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January 6, 2008 "Inspired
to Inquire!" |
The St. Martin's Prime Timers A.B.F wishes you a Happy New Year!
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. This Sunday, January 6, 2008 is a very special one for St. Martin's as we install our fourth rector, Dr. Russell Levenson.
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!
Albrecht Dürer, Christ Among the Doctors, 1506, Oil on panel, at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain.
Giotto di Bondone, Christ among the Doctors, 1304-06, Fresco, at the
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua, Italy.
Frans I Francken, Jesus among the Doctors, 1587, Oil on wood, at the
O.-L. Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp, Belgium.
Jesus and the doctors of the Faith by the entourage of Giuseppe Ribera,
1783, at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.
Master of the Catholic Kings, Christ among the Doctors, 1495-97, Oil on panel, at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
The Lesson for Sunday, January 6th is titled "Inspired to Inquire!"
Key Verse: Luke 2:49
Focus of the Lesson: We have question for which wee seek answers. How does inquiry within the community of faith lead to maturity? Entering into dialogue in the temple, Jesus grew in faith and wisdom.
The reading is Luke 2:41-52. This text is from the New International Version. (NIV)
41Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
NIV
Many thanks to the Web Gallery of Art for the photos of biblical art by the great masters.
The photo of Jesus and the Doctors of the Faith by the entourage of Giuseppe Ribera is courtesy of Wikipedia.
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