Category Archives: Buildings

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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On Essentialness

Posted on May 27, 2020 by smaxreisert

“The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important, essential places of faith to open right now for this weekend.” –– President Trump, May 22, 2020 (as quoted in the New York Times) Now that we are … Continue reading →

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Judging the View

Posted on November 6, 2019 by smaxreisert

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but … Continue reading →

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Worship Spaces

Posted on October 24, 2019 by smaxreisert

One of the most difficult lines of conversation in these days at Old South is connected to our sanctuary. The sanctuary exists in a building separate from the building that contains the offices, kitchen, classrooms, etc. The sanctuary building is … Continue reading →

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A Church on Fire: A Confession

Posted on April 16, 2019 by smaxreisert

  The scenes from Paris were (and are) startling and heartbreaking. When part of the spire of Notre Dame fell into the huge cauldron of flames, I gasped. It was hard to take it all in from the vantage point … Continue reading →

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When Hope Is a Problem

Posted on January 7, 2017 by smaxreisert

An area church similar to Old South recently came to the end of a long journey through which the church seriously considered its future. Part of the process focused on the building in which the church meets. The church, decreasing … Continue reading →

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Small Church, Big Sanctuary

Posted on October 13, 2016 by smaxreisert

While Old South is certainly one of those churches that wonders quite a lot about what the future will hold—with our small numbers, our difficulties in maintaining and paying for staff, worries about the demands of our physical plant, etc.—Old … Continue reading →

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Who Are We? Why Are We Here?

Posted on October 4, 2016 by smaxreisert

When Admiral James Stockdale, Vice Presidential candidate in 1992, asked in the Vice Presidential debate, “Who Am I? Why Am I Here?” he was mocked mercilessly. His questions, though, actually were, and are, very important ones, questions that we all … Continue reading →

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Signs of New Life in the Midst of Unwelcome Growth

Posted on September 15, 2016 by smaxreisert

There’s something growing at Old South. Something terrible, horrible, unspeakable. Something that we don’t need or want. It’s like a cold slap in the face, as the community struggles to figure out whether or not it can grow the congregation. … Continue reading →

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Agenda for the Last Day

Posted on June 11, 2016 by smaxreisert

It’s almost impossible these days to ignore the undercurrent of worry and concern at Old South, especially on Sunday mornings as we wonder how many people will join us for worship. The numbers keep going down. After a couple of … Continue reading →

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