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.

What Should Christmas Feel Like?

Posted on December 24, 2015 by smaxreisert

Maine is experiencing one of its warmest Decembers ever, perhaps the warmest ever. When we gather for our annual Old South Christmas Eve service at 7:00, the temperature will be hovering around 50. For this part of the world at … Continue reading →

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Now Is the Season of My Discontent

Posted on December 17, 2015 by smaxreisert

There’s a lot I love about this season, about Advent and Christmas, in the preparation, and waiting, and some of the most interesting and provocative dimensions of faith and the biblical narrative. It’s not easy being a clergyperson at this … Continue reading →

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What Would Mary Want?

Posted on December 11, 2015 by smaxreisert

Confession: On Sunday afternoons, when I finally have a chance to look through the Sunday New York Times, the first place I go is the “Style” section. It’s not that I’m into style, or fashion. I go there for the … Continue reading →

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The Capacity for Peace

Posted on December 2, 2015 by smaxreisert

We—my husband, children and I—spent Thanksgiving in New York City, with my husband’s family. This is the second time we converged on the big city for the holiday weekend. It’s a convenient (and fun) gathering spot for the family, coming … Continue reading →

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What’s the Appeal of Inerrancy?

Posted on November 19, 2015 by smaxreisert

Outreach Magazine recently published a list of the “Fastest Growing Churches: 2015.” A link to the list can be found here:  http://www.outreachmagazine.com/outreach-100-fastest-growing-churches-2015.html The list intrigued me, so I began taking a look at these fast growing churches. I didn’t have … Continue reading →

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This Writing Life

Posted on November 8, 2015 by smaxreisert

I spent last week at a clergy writing workshop, along with eleven other participants and a leader. It was an amazing gift to spend considerable time away from the usual routine of work and family and to engage in all … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc, My Life as Pastor | 1 Comment

Do I Hear the Fat Lady Singing?

Posted on November 2, 2015 by smaxreisert

In my last post, I wrote about a sermon that I wished had been preached at the recent Maine Conference United Church of Christ Annual Meeting—but was not. The scripture was Sarah laughing at the prospect of having a child … Continue reading →

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New Life In the Midst of Old People?

Posted on October 23, 2015 by smaxreisert

Attend a large gathering of the Maine United Church of Christ, like the Conference Annual Meeting, and one sees a lot of gray hair. In addition, there are quite a few heads with little or no hair at all, as … Continue reading →

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You Can’t Control Your Own Resurrection

Posted on October 13, 2015 by smaxreisert

Gaze upon the current reading lists of pastors of old, struggling mainline churches, and you are likely to find books about church vitality, church growth, and the changing outlook and circumstances of the Christian Church in the twenty-first century. These … Continue reading →

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The Unexpected Consequences of New Life

Posted on October 3, 2015 by smaxreisert

I spend a fair amount of my time as a pastor thinking about the significant challenges of being church in the middle of Maine in the 21st century, while also considering what it means to lead a local church in … Continue reading →

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