Tag Archives: Maine Conference United Church of Christ

A Lenten Discipline 2020

Posted on February 27, 2020 by smaxreisert

I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.  Matthew 12:36-37 Lent … 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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Stuck in the Middle with No One

Posted on September 19, 2018 by smaxreisert

In my work with the Maine Conference United Church of Christ, I currently find myself in the midst of a difficult situation just on the edge of crisis. One of the dynamics running through this situation (just one of many) … Continue reading →

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When Right Is Wrong (or, if not exactly wrong, not exactly right either)

Posted on August 7, 2018 by smaxreisert

Perhaps in response to a humid, but dry, summer in Maine, much of my reading this season has involved a lot of cold and ice. After watching the AMC series “The Terror” in the spring, I read the book by … Continue reading →

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Where’s Christ in the United Church of Christ?

Posted on August 5, 2017 by smaxreisert

I recently attended a funeral (actually, a “memorial service”) at a United Church of Christ church not far from my own church. The service was for a woman I had known fairly well, a woman who was a very active … Continue reading →

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Post Synod Reflection #1: The Maine Thing

Posted on July 9, 2017 by smaxreisert

I arrived home from Synod this past Wednesday. It didn’t take long for the river of my life in Maine to take me far away from my Synod experience. But, I’ve finally found a few moments to look back and … Continue reading →

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This Is It

Posted on January 20, 2017 by smaxreisert

When my daughter was young, she had a pet betta fish. Like most betta fish, it didn’t live very long. But, when it died, Margaret was distraught. To help her deal with her considerable grief, I suggested that she organize … Continue reading →

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Clergy Get Over Yourselves!

Posted on November 26, 2016 by smaxreisert

“Do you read the sermons ahead of time?” was one of the first questions that was asked. It was a surprising, unexpected question. It was asked almost tentatively, cautiously, but directly at me. I was sitting at the front of … Continue reading →

Posted in My Life as Pastor | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Exciting: A New Word for Our Small Church Vocabulary

Posted on October 25, 2016 by smaxreisert

Today, I received one of those wonderful, rare emails, a sort of email that doesn’t land in my inbox very often, an email to cherish and keep, especially when things get difficult, which they are bound to do. Today, I … Continue reading →

Posted in On the Hopeful Side | Tagged | 1 Comment

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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