wider Church: The Archbishop of Canterbury just visited Connecticut, plus Episcopal bishops are speaking out on the death penalty, immigration, the Pentagon, and more

- [The Living Church] Mullally Highlights ‘Song of Humility’ in Connecticut Sermon: https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/mullally-highlights-song-of-humility-in-connecticut-sermon/

- [ENS] Archbishop of Canterbury addresses House of Bishops during US visit: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/09/28/archbishop-of-canterbury-addresses-house-of-bishops-during-us-visit/

- [ENS] Tennessee bishops call on governor to commute sentence after inmate’s botched execution: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/10/02/tennessee-bishops-call-on-governor-to-commute-sentence-after-inmates-botched-execution/

- [ENS] Church’s armed forces bishop suffragan weighs in on Defense Department’s religious affairs office: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/10/02/churchs-armed-forces-bishop-suffragan-weighs-in-on-defense-departments-religious-affairs-office/

- [ENS] East Tennessee bishop joins Southern faith leaders in supporting immigrants facing deportation: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/10/01/east-tennessee-bishop-joins-southern-faith-leaders-in-supporting-immigrants-facing-deportation/

- [ENS] Washington Bishop Mariann Budde announces timeline for electing successor in 2028: https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/10/01/washington-bishop-mariann-budde-announces-timeline-for-electing-successor-in-2028/

Come 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, October 4 -- St. Francis Day, the Blessing of the Animals, the final Sunday in the Season of Creation, and the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost in Ordinary Time -- for Holy Communion, children's Sunday School, and jazz hymns.

Rev. Nathan will preach, celebrate Communion, and bless pets.

Serving this Sunday:

Sunday

10:30 a.m.

Jazz Service

In-person and online

Thursday

12:30 p.m.



Midday Prayers

In-person only

Cycles of Prayer and St. PJ's Prayer List

If you would like to add or remove names from the St. PJ's prayer list, please contact our Pastoral Care Associate, Kelly Park, at pastoralcare@stpaulstjames.org.

On the St. PJ's prayer list, we pray for:

Doug Parker

Calvin Griffin

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

Rev. Carl Scovel

Karl Mini

Margaret Perry

Kyle Park

Fr. Tom

George Moore

A.J. Crosby

Joan Farrell

Sharyn Kessler

Adrienne Brady

Dawn Magliulo

Carolyn Wigley

Wendy McLeod

Cotton Burlingame

Deacon Felix Rivera

Hossna

Peter Loden

Roni Holcomb & family

Mary Ellen Price

Judy Hopkins

Trish Farrell

Jay Lechausse

Stephen Livingstone Price

Ronald Willams

Vivian

Saul

Larry Harris

Pam, Curt, & Henry

Marilyn Bergen

Sylvie E.

✠ Birthday: David Tate (10/10)

✠ Deceased: Ryan Welch, Ahmed Basic

In the Episcopal Church in Connecticut cycle of prayer for October 4, we pray for Trinity, Torrington; Christ Church, Trumbull; Trinity, Trumbull; ECCT’s Creation Care Ministry Network; ECCT’s Community Garden Ministry Network; eco-justice work in Episcopal Province 1; and all creatures great & small

In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer, we pray for Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil (the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil)

VIDEO: Last Sunday's Service and Sermon

Last week was the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, and the fourth Sunday in the Season of Creation. Rev. Nathan celebrated Communion and Kelly Park preached.



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 Empsall know at revnathan@stpaulstjames.org by next Wednesday afternoon.

For prayer-list additions or pastoral-care requests, please contact our pastoral care associate, Kelly Park, at kelly@stpaulstjames.org.

To donate to or volunteer with our independent mission and building partners at Loaves & Fishes and Sunrise Cafe, please visit their respective websites to learn more. "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me."

Please contact administrative director 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

- Purchasing grocery-store gift cards to benefit St. PJ's [Monifa will connect you with the right lay leader]

- Reserving a place in the St. PJ's columbarium or purchasing a plaque on the Memorial Wall [Monifa will connect you with the right lay leader]

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
• Pastoral Care Associate: Kelly Park, kelly@stpaulstjames.org
• Administrative Director: Monifa Atkinson, office@stpaulstjames.org
• Sexton: Sammy Rodriguez
• Children's Sunday School: Sarah Hill
• Interim Director of Music: Dylan Rowland
• 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