FROM OUR PASTOR
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
We communicate a lot in our family with text messages and “bitmoji’s” — little cartoons of our faces that portray our feelings and situations.
On Mondays, I always write the next Sunday’s sermon (Draft One, that is); our kids will text and ask how the writing’s going. Here is my usual reply:
Bitmoji’s convey things that words can’t capture. And they evoke a response from the receiver — a laugh, a nod of understanding. Suddenly, we’re connected and caring for each other across the miles.
Bitmoji’s are instructive in how religious symbols work. Has a Bible story touched your soul, helping you understand your life? Has a musical performance or a hymn overwhelmed you with its truth? Has the quiet beauty of our chapel moved you, connecting you to God? Consider these sacred “bitmoji’s” — bundles of deep religious meaning, working on our souls.
This Sunday’s scripture lessons warn about the misuse of religious symbols and words — used to catch and trip up an opponent, used to create division and distrust, used for proud posturing. Religious words and symbols, instead, should astonish, move and change our lives — that is their proper, sacred use.
This Sunday we continue our sermon series on the New Testament’s “postcards.” These little postcards pack a lot of punch. Their brief words can change our hearts — just like a good bitmoji.
