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.

Career Day

Posted on March 29, 2014 by smaxreisert

Recently, Waterville Junior High held “Career Day.” As co-chair of the PTO, I was asked to help get some parents to speak on various careers. I was even given a list—Health Care, Veterinary services, Finance, Human Resources, Arts & Communications, … Continue reading →

Posted in My Life as Pastor | Leave a comment

It’s Not News that Religion Isn’t Important

Posted on March 15, 2014 by smaxreisert

A recent NBC News and Wall Street Journal survey has found that one in five Americans say that religion does not play an important role in their lives—the highest percentage since the poll began asking participants about their focus on … Continue reading →

Posted in Studies, Demographics, Reality | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Becoming a Part of Maine’s Aging Population

Posted on March 3, 2014 by smaxreisert

In just a couple of days, I will turn 50. Instead of ignoring this reality or trying to find some way of moving into it quietly, I’ve decided to do the best I can to embrace this milestone moment in … Continue reading →

Posted in Maine Cautionary Tales | Tagged | 1 Comment

A Lesson from High School Sports

Posted on February 22, 2014 by smaxreisert

I spent all day last Monday, at the Maine High School Class B State Swim Meet, held at the Greason Pool at Bowdoin College. My daughter is co-captain of her small girls swim team from Waterville High School. In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | 1 Comment

Getting the Rules Right

Posted on February 15, 2014 by smaxreisert

In the fall of 2008, our family (myself, my husband, and our two children, then 11 and 9) set out on a Grand Tour of Europe. It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime kind of adventure. Our trip began in September in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Living in the Present; Loving the Past

Posted on February 8, 2014 by smaxreisert

A friend of mine passed away recently. He was an older friend, in his late eighties. He was a popular man in the Waterville area—a respected retired business owner, a generous contributor to many area nonprofits, an active presence around … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc | Leave a comment

What Makes a Church?

Posted on January 25, 2014 by smaxreisert

Probably because Old South’s Annual Meeting is this coming Sunday, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a church. At Sunday’s meeting, if I were to survey those in attendance, I would probably hear a lot of answers that … Continue reading →

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

Church and Patriots

Posted on January 18, 2014 by smaxreisert

Like other churches in Maine, and perhaps in other places too, Old South is considering a change in its governance structure. We have too many committee slots for too few people, with some people taking on multiple roles on various … Continue reading →

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Righteous Anger

Posted on January 11, 2014 by smaxreisert

A few weeks ago I went to see the film Philomena, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I finally figured out why. Philomena is based on the true story of an Irish woman who, as an unwed pregnant teenager, … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Culture, Movies, TV | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Posted on January 4, 2014 by smaxreisert

In late October of 2008, during a trip to Europe, my family and I spent a week in Rome. During our stay in “the Eternal City,” we visited a special art exhibit of the artist Giovanni Bellini. Bellini was an … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy-Days | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment