The Church of the Pilgrimage

"a beacon for good in the world"

October 29, 2026

From the Pastor...

Friends,

The Apostle Paul opens chapter 5 of his letter to the Galatians with a powerful statement: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” The slavery Paul is speaking of is not a relation between master and slave but being captivity to old religious requirements as part of one’s faith in God through Jesus. Paul continues in verse 13, by reminding the Galatians that freedom in Jesus is not an opportunity for self-indulgence, but rather a responsibility “to love your neighbor as yourself.”

I don’t want us to love our neighbors simply because it is a responsibility. I want us to love our neighbors because, as the Apostle Paul says, loving your neighbor as yourself is the summation of the whole law. Whenever we love another person, we are embodying the entirety of scripture.

I do realize this is easier said than done, especially today when we feel disconnected from our neighbors. There was a time when people brought baked goods to the new person/family that moved into the neighborhood. There was a time when neighbors held block parties in the summer.

When we find it hard to love, or even simply know, those living next door, it becomes much more difficult to love the person a block away, a mile away, across the country, or on the other side of the planet. Let’s reclaim our freedom in Jesus so that we can love our neighbors as ourselves.

Peace,

Rev. Tim

Liturgical Dance

Cick the link below to view the recording of Linn Peterson's Liturgical Dance accompanied by the choral anthem

"Wings of the Morning"

Wings of the Morning

Food Drive

The Missions Team will be sponsoring a Food Drive on Sunday, November 15th.

Details of request items will be shared in The Beacon next week.

Sunday Scripture Readings

Leviticus 25:8-10

Galatians 5:1, 13-14

Bible Study

Bible study continues with Rev. Tim next week on

Tuesday, November 3^rdat 10:30am.

The passages for this coming Tuesday are:

Isaiah 43:16-19

2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Music Notes

The prelude for today’s service is a set of variations on the tune Sine Nomine by Denis Bédard (b. 1950). Bédard retired recently after twenty years as organist and director of music at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia. Sine Nomine is the tune name for the popular hymn For All the Saints (#486 in our hymnal) These variations provide an interesting new take on an old familiar tune.

The postlude, Fanfare, was commissioned for the dedication of an organ in London in 1987. The composer, William Mathias (1934-1992) of Wales was sought after for choral and organ music. His most famous work, Let the People Praise Thee, O God was commissioned for the royal wedding in 1981. Fanfare is an exuberant composition that suits our organ well.

Enjoy!

--Michael Eaton

Plymouth Taskforce to

End Homelessness

The YellowHouse Blues Band will bring its high-energy blend of blues, rock, soul and Motown to Plymouth on Saturday, November 14, 2026, for a special benefit concert supporting the Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness.

The concert will be held at The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25½ Court Street, Plymouth. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., with music beginning at 8:00 p.m.

The YellowHouse Blues Band has once again partnered with the Spire Center for Performing Arts to raise money for the Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness, whose mission is to end homelessness in the Plymouth, MA area.

Tickets are $49 and are available through Etix, or can be found at: https://spirecenter.org/event/plymouth-taskforce-to-end-homelessness-fundraiser-ft-the-yellowhouse-blues-band/

Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness Benefit Concert

Featuring: YellowHouse Blues Band

Saturday, November 14, 2026

Doors: 7:00 p.m. | Show: 8:00 p.m.

The Spire Center for Performing Arts

25½ Court Street, Plymouth, MA

Tickets: $49

From Stewardship

Legacy of 'Amore'

As we begin this legacy dream back in time, it encompasses over four (400) hundred years of history.

1620 - The pilgrims sailed to Plimoth Patuxet, landing on Plymouth Rock.
1621 - Celebrated the 1st Thanksgiving with the Wampanoags
1637 - The 1st Meetinghouse was erected on the north side of Town Square - where we stand now.
1802 - The Meetinghouse was incorporated and became known as the 3rd Congregational Church of Plymouth.
1840- The Meetinghouse was modified, dedicated and renamed the Third Church of Christ of Plymouth.
1855 - The church became illuminated by gas lights on both sides of the pulpit and the ceiling chandelier in the sanctuary.
1870 - Our name was changed to The Church of the Pilgrimage.
1871 - Women members were granted the right to vote on church matters.
1898 - The belfry was blown off the church and it wasn't until 1901 that our present tower was rebuilt.
1906 - Electricity installed in the church.
1911 - Colored glass windows in the sanctuary were replaced by cathedral glass.
1957 - The church affiliated with the United Church of Christ.
1967 - The Church House (JR Center) was built on the south side of Town Square and women were voted to serve as deacons.
1988 - Our organ was purchased from the Baptist Temple in Fall River, MA.
2010 - The Congregation voted to become open and affirming.
2012 - Rev. Dr. Helen Nablo became the first woman called to serve as senior pastor.
2020 - Due to Covid19 an electronic worship platform was introduced to supplement in person worship.
2022/2023 A capital campaign allowed renovations and the installation of an Otis elevator in the church.

Question today - How will you help to contribute to our ongoing legacy?

Your Faithful Stewards,

Anthony Cotta, Richard Durfee, Walter Kreil, Peggy Lahey and Sarah Plaster

Stewardship Ministry Team

Thank You

Dear friends,

Thank you so much for thinking of me and keeping me in your prayers. It was so thoughtful of you all and I am greatly touched. I'm doing extremely well. God does wondrous things, doesn't He. I'm hoping to be in church Sunday and see you all.

Fondly,

Pay Mudgett

Overnights of Hospitality

Starting Sunday, November 29^th. The Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness, in collaboration with the Fr. Bill’s and Mainspring (FBMS) organization, will offer winter emergency shelter to 20-25 single individuals through Saturday, April 3rd. We can’t continue this important ministry without your help.

We need folks to serve as Shelter Volunteers and Meal Providers. Shelter Volunteers commit to give one evening of their time from 4:45 PM to approximately 7:30 PM. The Shelter Volunteers provide support to the FBMS staff. Meal Providers prepare meals at home to serve at the shelter. Meal Providers can sign up as a team with other friends to share the experience and the cost.

By volunteering we show our unhoused neighbors that they are not forgotten. We who have volunteered in the past have been touched by the appreciation shown by many of the guests. It has been a very rewarding experience!

The shelter rotates weekly among three congregations beginning Sunday, November 29th through Saturday, April 3rd - Christ Church, First Baptist Church and St Mary’s and St Joseph Collaborative at St Mary’s Parish Center, using the fellowship halls. Orientation is provided.

To sign up as a Shelter Volunteer or Meal Provider, go to https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/k4w5gd. Slots for Meal Provider tend to fill up quickly.

To review the Shelter Volunteer and Meal Provider guidelines, go to https://www.plymouth-taskforce-homeless.org .

The Site Schedule is also on the website.

Questions? Call Connie Melahoures, President of the Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness at 508.367.0516 or email conmel@aol.com.

Taskforce Fundraiser

The YellowHouse Blues Band will be doing a benefit concert for the Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness on Saturday, November 14^th, beginning with a silent auction and with the show starting at 8 PM at the Spire Center. Tickets are $49 per person and maybe purchased at https://spirecenter.org/event/plymouth-taskforce-to-end-homelessness-fundraiser-ft-the-yellowhouse-blues-band/

Daylight Savings Time ends on November 1st.

Do not forget to turn your clocks back on Saturday night!

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.

Halloween

Challenge your kids or adult guests to create a costume solely out of recycled items. Costumes can be eco-themed too (animals, bugs, recycle-monsters, native plant species, eco-heros)!

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.