AN OPEN TABLE
At Pilgrim Church, there is an open seat at God’s table for you. We welcome you, no matter who you are, or what you look like, or what labels the world puts on you. We welcome you if, like us, you struggle with flaws and imperfection but have a loving spirit and strive to let the light of Jesus shine within you and then to share it with others. We dare to welcome all because God, and not any human authority, extends this gracious invitation. We believe that we are called to love for, “…if we love one another, God abides in us.” (1 John 4:12) Therefore, every member and friend of this congregation is invited to participate fully in all the sacraments, rites, privileges, and responsibilities of our shared life at Pilgrim Church, United Church of Christ. The only requirement for life at Pilgrim Church is a desire to deepen your relationship with God and neighbor.
Join Us
We are a diverse lot, from many Christian backgrounds, non-Christian backgrounds and no faith backgrounds. Located in the heart of Sherborn, we draw members and friends from Ashland, Dover, Holliston, Medfield, Millis, Natick. and other cities and towns.
We come for Christian community, to find God in relationships with neighbors and new friends. We come for lessons from the incredible life of Jesus Christ. We come for spiritual rest, time to think, pray, and center on God, for comfort in hard times, and gratitude in good times. We come to serve God, each other, and the world. We passionately believe that Christian faith matters most when put into action, when words reflect deeds. We come with questions and together seek answers to life’s most profound mysteries.
We may be the place for you and your loved ones. We have vibrant youth ministries, joyful music, lots of outreach, and small groups for everyone.
We’re not perfect. We trust in God’s gentle grace and unconditional love. We seek meaning for the life God has gifted us.
Stay awhile. Get to know us better. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
Peace,
Pastor John
Our Beliefs
We engage heart and mind. We affirm that Christians do not have to always agree to live in communion. We embrace a variety of faith expressions. In covenant together we explore what it means to be a Christian. We invite all spiritual seekers to join us. Our basic beliefs are rooted in the historic Christian tradition, and include:
Jesus Christ was God in the flesh and appeared in human history to teach us about God’s hope and love for the world.
The Bible is a repository of human witness to the awesome power of God. It is the responsibility of each of us to engage and interpret scripture for our lives, the life of the church and the life of the world.
“God is still speaking.”
God’s truth is still breaking forth.
God wants the world to be a better place. It’s our job as active Christians to be vehicles for God’s peace, justice and love.
Church is the community to gather together in worship and fellowship: to support one another, learn about Jesus and apply the lessons of his one life to our whole lives.
We recognize two sacraments: baptism, which affirms a personal relationship with God and connection to the Church; and communion, where we remember Jesus in breaking bread and drinking from the cup.
God calls us into a welcoming community of believers and seekers; young and old, new and old members, families and individuals, gay and straight. No matter who or where you are, you are welcome here.
We belong to the United Church of Christ (UCC), founded in 1957 from different Christian traditions, and now a community of 1.2 million in 5,600 congregations across the US.
Accessibility
Our goal is to be fully accessible.
FOR PERSONS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE: We have three handicapped parking spaces in front of the church and a ramp to the front door. There is an elevator to assist people to the sanctuary (go into Fellowship Hall through the right door after you enter the building). There is a ramp from the door near the choir in the sanctuary that provides access to the second floor.
HEARING AND SIGHT ASSISTANCE: Hearing assistance earphones and large-print bulletins are available for Sunday worship. An usher will be happy to help you with them upon request. We are exploring ways to achieve our goal to become truly welcoming to all. If you or your children have needs that we should be aware of, please call the church office at 508-655-1667.
Our History
In 1685, the First Parish in Sherborn was founded with the first minister Reverend Daniel Gookin. In the 1820’s there were disputes among members about the nature of God—was God Trinitarian (one in three—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) or Unitarian (one God)? The argument split the church into two parishes, First Parish Unitarian, and “The Sherborn Evangelical Society” (Trinitarian) formed in 1830. The frame for what we now call Pilgrim Church, was raised on July 8, 1830 and we worship in the original meeting house. In 1941 the two churches combined into one worship community for lack of members and finances. In 1961 the church split over doctrinal issues again.
Pilgrim Church has been blessed with powerful and faithful ministers. Two of our most influential shepherds were Reverend Edmund Dowse and Reverend Dr. Kenneth Powell. Reverend Dowse began in 1838 and served for sixty-seven years, reputedly the longest ministry in the US. He also served more than 50 years as Chairman of the local School Committee, and was instrumental in the railroad routing through Sherborn. Rev. Dowse was also a Massachusetts State Senator for two years and served as Chaplain of the Senate for twenty-five years. His portrait hangs at the rear of the sanctuary over the chair in which he sat in the Massachusetts Senate.
In 1979, Pilgrim Church called Reverend Ken Powell to be its new Pastor. Rev. Powell, a beloved Pastor to Pilgrim Church and the wider Sherborn community served Pilgrim Church for more than twenty years. His ministry was marked by a strengthening of the spiritual community and expansion in our Christian Education and Youth Ministry programs. Ken succumbed to cancer in the fall of 2007.
In May of 2007 Pilgrim Church called the Reverend John F. Hudson to be its new Pastor. Reverend Hudson is a Massachusetts native, has served UCC churches throughout New England, and is a newspaper columnist for several local papers. His ministry has been marked by the church’s renewed commitment to social outreach and justice, mission giving and a re-affirmation of our ministry to children and young people.
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