Author Archives: smaxreisert

Unknown's avatar

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.

Crushing My Advent Dreams

Posted on November 21, 2022 by smaxreisert

My husband and I are on a cross country (and back) adventure this fall. Last weekend, we arrived in Moab, Utah and checked into our hotel where we would stay for a couple days while we explored Arches National Park. … Continue reading →

Posted in Holy-Days | Tagged , | Leave a comment

When a Visitor Is Just a Visitor

Posted on October 23, 2022 by smaxreisert

Last Sunday, my husband and I attended a worship service in person for the first time since July. I’m in the middle of a four-month leave of absence from Old South and have been attending weekly worship online, visiting a … Continue reading →

Posted in Worship | Leave a comment

Worshipping Online: What I’ve Learned (so far)

Posted on October 6, 2022 by smaxreisert

I’m in the middle of a four-month leave of absence from Old South, assisting my husband in taking advantage of his full-year sabbatical. We spent most of September in Norway and we expect to head out for a cross-country road … Continue reading →

Posted in COVID, Worship | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Crowds and Community

Posted on August 31, 2022 by smaxreisert

My husband and I live in one of Maine’s lovely lake areas, a group of lakes and ponds known generally as the “Belgrade Lakes.” In the midst of this area is Belgrade Lakes Village, about a half hour drive northwest … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Man Who Made Such a Difference

Posted on August 19, 2022 by smaxreisert

In my many years of pastoring and preaching, whenever I’ve experienced difficulty in getting into a passage, searching for the kernel that would get a sermon going or help in wrapping things up, I’ve almost always turned to one person: … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc | Tagged | 1 Comment

Women in the Early Church:  “That” Passage, Part 2

Posted on July 26, 2022 by smaxreisert

This is an adaptation of a sermon preached at Old South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Hallowell, Maine, July 24, 2022.  Scripture:  1 Timothy 2. Last week, we considered the authorship and context of this particular passage that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Women in the Early Church:  “That” Verse, Part 1

Posted on July 20, 2022 by smaxreisert

This is an adaptation of a sermon preached at Old South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Hallowell, Maine, July 17, 2022.  Scripture:  1 Timothy 2. It’s hard to know where even to begin with this passage.  It’s really hard.  … Continue reading →

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

The Women of the Early Church:  Nympha

Posted on July 13, 2022 by smaxreisert

An adaption of a sermon preached at Old South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Hallowell, Maine, Sunday, July 10, 2022.  Scripture:  Colossians 4:10-18. For background and inspiration, I’m deeply indebted to the work and the blog, of Marg Mowczko, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Women in the Early Church:  Apphia

Posted on July 6, 2022 by smaxreisert

Adapted from a sermon preached at Old South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Hallowell, Maine, July 3, 2022. Scripture: Philemon 1-6. Philemon 1-6: Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our dear friend and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Women of the Early Church: Chloe (including thoughts on the overturning of Roe)

Posted on June 28, 2022 by smaxreisert

The following is an adaptation of a sermon preached at Old South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Hallowell, Maine, June 26, 2022. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17. What do we know about Chloe?  What do we know about Chloe’s “people”? … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible | Tagged , | Leave a comment