Peace be with you! The St. Martin's Prime Timers welcome you.

You are invited to join us each Sunday in the Payne Education Center, rooms 207-209, from 10:10 to 10:50. We are studying the gospel of John this quarter. Come and check things out this Sunday!

Prime Timer News

A Prime Timer tradition is allowing our members to bring their good news to the class at the beginning of the session, with a one dollar contribution to Henny Penny, our Good News chicken! (You can see Henny above in the photo of Pete Seale.) All money collected is donated to a worthy cause. Our last contribution was to the Amistad Mission in Bolivia.

Today Max Kech reported that she is now reading to a new student at Rusk Elementary School. This child is already an avid reader. Max said his mother started him reading the Bible!  Max is also relieved that her mother, who suffered a stroke, is doing much better in New York state, where she is in a nursing home.

George Laigle gave thanks for his four year old granddaughter and that all his grandchildren have two loving parents at home, and that they are all right at home at George and Elizabeth's. Praise God for loving families.

Speaking of grandchildren, Chris Hershberger, our teacher today, is about to become a Grandfather for the first time himself.

In a story that starts with a scare and ends with a happy ending, Anna Jofrion told us that her sister in law thought she was having a heart attack. The doctor determined that it was not an attack but a precursor to a real attack, placed a stent in her artery and now Anna's sister in law is recovering just fine.

Finally, Caroline Maryan updated us on her son Andrew. He is at George Mason University and joined the Golf Team, where he is quite happy. The peripatetic Maryans are leaving us and we all wish Caroline and Skip, as well as Andrew, the very best as they return to their roots in Virginia.

Protection From Evil

Chris Hershberger taught class today, leading us through the story of the Good Shepherd. The story  occurs after Jesus cured the blind man and after the man is actually excommunicated by the Pharisees for being cured on the Sabbath, and for believing Jesus is from God.  Chris alluded to the humor in the bible by quoting the Pharisees questioning of the man from John 9:26-27 'Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" ²⁷He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"'

Jesus uses the metaphor of the shepherd because the people of that time were very familiar with sheep and shepherding. Jesus calls himself the gate for the sheep (John 10:7) or in modern terms the interface between God and us. Chris cited other references to shepherding, such as this from Ezekiel 34:2  "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?"

The Good Shepherd:

  1. Will lay down his life for the sheep
  2. Knows his sheep and they know him
  3. Welcomes other sheep from outside the pen

Chris concluded by commending the outreach program of Christ Church Cathedral where they offer services to the homeless.

Chris had to leave the class to be a chalice bearer at the 11am service, so Max Kech read our intercessory prayer and dismissed the class.

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Mentor

Rev. B. Massey Gentry
mgentry@stmartinsepiscopal.org

Leaders

The Raising of Lazarus by Caravaggio, 1608-9, oil on canvas, at the Museo Nazionale, Messina, Italy.

The Raising of Lazarus by Rembrandt, 1630, oil on panel, now at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California.

Seven Christian Habits:

1.  A personal, intimate relationship (through the Holy Spirit) with God as He is revealed in Jesus Christ in which I believe and trust in Him and His love for me and for my salvation in this life and the life to come.

2.  Daily personal prayer and weekly worship of God in His Church by which I receive the renewal of my emotional-spiritual energy which I need to live my life.

3.  Regular study of the Bible to understand how God has related to His people and what His will has been.

4.  Adjusting my will to the will of God for me as revealed in Scripture, prayer, worship and my relationship with Him.

5.  Service (which is ministry, which is love, which is doing good to God, others and self):

a. At home to family and friends.
b. At work to co-workers.
c. At Church.
d. In the world, especially by leading others to God in Christ.

6.  Fellowship (renewing relationship) with Christian people.

7.  Stewardship of my resources:

a. Of my relationships.
b. Of my time and talent.
c. Of my money, giving to God and His work my tithe (as I calculate it).

The Lesson for Sunday, February 11th is titled "Life After Death"

Key Verse:  John 11:25

Focus of the Lesson:  Everyone eventually experiences the death of a family member or an acquaintance. What does Jesus teach about death? Jesus taught that death is not a permanent reality for those who have developed a personal relationship wiht him through faith, because he has the power to overcome death.

The reading is John 11:17-27. This text is from the New International Version^®.

Background scripture:  John 11:1-44

   ¹⁷On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁹and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

   ²¹"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

   ²³Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

   ²⁴Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

   ²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

   ²⁷"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

NIV®