Category Archives: On the Hopeful Side

The Strength in Small Numbers

Posted on May 26, 2016 by smaxreisert

Every year, during commencement weekend at Colby College (where my husband is a professor), there’s a dinner to celebrate those receiving honorary degrees from the College. Faculty and administrators gather for this festive evening, during which each degree recipient has … Continue reading →

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People and Places

Posted on May 12, 2016 by smaxreisert

During a recent visit to New York City, I visited the September 11 Memorial for the first time.  Like most adults, I remember exactly what I was doing and where I was when I learned of the attacks on that … Continue reading →

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The Meaning and Value of Church Community

Posted on April 12, 2016 by smaxreisert

One of the more memorable family anthems for our family originally came to us somewhere along the New Jersey Turnpike, as we made the long journey from Maine to North Carolina in the summer of 2009. Our then young teenage … Continue reading →

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Living Into Who We Should Be

Posted on January 22, 2016 by smaxreisert

The primary governing body at Old South is the Oversight Committee. Serving on the committee: church officers, three ministry team leaders, three at-large members and myself. The group meets monthly, usually with a lengthy agenda. This past Wednesday involved an … Continue reading →

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New Life In the Midst of Old People?

Posted on October 23, 2015 by smaxreisert

Attend a large gathering of the Maine United Church of Christ, like the Conference Annual Meeting, and one sees a lot of gray hair. In addition, there are quite a few heads with little or no hair at all, as … Continue reading →

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A Partially Unwrapped Gift

Posted on August 29, 2015 by smaxreisert

I don’t remember who suggested it first. It was at a church budget meeting, a few years ago, and we were analyzing the church budget, trying to figure out what we could cut or trim at a time when it … Continue reading →

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It’s a Shame We’ve Become Such Rare Birds

Posted on May 8, 2015 by smaxreisert

As the committee members gathered in the church parish house, one committee member came through the door from the parking lot and addressed one of the other committee members in a voice that conveyed a bit of shock and alarm, … Continue reading →

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What Makes a Church?

Posted on January 25, 2014 by smaxreisert

Probably because Old South’s Annual Meeting is this coming Sunday, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a church. At Sunday’s meeting, if I were to survey those in attendance, I would probably hear a lot of answers that … Continue reading →

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A Valuable Witness

Posted on November 2, 2013 by smaxreisert

At the end of a congregational meeting after worship last Sunday, an older member summed up the proceedings this way: “Well, we handled that a lot better than Washington.” Everyone chuckled and heads were seen nodding up and down. What … Continue reading →

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