I'll admit it. I don't have much church experience (I was raised by Buddhists and Jews)…read more But I've seen a lot of churches on TV and in film (mostly mob movies), so I had a good idea what I was getting into when I showed up here on Christmas Eve. It was quite confusing though when the pastor didn't want to hear about the shoplifting I'd done as a teenager, the premarital sex,* the rampant gluttony I exhibit on a daily basis, etc. He kept saying odd things like, "This isn't that kind of church," and, "That's disgusting," and, "Stop following me!" Anyway, it turns out this isn't that kind of church. I guess Catholics are the ones with the confessions, and this is a united church of the American Baptist Churches USA and United Church of Christ, the largest Protestant denomination in Massachusetts. I'm not exactly sure what that means, worship-wise, in comparison to other churches, but from what I can tell from a Christmas Eve visit, First Churches is a lovely place. It's huge, with a pretty sweet organ, and everyone is extremely nice and welcoming even if you're clearly a horribly underdressed Buddhist Jew. Their church mission statement (motto?) is also full of things I've got to agree with, like 'protect the environment, forgive often, reject racism,' etc. I especially have to agree with "enjoy this life." That's important, and wasn't always a tenet of Christianity, if I've read history correctly. I don't know if every service is the same, but on Christmas Eve, it's less being berated re: fire and brimstone, and more like a nice concert that you participate in. There are plenty of instruments (the aforementioned organ, some woodwinds, even a bell concert like the one Winston got into on New Girl), lots of singing, and it's generally very musical. The grand finale is when everyone lines up in a huge circle, lights candles, and sings Silent Night, which apparently has way more words than I originally thought. It was very pleasant, and not a single person told me I was going to hell. By the way, you should probably bring small cash bills, because APPARENTLY it's not considered proper etiquette to throw a $20 in the collection plate and then root around for change. You're welcome. ____________ *This would've been an exaggeration, anyway. I'm still holding out hope that I'll one day engage in post-marital sex.

This church has become my spiritual home. Why? Its quiet setting, it's traditional look. Sure. But,…read moremore importantly, its wise and funny congregation. Its thought-provoking and contemporary sermons. Its beautiful and wide-ranging music. And a post-service coffee hour at which you'll want to stay all afternoon.