Welcome to the Prime Timers Adult Bible Fellowship Web Page.

The Prime Timers 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 fellowship, friendship and fun every Sunday in the Payne Education Center, Rooms 210-212, 10:00 to 10:45am.

Rita Junker will be conducting class for the next two weeks.

Just barely visible in the photo, you can see a bandage on Charles Given's arm. Its what's left of an injury from breaking a plate glass window!

The Prime Timers want to hear YOUR Good News!

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

Charles Given brought news of starting a new job and the aftermath of breaking a plate glass window. The good news in that is that there was no permanent damage!

Sue Morrison had successful laser eye surgery.

Finally Jackie Rose told us she was appointed a Vice-President at the company she works for. Congratulations Jackie!

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Mentor

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

Co-Leaders

Our Leader, Jackie Rose, is taking a couple of well deserved weeks off.

Walter and Sue Morrison, listening in class. That's Joyce Crowl in back of Walter.

The Distinction between Healing and Curing

Our class concerned the story of the paralyzed man lowered through the roof of the place where Jesus was teaching. Jackie Rose introduced this reading as the beginning of what are called the "Controversy Stories", Jesus performing miracles, and the reactions and machinations of the upholders of the Law, the Pharisees and scribes.

The chronology of this is that Jesus forgave the man his sin's and then, challenged by the scribes, he tells the man “Stand up and take your mat and walk”. Jackie cautioned us not to associate sinfulness with illness. We are all healers, but very often a cure will not be forthcoming.

There are many forms of healing we can perform. We can encourage people, just listening to others can be very therapeutic. We can also be "action figures", becoming an advocate or taking them to the hospital. Finally we can become prayer partners with those in need.

While it is comforting to see ourselves healing others we love, it is much more difficult when we imagine doing this for people we don't like, or even enemies. Jackie reminded us that Jesus did in fact, come down and die for everyone, including the worst of us. Can we forgive these people as well?

The discussion came back to the sequence of events. George Laigle suggested that if the man was forgiven his sins, this might well have released him from his own demons, and this may well have been manifested as paralysis.

Rita Junker then brought up the story of Job, where all his friends thought that he must have sinned to have all the bad things that happened to him. Job turns things around when he prays for all the people who thought he was the sinner.

 The Lesson for Sunday, June 19 is titled "The Prevailing Good"

Key Verse:  Mark 14:55

Focus of the Lesson:  Those who do what is right are often viewed as a threat to society--and even as threats to the status quo of the religious community. Why should we not give up in despair and avoid the demands and sacrifices of doing "what is right"? By submitting to his arrest, Jesus showed us that living in faithfulness to God's plan can indeed lead to rejection and persecution. Ultimately, however, that rejection and persecution fulfill God's plan.

The reading is Mark 14:53-65; 15:1-3. This text is from the New Revised Standard Version.

   53 They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. 54 Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. 56 For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58 ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.”’ 59 But even on this point their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’ 61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ 62 Jesus said, ‘I am; and
    “you will see the Son of Man
    seated at the right hand of the Power,”
    and “coming with the clouds of heaven.”’
   63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?’ All of them condemned him as deserving death. 65 Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, ‘Prophesy!’ The guards also took him over and beat him.

Mark 15:1b-3

   1b They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You say so.’ 3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things.