Category Archives: My Life as Pastor

Not Counting Pets (or puppets)

Posted on April 1, 2020 by smaxreisert

And those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.        Matthew 14:21 Old South has now held two online worship services, one on March 22 and the other this past Sunday, March 29.  … Continue reading →

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It’s Time to Self-Isolate . . . from the New York Times

Posted on March 23, 2020 by smaxreisert

Like a lot of people, my usual morning follows a routine.  First, coffee. Second, make toast.  Third, drink coffee.  Fourth, say good morning to others who may be in the kitchen at the same time.  Fifth, open computer, review the … Continue reading →

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Can This Old Dog Learn New Tricks?

Posted on March 18, 2020 by smaxreisert

Ministry in the Age of COVID-19 My twenty-year-old son blames his twenty-three-year-old sister for everything that is happening in the world, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  For Christmas, Margaret gave her brother a t-shirt from Venice, Italy (where … Continue reading →

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Getting My Non On

Posted on February 15, 2020 by smaxreisert

At some point during this year’s annual meeting at Old South, I experienced a moment—an instance that I can only describe as almost terrifying.  I was looking out at the assembled group of good, dedicated church folk and realizing that … Continue reading →

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Identity Crisis

Posted on January 31, 2020 by smaxreisert

Last Sunday’s sermon was on unity, focusing on the lectionary passage from the beginning of First Corinthians. The title of my sermon was “Give Me a U.” The plan was to talk about Paul’s encouragement regarding unity, to remind us … Continue reading →

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Don’t Sit There!

Posted on January 11, 2020 by smaxreisert

And you may ask yourself, well How did I get here? —Talking Heads, Once in a Lifetime During my homily last Sunday, on our first winter worship service of the season in Old South’s parish house (where worship is a … Continue reading →

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This Writing Life 3: Creating Community

Posted on November 20, 2019 by smaxreisert

At first I wasn’t sure how they all seemed to know who I was.  I was greeted by name by more than one person.  One reached out a hand, “Susan, it’s nice to meet you,” before I uttered much more … Continue reading →

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The Remarkable Sound of Silence

Posted on April 5, 2019 by smaxreisert

Many years ago, when I was a second year divinity school student trying to figure out what sort of ministry was the right path for me, I took a field education assignment at a local church, after a year spent … Continue reading →

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The Dreaded Funeral and Its Dreadful Portents

Posted on March 22, 2019 by smaxreisert

It doesn’t happen often, thank goodness, and less often than it happened in my first years at Old South: leading a funeral/memorial service for someone I’ve never met. In the almost fifteen years of serving Old South, I occasionally discover … Continue reading →

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The Not So Graceful Art of Treading Water

Posted on January 9, 2019 by smaxreisert

The typical routine of life at Old South Church means that the Advent and Christmas seasons are followed not so much by the season of Epiphany, but the season of Annual Meeting—finalizing the budget, figuring out and nominating a slate … Continue reading →

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