Welcome to the Prime Timers Adult Bible Fellowship Web Page.

The Prime Timers is a group in the Prime of Life, maybe this is you. We meet year-round, and look forward to seeing you all through the summer.  After several months of wrestling with Paul, we're returning to the gospels - Mark in June; Matthew in July; Luke in August.

You are invited to join us for fun, fellowship and friendship every Sunday in the Payne Education Center, Rooms 210-212, 10:00 to 10:45am.

Our Mentor, the Rev. Rusty Goldsmith, went out of town for a very special occasion!

The Prime Timers want to hear your Good News!

At the beginning of class you can bring us news of your family, or whatever good news is on your mind, for only $1. At the end of the season we will all get to decide where to apply the funds collected.

Our Mentor, the Rev. Rusty Goldsmith, reported that he did in fact baptize his new grand-daughter two weeks ago. This is very special for him in that this is his first grand-daughter.

Bobbie Griffith-Winner proudly told of her grand-daughter making the Dean's List at LSU, "with points to spare."

Finally Jackie Rose revealed her grand-daughter was on the Mission Trip to Galveston.

Preparing for Leadership

Jackie Rose began our journey with Mark with a short history. Mark is the "primary" gospel, in that it is the oldest gospel and is a major source for both Matthew and Luke.

It is believed to have been written down about 70 AD, perhaps by John Mark. Mark is a gospel of concrete terms and vivid descriptions. The word "immediately" is used 27 times!

Our reading for today (Mark 1:1-13) concerns the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. John is described as a man living the ascetic life, eating locusts and wild honey, and dressing in camel hair with a leather belt, a reference to Elijah. Immediately after Jesus is baptized we hear the famous phrase (Mark 1:11) "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’" After that Jesus is sent to the desert (wilderness) for forty days.

The discussion turned to how Jesus being baptized allows us to relate to him on a human level. Our two theologians, Dr. Bill Moore and Bill Linden, added that up until then Jesus follows the Law as set down by the Jews, and that he most likely was a disciple of John the Baptist.

Jesus ministry really begins after his time in the desert. Our discussion centered on our own "wildernesses" and the Rev. Bob Brown related a wonderful story of a college newspaper entitled "Metanoia," which is the Greek word meaning a change of mind; a radical revision and transformation of our whole mental process.   It is this dramatic change of mind and way of being and doing that is asked of us when we repent.

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Mentor

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

Co-Leaders

If you haven't looked at St. Martin's magnificent stained glass windows up close you owe it to yourself to do so. Click on the picture above for a closer view or better yet go on one of the Docent Tour's!

Bobbie Griffith-Winner had wonderful news about her grand-daughter.

Jackie Rose (r) conducted class this week, and Max Kech read the intercessory prayer.

 The Lesson for Sunday, June 12 is titled "Healed to Wholeness"

Key Verse:  Mark 2:11

Focus of the Lesson:  Many people suffer in some area of their life, and often they--and those who would like to help--feel overwhelmed and powerless. Are we doomed to live with this sense of helplessness? The miracles affirm the depth of Jesus' caring for others and his power to bring healing to situations others would write off as hopeless.

The reading is Mark 2:1-12. This text is from the New Revised Standard Version.

   1 When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ 8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ —he said to the paralytic— 11 ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ 12 And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’