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December 30, 2007 "Called to
Witness!" |
The St. Martin's Prime Timers A.B.F wishes you a very Merry Christmas!
Normally we meet in the Payne Education Center, rooms 207-209, right after the 9am Sunday Service, from 10:10 to 10:50am. For the next three weeks, December 23 and 30, and January 6, 2008 the ABF's are suspended for other wonderful events at St. Martin's. During that time this page will update the Bible reading and continue its quest for great art celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and the events surrounding his birth.
The St. Martin's Adult Bible Fellowships (ABF's) are following a course of study based on the work of the Committee on the Uniform Series, also known as the International Lessons. Bible students around the world are using this same framework, and so can you!
Prime Timers Good News
It just takes a $1 donation to our Good News chicken, Henny Penny to bring us your good news. Currently we are donating the money we collect to the Amistad Mission in Bolivia, a Christian partnership between North Americans and Bolivians for the benefit of children in need.
Ben brings the great news that his youngest son is getting married in June. Our teacher Donn relates a wonderful story of a fourteen year old grandson who wouldn't talk to the "old folks" finally opening up and having a heart to heart with Granddad. Lynn's Mom successfully endured surgery to implant a pacemaker.
Called to Proclaim!
Donn Fullenweider is teaching the Prime Timers during December. Today's reading is Zechariah's Song from Luke 1:67-80, the story of John the Baptist and the preparation for coming of the Messiah. Donn had us reading from Malachi 4:1-2: "Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall."
Also this passage from Isaiah 9:1-2 "Nevertheless, there will be
no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled
the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he
will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the
Jordan-
2The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."
And then from Psalm 107:10-16:
10Some sat in darkness
and the deepest gloom,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11for they had rebelled against the
words of God
and despised the counsel of the Most High.
12So he subjected them to bitter
labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13Then they cried to the LORD in their
trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14He brought them out of darkness and
the
deepest gloom
and broke away their chains.
15Let them give thanks to the LORD for
his
unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,
16for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
Donn included these passages to show precursors in the Old Testament
of the love to come in the New Testament. Remember we had Zechariah
speechless after doubting the angel Gabriel's news that his barren
wife would bear a child, and that the child would be very important
indeed. It was customary in those times to name a child on the
eighth day at a circumcision. How was Zechariah to do this without
speech? His brothers were about to have the child named after his
father when Elizabeth said the child was to be named John, and
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet to agree that this was the
name. At this moment Zechariah is once again able to speak.
John the Baptist's story and Jesus' are entwined in the chronicle of Luke. John's miraculous birth is quickly followed by the story of Jesus' equally amazing one. This prompted Donn to ask the class if we had experienced an event so profound that we always remember it. Donn told us the birth of his son was one he always remembers; if he needs a reminder of how wonderful life can be he just recalls this. Zechariah is an example of a man who had done everything right, pious and very religious, and yet his wife was barren and he was old and depressed. God uses Zechariah to quite wonderful ends. The class then discussed how the Christmas season can be depressing, after all its supposed to be a wonderful time of year and yet there are murders in the mall and maybe we are worried about things at work. Probably the best way to get the Christmas Spirit going is the give of yourself rather than wonder what you are going to get.
Donn gave us all an assignment for Christmas, maybe you would like to participate with us. Donn asked us to talk to a child about our relationship to God, and to do it using a personal story from our own lives. Sounds like a reasonable task to me.
Donn then concluded class with a short prayer. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!
Prime Timers Contact names and numbers
Mentor
Rev. B. Massey Gentry
mgentry@stmartinsepiscopal.org
Leaders
Anne Berry
832/251-8868 H
anne.berry@comcast.net
Max Kech
713/802-0690 H
maxkech2003@yahoo.com
Marty Smith
713/464-6737 H
martys47@comcast.net
Teachers
Richard Cruse
Donn Fullenweider
Pete Seale
Ben Welmaker
bhwjr@flash.net
Outreach (inviting and welcoming new members)
Anne Berry
832/251-8868 H
anne.berry@comcast.net
Elizabeth Sleeper
jsleeperjr@comcast.net
Click on these pictures to see a larger version. Then click the "back" button to return here!
Fra Angelico, Nativity, 1440-41, Fresco, at the Convento di San Marco, Florence, Italy.
Fra Filippo Lippi, Adoration of the Child with Saints, 1460-65, Panel,
at the Civic Museum, Prato, Italy.
Caravaggio, Adoration of the Shepherds, 1609, Oil on canvas, at the
Museo Nazionale, Messina, Italy.
Hans Memling, Adoration of the Magi, c. 1470, Oil on wood, at the Museo
del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
Leonardo da Vinci, Adoration of the Magi, 1481-82, Oil on panel, at the Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy.
The Lesson for Sunday, December 30th is titled "Called to Witness!"
Key Verse: Luke 2:34
Focus of the Lesson: We like to hear and tell good news. How do we respond to the good news of Christmas? Simeon responded to the birth of Jesus the Messiah by declaring that God was keeping the promise of salvation.
The reading is Luke 2:22-35. This text is from the New International Version. (NIV)
Background Scripture: Luke 2:22-38
22When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of
all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
NIV
Many thanks to the Web Gallery of Art for the photos of biblical art by the great masters.
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