The Church of the Pilgrimage

"a beacon for good in the world"

October 1, 2026

From the Pastor...

Friends,

The Ten Commandments have been part of shaping Hebraic and Christian communities for millennia, and for good reason. The Ten Commandments offered a moral framework for communities of faith in a covenantal relationship with Yahweh, the Giver of the Commandments. As the Christian faith spread across the European continent, Christians brought the Ten Commandments along.

Over the centuries, the “second table,” which covers duties to neighbor (prohibitions against murder, theft, false witness), was absorbed into what came to known as the common law. Sir William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England stated that human law rests on natural and revealed (divine) law. When Europeans arrived on the shores of North America, they brought with them the Ten Commandments and Common Law. The colonial codes of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth, New Haven, and Connecticut explicitly cited Mosaic law, including some of the Ten Commandments.

These examples could lead one to believe that the U.S. Constitution is explicitly rooted in the Ten Commandments. The truth is more complicated. While it is true that the framers of the U.S. Constitution relied on Common Law to shape the Constitution and many of the framers were practicing Christians, the document makes no mention of the Ten Commandments. Furthermore, the “first table,” which covers duties to God (no other gods, no idols, no taking the Name in vain, keeping the Sabbath), finds no place in the Constitution. In fact, the framers moved the other way: Article VI bans religious tests for federal office, and the First Amendment bars an establishment of religion.

The incorporation of the “second table” into secular laws and the absence of “first table” in secular laws are the result of decoupling the Ten Commandments from their Giver, Yahweh. I believe the decoupling was intentional. While the framers could not have imagined the pluralistic society the U.S. has become by 2026, they understood the dangers posed by government-sanctioned religion.

Peace,

Rev. Tim

Food Drive

The missions team is sponsoring a food/goods drive on Sunday October 4. Typical items needed:

Canned vegetables, canned chicken or tuna, kidney beans, dried red or black beans, instant mashed potatoes,

bagged potatoes, oranges, rice, soups, stews, pasta any snacks/crackers/cookies, grape or strawberry (or other) jelly, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, dish soap, laundry detergent, deodorant, baby food, diapers (particularly newborn), wipes.

All non-perishable foods are welcome. Thanks so much for your support.

Sunday Scripture Readings

Matthew 21:33-46

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-10, 12-20

Bible Study

Bible study continues with Rev. Tim next week on

Tuesday, October 6^that 10:30am & 5:30pm.

The passage for this coming Tuesday is:

Matthew 22:15-22

Music Notes

The prelude is an arrangement of Let Us Break Bread Together by Charles Callahan (b.1951). A resident of Vermont, Callahan is a noted composer, organist and teacher. He is also a sought-after historian and consultant of organ history and design. This is a beautiful composition, well-suited to our instrument.

The postlude is a Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). A fugue is a compositional technique where multiple voices are used in harmony to develop a theme subject. The theme will appear multiple times at different pitches with other voices harmonizing and sometimes developing the theme subject. Bach is the undisputed master of this form.

Enjoy!

--Michael Eaton

Welcome to the Church Henry!!

Pizza and Game Night

Friday October 2^nd

5:30 – 7:30

Bring a Friend and a Favorite Game

Would You Like To Help?

Our Need is for Candy to Pass Out

During Halloween on Main Street

Bring to Coffee Hours During October

and

If You Would Like to Dress Up to Help Host

On Friday, October 30^th - 3 to 5

That Would be Wonderful Too

Just let CE Know

Special Church Meeting

after the worship service on Sunday October 4, 2026

The Church Council last night voted to call the meeting for the purpose of an informational presentation by the Trustee Ministry Team to note the need for repairs on the front roofs, steeple roofs, and steeple dome of the church to deal with the leaks that have disfigured the interior walls of the sanctuary and narthex.

The Church Council voted to support the solution proposed by the Trustees at last night’s meeting. The problem and proposed solution will be presented and be open for discussion at the meeting.

Proposed Repairs in 2027

NEW ADULT EDUCATION OFFERING

ALL ABOUT OUR DENOMINATION:

THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

We are blessed to belong to a wonderful denomination, The United Church of Christ. There is so much to celebrate and learn! Like The Church of the Pilgrimage, the UCC has a rich history which can be traced all the way back to the Pilgrims. The UCC supports member church autonomy and personal freedom of conscience making it different from many other religious organizations. While the UCC does not have a “Creed” which members must follow, it does have specific beliefs and principles which make it a progressive, always evolving, Protestant denomination.

This 3-part program, offered by Rev. Dr. Rosemary MacKay and former UCC rep, Val Baumann, will explore the rich history of the UCC; what it means to be a UCC member church ; and its Core Beliefs, such as “God is still Speaking…”

The dates are Friday, October 2nd; Thursday, October 8th and Friday, October 16th. All classes will run from 10:30am-noon in the Marks Conference Room. Sign up at coffee hour or contact Rev Rosemary or Val. (Note— if there is interest in offering this program in the evening, we will consider offering an evening class in the Spring.) Come learn and share your thoughts about our very dynamic denomination.

The United Church of Christ: In Essentials—Unity; In Nonessentials—Diversity; In All Things—Charity.

Christian Education Asks,

1 Sunday to Help at the Pray-ground

1 Sunday to Be 2^nd Adult during Sunday School

Let One of Us Know If You Can Help

Nancy Medeiros, Jaimie Costa, Kathy Marks

Thanks

With our deepest gratitude, George and Pat Svajian would like to whole-heartedly express our sincere thanks to the members of the congregation here at The Church of the Pilgrimage.

We so appreciated your prayers, cards, phone calls and visits expressing your concern and care for George and the rest of the family.

We have marveled at the outpouring of love and concern, which has certainly contributed to George's positive progress! We will forever remember the support you all provided.

Thank you, thank you!

Social Action Committee

At a recent meeting of the Social Action Committee, Lori Fitzpatrick, of Plymouth’s Together We Can (TWC), spoke of the need for food deliveries to several local immigrant families. Committee members have agreed to help in this regard.

Lori highlighted a need for baby furniture and supplies, as well as baby boy clothing (new and gently used). Two boys, ages 5 and 7, need clothing (sizes 7 and 8), as well as shoes (sizes 12 and 1). Diapers for little ones are also needed and, along with the clothing mentioned, can be placed in the basket at the base of the stairway leading to the sanctuary. Uber, Walmart, and Target gift cards can be donated via committee members.

Our committee meets on the second Sunday of the month, after worship. Feel free to join us!

Southern New England Conference

United Church of Christ

Last weekend the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ held its Annual Meeting in Worcester, MA. Click the link below to read a re-cap of the meeting along with information about other activities at the Annual Meeting.

SNEUCC Annual Meeting

For the the weeks to come we will share activities from Creation Justice Ministries that will educate and equip Christians to protect, restore, and rightly share God's creation.

Write a Prayer for Creation

Practice writing a prayer of gratitude, protection, or lament for creation. This could be a prayer about environmental injustice or climate change. It could be a gratitude prayer for a specific tree. It may help to write in an outdoor setting. Be creative.

Parking for Newcomers

A reminder that on Sundays most of us park on School St., Main St. Extension (3 handicap), Summer St. (4 hours), and in the Market St. and Middle St. lots. Paid parking runs April 1 - November 30. Park Plymouth has informally agreed to not start ticketing vehicles near the church until noon on Sundays.

One can get parking permits from Park Plymouth at 4 North Street; ph.508.747.5929;

www.parkplymouth.com.

If you have questions, please speak with Mike Eaton.