Author Archives: smaxreisert

About smaxreisert

I'm a United Church of Christ pastor serving the small, faithful Old South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Hallowell, Maine. I was ordained in Massachusetts in 1995, moved to Maine in 1997 and have served the Hallowell church since 2005.

Among the Exclamation Points

Posted on April 10, 2021 by smaxreisert

Any normal Easter Sunday usually involves a fair number of exclamation points:  He is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!  Etc. As I prepared for Easter Sunday worship this year, it felt like the exclamation point had run amok, taking … Continue reading →

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As Holy Week Begins 2021

Posted on March 29, 2021 by smaxreisert

I have unexpectedly mixed feelings as we embark on this year’s Holy Week.  Holy Week is usually a week that I look forward to.  It’s a time to think deeply about important theological issues, and a time when there are … Continue reading →

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The Covid Year

Posted on March 13, 2021 by smaxreisert

Over the last few days, lots of people, news outlets and other organizations have been spending time in reflection mode.  It’s been a year of dealing with Covid.  A whole year. Where were you when you heard the news that … Continue reading →

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Please Don’t Try to Curate My Faith Experience

Posted on February 27, 2021 by smaxreisert

The word “curate” (and its relatives) seems to be everywhere.   Playlists are “curated,” as are skin care products, vacations, restaurant menus, and just about everything else.  For those of us who’ve been around for a while, “curate” (and its relatives) … Continue reading →

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Bringing Thankfulness for Today into Tomorrow

Posted on February 11, 2021 by smaxreisert

Old South held its first ever virtual annual meeting this past Sunday.  It was a nice, neat and short meeting.  As with any normal annual meeting, we voted on a slate of officers and a budget for the coming year.  … Continue reading →

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Diverging Prayers

Posted on January 28, 2021 by smaxreisert

The lead up to the Inauguration made me edgy and unsettled.  After what had happened on January 6, I found myself wondering quite a lot about what might transpire as we approached the big day when Joe Biden and Kamala … Continue reading →

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Let There Be Light. Please, Let There Be Light.

Posted on January 7, 2021 by smaxreisert

Living, as I do, in a nice house with large windows that offer a considerable view onto a vast open section of Great Pond (one of the Belgrade Lakes in central Maine), I have a familiar relationship with light.  Now … Continue reading →

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Reflections on Christmas in a Strange, Strange Year

Posted on December 23, 2020 by smaxreisert

In the midst of pandemic, a divided country, and the prospect of a Patriots-less NFL playoff season, it’s hard to know how to think about Christmas.  On the one hand, keeping things as close to normal is appealing.  Church gatherings … Continue reading →

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Days of Our Nine Lives

Posted on December 16, 2020 by smaxreisert

At Old South, Advent season is also budget season.  Budget season coincides with preparation for our annual meeting that is held every year at the end of January.  On many occasions over the course of my long tenure at Old … Continue reading →

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If a Church Falls in a Small City, Does Anyone Care?

Posted on November 24, 2020 by smaxreisert

Hallowell, Maine is a very small city in the middle of the state, just south of the capital, Augusta.  The mighty Kennebec River serves as the boundary on the eastern edge of the city that is home to about 2500 … Continue reading →

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