Church life-Boston area

I've just been elected a Deacon!  Maybe that doesn't sound like much but in my new UCC congregation with no Elders it is the Deacons who look after the spiritual welfare of the congregation.  Typical to New England Congregationalism we had a long annual meeting in January.  We are new members actually...www.2ndchurch.org 

After moving from Missouri to a plus-55 apartment in Watertown, MA, near to son in Cambridge, we visited many churches...no DoC in this area and no real choice in our town so we ventured to neighboring Cambridge, Belmont, Newton.  Now we are feeling quite at home.  What attracted us...mostly friendliness, music, liturgy.  Can't always put your finger on it.

The Boston area is so multicultural, goodly number of UU, considerable Jewish, strong Catholic presence, and many other Latino and other groups, e.g., down the street several Armenian churches.  I don't think this is as "religious" an area as the Middle West in some ways.  Come June-August lots of people retreat to the Cape or Maine for the summer...in a cottage with commuting to work from there rather than "here."  So attendance is really down, and Second Church like most has an informal worship perhaps in a parlor or combining with another congregation.  No choir, minister likely away, no program.  It is true many churches have been closing.  We are among the "faithful few" I sometimes feel.  Sunday brunch is popular with no church affiliation apparent. 

Yet in other ways there is a devotion to principle and an intelligent faith.  We don't worry about fundamentalists much, yes we may well be liberals.  We are active in the area with so many cultural events to enjoy.   I'm on the Watertown Peace and Justice task force.  We make the most of our move hoping to enjoy the years left to us in our 80s. 

Bill Longman