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.

The Pope and Memories of the Vatican

Posted on March 2, 2013 by smaxreisert

For the purposes of this blog, I was thinking that I should just ignore the resignation of the Pope. The Pope isn’t an authority figure for me, although he is for some in my family, and I can’t say I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Other Denominations/Christians | Leave a comment

How Is The Church Like a Man With a Singing Frog?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by smaxreisert

Remember Michigan J. Frog? He was the animated singing frog from a Looney Tunes cartoon. In the cartoon, Michigan J. Frog is discovered by a hapless man during the destruction of a building. In the cornerstone of the almost destroyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Culture, Movies, TV | 1 Comment

Reclaiming Old Language

Posted on February 16, 2013 by smaxreisert

During a recent clergy meeting, I asked a question about how other clergy handle questions from parishioners that convey either a lack of understanding of a sermon, or even worse than that, when a parishioner takes the complete opposite of … Continue reading →

Posted in My Life as Pastor | Leave a comment

(Almost) Everything I Need to Know About the Body of Christ I Learned at a YMCA Swim Meet, Part 2

Posted on February 9, 2013 by smaxreisert

Lessons 3 and 4 Lesson 3: Focus on individual achievement in an encouraging group format. The Y does a great at helping kids focus on personal achievement. Those swimmers may very well have not a clue about who won or … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | 1 Comment

(Almost) Everything I Need to Know About the Body of Christ I Learned at a YMCA Swim Meet

Posted on February 2, 2013 by smaxreisert

Lessons 1 and 2 (3 and 4 next week) Well, maybe not even “almost” everything, but important lessons about the Body of Christ, as envisioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12, can be learned at a YMCA swim meet.  I’ve … Continue reading →

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Cautionary Tale #2: The Gardiner Congregational Church, UCC

Posted on January 26, 2013 by smaxreisert

The story of the Gardiner Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Gardiner, Maine, offers an important view into some of the very challenging issues facing many mainline churches, especially those churches located in places like central Maine. The Gardiner Congregational … Continue reading →

Posted in Maine Cautionary Tales | Leave a comment

Losing Religion?

Posted on January 18, 2013 by smaxreisert

This week, Morning Edition on NPR has been running a series called “Losing Our Religion,” focusing on all kinds of people who are struggling with religion in some way—some are younger people who are “spiritual but not religious,” some are … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc, My Life as Pastor | Leave a comment

Lord Grantham, I Know How You Feel

Posted on January 12, 2013 by smaxreisert

I’m a big Downton Abbey fan and have been since the very first episode.  How can you resist the love, lust, drama and back-stabbing all wrapped up in a charming English package? As the new season unfolds, I suspect that … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Culture, Movies, TV | Leave a comment

Searching for Hope

Posted on January 4, 2013 by smaxreisert

Last Friday, I officiated at one of the largest memorial services that we’ve had at Old South during my tenure.  The sanctuary was packed with people—every pew space was taken and people lined the walls on the sides and along … Continue reading →

Posted in Maine Cautionary Tales | Leave a comment

Going Over the Religion Cliff

Posted on December 29, 2012 by smaxreisert

Last Sunday’s Sunday New York Times Book Review offered a cover story entitled, “Has Fiction Lost Its Faith?” (12/23/12)  In that article Paul Elie summed up his sense of the place of Christianity in contemporary fiction this way:  ““This, in … Continue reading →

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