Welcome to the Prime Timers Adult Bible Fellowship Web Page.

You are cordially invited to the Payne Education Center, Rooms 210-212 every Sunday from 10:00am to 10:45am for fellowship, education, coffee and donuts. The Prime Timers is a group in the Prime of Life, maybe this is you. And don't forget Prime Timers meets year-round, we 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.

Our Co-Leader, Skip Maryan, taught class today. He returns to his work in South Africa later this week. The two events are not related.

The Fellowship of the Chicken!

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 decide where to apply the funds we collected.

Our co-leader Skip Maryan reported on his son graduating from High School, along with the news that this was not completely certain. After going through the trials common to many teenagers, things are looking up for the Maryans.

Randy Riddell told of his wife insisting that he accompany his son back from school in his old pickup truck. He was glad she did, as the pickup caught on fire and burned to the ground! Both Riddells are safe and father Randy is thankful God allowed him to be there for his son at a time of potential crisis.

Martha Ann Linden's granddaughter, Elise, graduated from Wheaton College and has a job with a Houston non-profit organization.

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Mentor

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

Co-Leaders

Randy had news of a car fire that re-affirmed his faith!

Martha Ann reported good news from her family.

Life Together

Skip Maryan began our concluding segment with Paul by telling us it is easier to become a Christian than to get into the Houston Country Club! Of course the point he was making is that Christianity is a very welcoming religion.

Another interesting point was that when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door on the Wittenberg Church on October 31, 1517 he was partially motivated by his repulsion with practice of "buying indulgences", including redeeming the sins of the deceased! This certainly recalls Paul's frustration with the Galatians.

Jackie Rose described her problem with Galatians 6:10 "So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith." She felt that this should be the opposite, that it encouraged exclusion. Jim Gibson suggested editing the Galatians' verse:  ". . . good of all, starting with those of the family of faith."  Randy Riddell countered that "you can't sell from an empty wheelbarrow". This went back to Dr. Bill Moore's talk from two weeks ago when he pointed out that Paul's letters were not meant to be universal truth, rather they were letters to certain people of the time, addressing a specific situation.

 The Lesson for Sunday, June 5 is titled "Preparing for Leadership"

Key Verse:  Mark 1:11

Focus of the Lesson:  People respond best to leaders who have appropriate credentials and qualifications to lead and who demonstrate a genuine understanding of their followers. What credentials and qualifications and understanding does Jesus demonstrate for those who would minister in his name? Jesus' authority was declared--by human and divine voices--at the time of his baptism. In facing and responding to temptations, Jesus established his understanding of the human condition.

The reading is Mark 1:4:13. This text is from the New Revised Standard Version.

   4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
   9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’"
   12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 
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