Minister Message - A computer unplugged

- Rev. Rick Shott, Nokomis Baptist Church

September 10, 2026

Key points from this story:

• Power failure struck during Sunday worship
• Congregation sang a capella by daylight
• Service worked without technology
• Culture infatuated with new devices
• Constant connection breeds anxiety and distraction
• Humans made for face-to-face community

Last Sunday was an interesting worship service. This was due to a power failure in town. As the first congregants arrived the lights went off and on, twice, then flickered and died. So we scrambled to make the best of the situation. The window blinds were opened and everyone moved to the bright side of the church. We wound up singing A Capella and the hymnbooks were still mostly usable a few lights came out to help read. Overall the service worked. It worked because we were not overly reliant on technology.

Our culture is infatuated with technology. Once a new piece of technology is produced, there will be some who will have it no matter how absurd it might be, even if it is not practical. The original cell phone were huge bricks. In fact, bricks for a house are smaller than those original phones. We like it because it is new. We think of the possibilities and wonder how it will improve our lives. Cell phones have advanced and the latest iterations are more powerful than the home computers in the days of the early cell phone. They are incredibly more connected, resourced, and hazardous to our health.

The ability to be constantly connected to the world also creates a sense of anxiety within us. We see the good, fun, and exciting things that others are doing. We do not see any drudgery, which skews our perception of the world. We hear a beep and hurry to see what it is, thus we are always on edge. Waiting. Wondering what is next. All the while swiping away at our phones. The technology begins to push the people near you aside. This is not what we were made to be.

Every person is created in the image of God. We are not God, but the image of God, a resemblance. It is important to remember that God exists as one in community. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Since we are in the image of God, we are meant to be in community. Jesus died and rose again that we can be restored into a proper relationship with God. This is another hint that we need to be together in very direct ways. We have better relationships face to face; we also understand other people better in their presence. It is not that we give up on the phones other technologies, but they need a more humble place in our lives.

People might complain that we need our technology. It can and does have a place. It is not a controlling place, but that of a common tool. On a normal Sunday morning we use several pieces of technology, yet, last Sunday we had to do without. The service went well. We do not need every toy, sometimes these create new problems for us. If we remember that called to be children of God and turn our lives towards Him: our lives will improve.