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.

When the Message Is Not Enough

Posted on May 2, 2015 by smaxreisert

When I arrived at Old South Church about a decade ago, I was fortunate to have found a church home that, though it had never had a female pastor, was well-acquainted with the leadership of women. The organist/music director was … Continue reading →

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We’re Doomed #3: No Joke

Posted on April 17, 2015 by smaxreisert

The Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Madison, Maine (about 40 miles north of Augusta) closed its doors at the end of last December. The building was then purchased and turned into event space. Last weekend, “Somerset Abbey” opened … Continue reading →

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We’re Doomed #2: The Problem No One Wants to Talk About

Posted on April 9, 2015 by smaxreisert

It’s post-Easter and perhaps not the best time to return to my take on our “doomed” problem. But, it’s something that I’m now thinking about almost all the time. In fact, I’ve lined up at least four weeks worth of … Continue reading →

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To Take Up One’s [Chocolate] Cross

Posted on April 2, 2015 by smaxreisert

I’m taking a week off from the “We’re Doomed” series in order to spend a few moments to rant a bit over Holy Week and mass consumer culture. It’s bad enough at Christmas, when the holiday feels almost completely detached … Continue reading →

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We’re Doomed, Part 1: Public vs Private

Posted on March 26, 2015 by smaxreisert

To title this week’s blog post as I have, and to suggest (accurately) that my intention is to title successive blog posts as such, is perhaps to sound as if I’ve completely caved in to despair.  But, I don’t think … Continue reading →

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Thoughts About Christians Far Away

Posted on March 19, 2015 by smaxreisert

For Lent this year at Old South, we are “Walking and Praying with Christians of the Middle East” through a study offered by Churches Together Britain and Ireland. A small group from Old South gathers for Bible Study on Tuesdays and … Continue reading →

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The Flight From Church

Posted on March 11, 2015 by smaxreisert

I was having dinner with some friends recently. Part of the conversation over our Mexican entrees involved the tale of a visit of a distant cousin, with whom one of my friends had recently connected. During the reunion of these … Continue reading →

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The Lasts

Posted on February 26, 2015 by smaxreisert

My daughter is a senior in high school. Now that she’s officially got herself into college (Vassar) and she, her father, her brother, and I know that she’ll be going away, we’ve begun the parade of “lasts”—her last home high … Continue reading →

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The Builders

Posted on February 18, 2015 by smaxreisert

This month, we at Old South are celebrating the 225th anniversary of the gathering of Congregationalists in Hallowell, Maine. As we contend this month with another very snowy Maine winter, and the piles of snow that have just about completely … Continue reading →

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In the Cold, Cold North

Posted on February 9, 2015 by smaxreisert

A few weeks ago, I came upon this humorous cartoon: I was thinking about that cartoon yesterday afternoon, while I was snowshoeing near our house in Belgrade, Maine: There I am in front of our boat house. I’m standing on … Continue reading →

Posted in Maine Cautionary Tales | Leave a comment