BOSTON -- A Pembroke church canceled plans to show the Super Bowl on a large-screen TV to avoid copyright violations that could be lodged by the National Football League.

The North River Community Church was scheduled to show the New England Patriots-Giants game on Sunday, but the Rev. Paul Atwater canceled the event after he checked the NFL's policies and reports of churches that were threatened with legal action.

Atwater said that since the event would be held in a large venue with a screen larger than 55 inches, it would not comply with NFL rules.

"When we checked into it and found out what the NFL's stipulations were for what you can do and what you can't do, we realized we needed to pull the plug on that," Atwater said.

The church is now advising parishioners to watch the game with friends and family in their homes. Church members were encouraged to wear Patriots jerseys and other team gear to the morning Sunday services.

"We're trying to tell people in a whole lot of realms to do the right thing so we have to do the right thing as well," Atwater said.

The NFL said it is following a copyright law that indicates showing the Super Bowl telecast is allowed outside a private home if the screen is less than 55 inches in diameter and the area is not greater than 2,000 square feet.