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.

The Ugly Reality of Sexism

Posted on September 26, 2016 by smaxreisert

There’s something about presidential campaigns—no matter who’s running—that causes me to want to stick my head in the sand, or to go to a faraway place (which I have done—in 2004 and 2008), just so I don’t have to witness … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc | 1 Comment

Signs of New Life in the Midst of Unwelcome Growth

Posted on September 15, 2016 by smaxreisert

There’s something growing at Old South. Something terrible, horrible, unspeakable. Something that we don’t need or want. It’s like a cold slap in the face, as the community struggles to figure out whether or not it can grow the congregation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, On the Hopeful Side | Leave a comment

The Christian and Days of National Tragedy

Posted on September 8, 2016 by smaxreisert

When my daughter was very young, it was not uncommon for older adults, in places like church, to engage in a little conversation with her. These adults asked questions that are often asked of small children— about how old she … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc | Tagged Pearl Harbor Day, September 11 | Leave a comment

Worship in Paris

Posted on August 30, 2016 by smaxreisert

This year’s family vacation took us to France. The first week was spent with extended family in eastern France, along parts of the Saone and the Rhone rivers. Then, my husband, children and I spent a few days in Paris … Continue reading →

Posted in Worship | Tagged The American Church in Paris | Leave a comment

When the Small Church Shines

Posted on August 11, 2016 by smaxreisert

[Note: I’ll be on vacation for the next couple of weeks and will take a brief break from this blog.] For the small church, it’s easy to get caught up in worries. Parishioners are fretful about the future, about our … Continue reading →

Posted in Worship | Leave a comment

When the Bible Gets in the Way

Posted on August 9, 2016 by smaxreisert

During a recent trip to the grocery store, I bumped into a former parishioner from a former church. I had not seen the man in many years, but I had heard long ago that he, along with his family, had … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Denominations/Christians | Leave a comment

The Significance of Saying Good-bye

Posted on August 1, 2016 by smaxreisert

At Old South, we seem to say good-bye a lot. Occasionally, it’s in the form of a funeral. But, more often, it’s because a person (or a couple or a family) is moving. Most people are nice enough to inform … Continue reading →

Posted in My Life as Pastor | Leave a comment

The Dismay of Convention Season—2016

Posted on July 23, 2016 by smaxreisert

Perhaps because I am part of a fairly well-known (locally) dual political party couple, I occasionally receive the odd, whispered confession. Usually it is from a woman, who wants (or needs?) to share with someone that she’s not a Republican, … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc | Leave a comment

Lessons on Race at Divinity Hall

Posted on July 13, 2016 by smaxreisert

“First of all,” he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view […] … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc | Tagged Divinity Hall, Harvard Divinity School, Race in America | Leave a comment

Weddings and Church Buildings

Posted on July 7, 2016 by smaxreisert

Those who know me well know that I’m not a big fan of weddings, especially when I’m the one presiding over the event. I find that there’s usually too much emphasis on the “show,” and not so much on the … Continue reading →