Welcome to the Prime Timers Adult Bible Fellowship

Come join us this Sunday in the Payne Education center, second floor, rooms 210-212. We provide fellowship, bible study, coffee and donuts for people in the Prime of Life. Maybe this is you! Currently we are studying the writings of Paul from the book of Romans. We hope to see you there!

The Rev. Rusty Goldsmith, vice Rector of St. Martins, is our Prime Timers mentor.

Lots of news from Prime Timers this week!

At the beginning of class anyone can "buy the microphone" for $1 and bring us news of their family, or whatever they want. One week someone even gave thanks for the great weather!

Melissa Grant got things started by giving thanks for having her faith re-invigorated by the Faith Alive weekend. Also it was her husband John's birthday. Then Max Kech brought thanks for her mother's 83rd birthday. Maud Ella Hartley, who brought her "Miss Slimmens" character to our Halloween party, just got a part in the play "A Trip to Bountiful".

Then Jim Nelson brought some more serious news, as his grandson Jace is going in for open heart surgery soon. I'm sure I speak for everyone in that our prayers go out to Jim and all his family.

Finally, Richard Cook has two sons graduating college and both have been accepted at graduate school in Vancouver.

Prime Timers May Day Party!

The Prime Timers May Day social is scheduled for May 1, and we will need YOUR HELP to make it happen! Here's what we want to do: 

Theme: May Day Picnic
Activities: Badminton and Croquet
Food: Bring picnic food to share
Beverage: BYOB - probably non-alcoholic, depending on location
Location: ???????????

Please call Melissa or John Grant (281-373-0879) with your ideas and commitments, and maybe your house. Skip Maryan told us it only takes a couple of months for the house to recover. Just kidding.

Faith in Christ

Our reading for this week made a simple proposition:  "that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Our speaker, Skip Maryan, described Paul's travels as he brought to word of Jesus to the people. And also how the Jews who did not accept Jesus as the Messiah worked to have Paul arrested and ultimately eliminated.

Paul was a citizen of Rome, and this came in handy in one town where he was arrested by a minor functionary in the town, but secured his freedom by demanding that Caesar judge his fate.

Paul ended up back in Rome during the reign of the Emperor Nero. After Rome burned, Nero needed scapegoats and Paul became one of them as Nero blamed the burning of Rome on the Christians.

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Mentor

The Rev. Maurice L. "Rusty" Goldsmith. D.D.
713/985-3831
rgoldsmith@stmartinsepiscopal.org

Co-Leaders

Maud Ella Hartley had good news. No, she didn't win the basket of money!

Jim Nelson's grandson Jace is going to have open heart surgery. Our prayers are with Jim and his family.

Richard Cook brought news of his two sons.

The Lesson for Sunday, April 17 is titled "Living the Christian Life"

Key Verses:  Romans 12:9-10

Focus of the Lesson:  People sometimes find it hard to express the love they feel for another. How do Christians show the love we are commanded to have for one another? Paul gives concrete suggestions for attitudes and behavior befitting a Christian lifestyle.

The reading is Romans 12:1-2, 9-21. This text is from the New Revised Standard Version.

   1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

   9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
   14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ 20 No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.