Thanks for visiting the St. Martin's Prime Timers A.B.F. web page.

Join us each Sunday in the Payne Education Center from 10:10am to 10:50 in rooms 207-209.  You are invited for coffee, breakfast treats and Bible study in-between the 9am and 11am services.

Its Spring at St. Martin's. Come join us at this most important time on the Christian calendar.

Prime Timers Good News

For $1 you can tell us your good news at the beginning of our class. Anne Berry contributed $2, one for each of her grandchildren who were just accepted to a Christian School. Max Kech reported higher TAAS scores at the Rusk Elementary school where she is spending time reading to the children there. Elizabeth Sleeper told us that her husband Lockert is on the mend from his hospital stay.

Worthy of Praise

Ben Welmaker began class today by reordering Psalm 145. Instead of reading straight through, try reading it as follows: verse 1-2, 4-7, 10-12. These all speak of praising God. Then verse 3, which gives a reason why we praise God. Then read verses 8-9, with more of why God is good. Verse 13 explains that Gods kingdom is everlasting. Verses 14-16 hold God's comfort to those who have fallen. 17-20 describes the righteous and loving God, who "fulfills the desires of those who fear him" (Psalm 145:19). Finally the psalm concludes with more praise and the imprecation for every creature to praise his name.

An interesting note on this Psalm is that the verses each start on following letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Also, the rest of the psalms following this one are all of praise, while the previous five are prayers.

Ben then introduced two prefaces, one from our Book of Common Prayer and second from the New King James version Bible, to show how Christ's freeing us from many of the rules of the Jewish theocracy is at the very beginning of our most important works.

This is the first paragraph of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer:  It is a most invaluable part of that blessed "liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free," that in his worship different forms and usages may
without offense be allowed, provided the substance of the Faith be kept entire; and that, in every Church, what cannot be clearly determined to belong to Doctrine must be referred to Discipline; and therefore, by common consent and authority, may be altered, abridged, enlarged, amended, or otherwise disposed of, as may seem most convenient for the
edification of the people, "according to the various exigency of times
and occasions."

Here is the first paragraph of the preface to the New King James version, produced in 1979:  In the preface to the 1611 edition, the translators of the Authorized Version, known popularly as the King James Bible, state that it was not their purpose "to make a new translation ... but to make a good one better." Indebted to the earlier work of William Tyndale and others, they saw their best contribution to consist in revising and enhancing the excellence of the English versions which had sprung from the Reformation of the sixteenth century. In harmony with the purpose of the King James scholars, the translators and editors of the present work have not pursued a goal of innovation. They have perceived the Holy Bible, New King James Version, as a continuation of the labors of the earlier translators, thus unlocking for today’s readers the spiritual treasures found especially in the Authorized Version of the Holy Scriptures.

Discussion centered around the distinctions of different types of worship. Worshiping drinking or eating, for instance, might be worship but its not praising God. George Laigle suggested that you don't need a reason to worship, they are all around you and the history of the church provides a continuity between generations.

Max Kech then led the class in our healing prayer and Skip Maryan then delivered a benediction prior to closing the session.

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Mentor

Rev. B. Massey Gentry
mgentry@stmartinsepiscopal.org

Leader

Stained Glass from the new Church reminding us that this is the season to renew our relationship with Jesus' teachings.

Sunday was a wonderful spring day in Houston. The new Church is especially beautiful on these crystal clear days. I hope you were able to enjoy it too.

The Lesson for Sunday, April 2nd is titled "Living with Tragedy"

Key Verse:  Job 2:10

Focus of the Lesson:  When tragedy occurs, some people conclude that it would be better to die than to live. What can help us survive tragedy when it comes to us? These passages from Job imply that the desire to end pain is a basic human reaction, yet death is not really the answer. Set in the larger context of the book as a whole, we see that God can overcome our pain and grief, eventually leading us to rejoice again in life.

The reading is Job 1:14-15, 18-19, 22; 2:10; 3:1-3, 11. This text is from the New International Version^®.

   14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

   18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

   22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 2:10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
      In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Job 3:1 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 He said:

   3 "May the day of my birth perish,
and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!'

   11 "Why did I not perish at birth,
and die as I came from the womb?

NIV®