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.

Moments of Grace in a Sea of Trouble

Posted on September 30, 2023 by smaxreisert

It’s a hard time to be in the church business. It’s difficult to be a parishioner watching one’s congregation getting smaller and smaller and trying to get one’s head around the overwhelmingly difficult decisions that are looming. It’s difficult to … Continue reading →

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The Many Problems of “Why I Left the Church”

Posted on September 15, 2023 by smaxreisert

There’s an episode of Modern Family that involves a scene in a church, although the location really doesn’t matter. Claire, mother of three teens, is listening to her two daughters complain about various issues while they are sitting in a … Continue reading →

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That Darn Toy (and Her Movie) Has Got Me Thinking

Posted on August 31, 2023 by smaxreisert

God created humanity in God’s own image,        in the divine image God created them,            male and female God created them. Genesis 1:27 (Common English Bible) I wasn’t planning to see the Barbie movie. I’ve never in my life been a fan of … Continue reading →

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Christianity, Not Churchianity!

Posted on August 22, 2023 by smaxreisert

My son recently arrived home after an almost five-month, 2200-mile journey hiking the Appalachian Trail.  No surprise, he had many tales to tell.  One story involved a man he met somewhere in the middle of the hike.  This man declared … Continue reading →

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Wondering About Life-Altering Experiences in a Secular World

Posted on July 31, 2023 by smaxreisert

Last week, I had to deliver my daughter to the bus station in Portland, Maine early in the morning. After helping her carry her stuff into the line to board the bus, I got back into my vehicle and took … Continue reading →

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Hey! Different Kind of Church Here! Part 2

Posted on July 18, 2023 by smaxreisert

I don’t keep my profession a secret, but there are times when I wish I could. One recent example involves a little monthly pampering that I give to myself: I get a pedicure about once a month. I’ve seen the … Continue reading →

Posted in My Life as Pastor, Other Denominations/Christians, United Church of Christ | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Hey! Different Kind of Church Here!

Posted on June 29, 2023 by smaxreisert

The news regarding the state of Christianity and church life in the United States is all bad, for those who still attend some kind of church. In a newsletter series offered by The New York Times, Jessica Grose has written … Continue reading →

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These Difficult Days

Posted on June 11, 2023 by smaxreisert

It’s a tough time to be a clergyperson. We are expected not only to be able to complete widely-divergent tasks, but to do them well— from plumbing and building issues to website design (and maintenance) to flock wrangling to sermon … Continue reading →

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Looking for the Opportunity in the Crisis

Posted on May 24, 2023 by smaxreisert

Last week, I read an article from NPR entitled, “The Faithful See Both Crisis and OpportunityAs Churches Close Around the Country.” (https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1175452002/church-closings-religious-affiliation) The article outlined the continued issues experienced in the Christian Church and its many denominations. More churches are … Continue reading →

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What’s So Funny?

Posted on May 8, 2023 by smaxreisert

I’m not sure where the practice began, but at the church where I grew up in suburban Boston in the 1970s, it was a common practice for the pastor to begin his weekly sermon with a joke. Perhaps it was … Continue reading →

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