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.

We Must Sing a New Song

Posted on January 29, 2015 by smaxreisert

The Maine Conference United Church of Christ is the midst of implementing a new governance and staffing structure. I recently attended a meeting of the new Mission Council, which is intended to serve as the leadership council of and for … Continue reading →

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What Are We Worshiping? Part Two

Posted on January 22, 2015 by smaxreisert

Good News to share this week. Last week, I wrote about my concerns that good church folk may be worshiping their building more than their Savior. At Old South this winter, we are worshiping in our parish house, located across … Continue reading →

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What Are We Worshiping?

Posted on January 14, 2015 by smaxreisert

A Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) not too far from where I live and work has closed. Its last worship service was held at the end of December. Everyone worried that the large, stately building in the middle of … Continue reading →

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Snow Day

Posted on January 4, 2015 by smaxreisert

In the years I’ve been at Old South, we’ve only had a handful of “snow days,” days when the weather is bad enough to cancel worship. We live in Maine, where winter weather can be a challenge. But, it takes … Continue reading →

Posted in Maine Cautionary Tales | Leave a comment

The Problem with Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2014 by smaxreisert

I have certain mixed feelings about Christmas. As a clergyperson, I find the holiday to be especially fraught. I not only have the usual craziness of the season—gifts to purchase for family and friends, holiday gatherings to attend and to … Continue reading →

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The Problem with Pageants

Posted on December 13, 2014 by smaxreisert

I want to like them. I want to like the annual Christmas Pageant. Really, I do. But, every year when this tradition comes along, I can’t help but cringe—at least a little. It’s not that everything goes horribly wrong, like … Continue reading →

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Advent Lessons from the Pregnant Women

Posted on December 3, 2014 by smaxreisert

Although it’s a crazy, busy time of year, I love Advent. I love it for all of its wondrous, yet not quite realized, images of anticipation, waiting, pregnancy and birth. Christianity has never fully embraced these concepts, probably because so … Continue reading →

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A Few Thoughts on Ferguson

Posted on November 26, 2014 by smaxreisert

As I watched the “Breaking News” Monday night, and listened to the long introduction that offered increasingly obvious clues that the grand jury had voted not to indict the white police officer, Darren Wilson, in the shooting death of the … Continue reading →

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Letting Go of the Olive in Us

Posted on November 22, 2014 by smaxreisert

I reluctantly watched the HBO miniseries, Olive Kitteridge. The book on which the series is based is one of my favorite books. I have such a distinct image of Olive in my head, I didn’t know if I could deal … Continue reading →

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What Does It Mean to Call a Church a Success?

Posted on November 18, 2014 by smaxreisert

In the Maine Conference United Church of Christ, I serve not only a local church, but I’ve also served at the regional and state levels. Over the years, I’ve been involved in and have witnessed some very interesting, and sometimes … Continue reading →

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