Category Archives: My Life as Pastor

When the Work Is Plentiful, But the Laborers Are Few and Tired

Posted on July 25, 2026 by smaxreisert

There are many different dimensions to the life of a shrinking church, from difficult budgeting decisions to dealing with property that stubbornly refuses to shrink alongside the congregation to a sense of bewilderment around how the shrinking started and why, … Continue reading →

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A Certain Kind of Testimony

Posted on June 15, 2026 by smaxreisert

At the beginning of May, I traveled to New York City to attend the retirement party of a good friend. As the large group gathered before dinner, I realized that except for the retiree and her spouse, I knew only … Continue reading →

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Lessons I Should Have Learned at Div School: Cheerleading?

Posted on January 10, 2026 by smaxreisert

Many years ago, when Old South was set to embark on a process to discern whether or not to pursue “open and affirming” status (public welcome of those in the LBGTQ+ community), I gave a sermon or two in support … Continue reading →

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Lessons I Should Have Learned in Divinity School: Mind Reading?

Posted on December 6, 2025 by smaxreisert

As Old South prepared itself for a major decision-making point and a special meeting of the congregation, the governing board thought it would be a good idea to offer a pre-game gathering, a time for people to ask questions and … Continue reading →

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Thirty Years On

Posted on May 13, 2025 by smaxreisert

Today is the thirtieth anniversary of my ordination. The big day happened after a long ordination process (I think everyone had a long process in the Metropolitan Boston Association of the then Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ; … Continue reading →

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That Thing About Authority

Posted on April 17, 2024 by smaxreisert

A long, long time ago, in my first year as a student minister at a United Church of Christ church in Cambridge, MA, I once inadvertently insulted a church member so much during a sermon that after that one particular … Continue reading →

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Is It Time for a Break Up?

Posted on March 29, 2024 by smaxreisert

My last blog post focused on ghosts, those people who attend worship for a few weeks, a few months, even a couple of years, and then suddenly disappear, without notice, without trace, without explanation. I usually reach out to these … Continue reading →

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Ghosting, Church-style

Posted on March 15, 2024 by smaxreisert

Among the most frustrating aspects of being a local church pastor, for me, is dealing with “ghosting.” While the word “ghosting” is a relatively new term usually used in the dating, or friendship, arena, I’ve been dealing with the concept … Continue reading →

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It’s Time to Put Aside the Rose-Colored Glasses

Posted on February 16, 2024 by smaxreisert

In the first church I served, as a student minister and then as the assistant pastor, way back in the early 1990s, I had the chance to experience a fairly wide range of the typical world of the local church … Continue reading →

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What’s the Word?

Posted on November 11, 2023 by smaxreisert

The members of Old South Church in Hallowell, Maine will gather after worship tomorrow, Sunday, November 12, 2023, to vote on a plan put forward by the governing body of the church to put the sanctuary building up for sale. … Continue reading →

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