Hal Luccock once described a...
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Hal Luccock once described a church as "a society for the prevention of astonishment."
We trust that our congregations will not fit such a description. Rather than be content with things that are dull, boning or stuffy, how much better to be prepared to be astonished. There is no such thing as an ordinary text in the Bible. New meanings and insights will come forth if we approach the text with anticipation. Every new person who comes into the midst of our congregational life brings with him or her potential and promise. Every Sunday worship is unique, no two the same, each one provides an opportunity to be surprised by God.
Jesus could do no mighty works when he returned to his home country because the people did not expect anything unusual to happen. He was an ordinary person whom they had known for many years. They formed a group that might indeed be labeled: "a society for the prevention of astonishment."
-- Hasler
We trust that our congregations will not fit such a description. Rather than be content with things that are dull, boning or stuffy, how much better to be prepared to be astonished. There is no such thing as an ordinary text in the Bible. New meanings and insights will come forth if we approach the text with anticipation. Every new person who comes into the midst of our congregational life brings with him or her potential and promise. Every Sunday worship is unique, no two the same, each one provides an opportunity to be surprised by God.
Jesus could do no mighty works when he returned to his home country because the people did not expect anything unusual to happen. He was an ordinary person whom they had known for many years. They formed a group that might indeed be labeled: "a society for the prevention of astonishment."
-- Hasler
