Author Archives: smaxreisert

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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.

The Neighborhood that Wasn’t Allowed in My House

Posted on December 3, 2019 by smaxreisert

We are in the throes of a renewed consideration, examination and all-around reminiscence of (and perhaps yearning for) Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, the children’s show that ran on PBS from 1968 to 2001. Last year, there was a documentary on the … Continue reading →

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This Writing Life 3: Creating Community

Posted on November 20, 2019 by smaxreisert

At first I wasn’t sure how they all seemed to know who I was.  I was greeted by name by more than one person.  One reached out a hand, “Susan, it’s nice to meet you,” before I uttered much more … Continue reading →

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Judging the View

Posted on November 6, 2019 by smaxreisert

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but … Continue reading →

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Worship Spaces

Posted on October 24, 2019 by smaxreisert

One of the most difficult lines of conversation in these days at Old South is connected to our sanctuary. The sanctuary exists in a building separate from the building that contains the offices, kitchen, classrooms, etc. The sanctuary building is … Continue reading →

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Wondering About Words

Posted on October 4, 2019 by smaxreisert

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Venice, Italy with my daughter.  She’s living in Venice for a couple of months and interning at one of the museums.  I went with her to help her get settled and to … Continue reading →

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A Whole New Awareness of the Challenges of Recognition

Posted on September 16, 2019 by smaxreisert

Many of the Gospel resurrection accounts include a failure of recognition.  Even some of Jesus’ closest friends do not recognize the Risen Christ at first.  Mary mistook him for the gardener, according to John, until he spoke her name.  In … Continue reading →

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Lessons I Should Have Learned in Divinity School: Leadership in the Midst of Sunset

Posted on August 30, 2019 by smaxreisert

Thirty years ago (it’s hard for me to believe), I started divinity school.  On my three-year journey to a Master of Divinity degree, I took a great range of church-related/ministry-related courses—theology; ethics; Hebrew Scriptures; New Testament; Greek; church history; pastoral … Continue reading →

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Living in the Midst of Dying

Posted on August 15, 2019 by smaxreisert

It’s a hard time to be a traditional Mainline church. It feels harder still to be a traditional church in a part of the world that often feels not only indifferent to organized Christianity, but sometimes even hostile. Such is … Continue reading →

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Mr. Trump, Evangelical Christians, and the Central Park 5

Posted on July 31, 2019 by smaxreisert

14With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:“You will indeed listen, but never understand,   and you will indeed look, but never perceive. 15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,   and their ears are hard of hearing,     and they have shut their eyes;     so … Continue reading →

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A Few Thoughts on Buildings and Churches

Posted on July 13, 2019 by smaxreisert

During my recent vacation, my husband and I found ourselves with a few unexpected hours in Aberdeen, Scotland. While wandering around the city, we noticed a few church buildings (not really a surprise; we tend to notice church buildings everywhere … Continue reading →

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