The Statue of Peter, c. 1300, Arnolfo Di Cambio, Bronze at the Treasury of San Pietro, Vatican

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder, Jackie Rose, was a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are online here. The group disbanded but the readings below follow the Revised Common Lectionary as adapted for use in Episcopal worship.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for May 17- Seventh Sunday of Easter --Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 and John 17:1-11. The text is from the Bible Study Tools -- New International Version. The Psalms are from the most recent print version of The Book of Common Prayer - 2016.

Acts 1:6-14

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. ¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

¹² Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36

¹ Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *
    let those who hate him flee before him.

² Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; *
    as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

³ But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *
    let them also be merry and joyful.

⁴ Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;
    exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *
    YAHWEH is his Name, rejoice before him!

⁵ Father of orphans, defender of widows, *
    God in his holy habitation!

⁶ God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom; *
    but the rebels shall live in dry places.

⁷ O God, when you went forth before your people, *
    when you marched through the wilderness,

⁸ The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain,
    at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *
    at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

⁹ You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *
    you refreshed the land when it was weary.

¹⁰ Your people found their home in it; *
    in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.

³³ Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; *
    sing praises to the Lord.

³⁴ He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; *
    he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

³⁵ Ascribe power to God; *
    his majesty is over Israel;
    his strength is in the skies.

³⁶ How wonderful is God in his holy places! *
    the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people!
    Blessed be God!

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

John 17:1-11

¹ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

Thanks to Bible Study Tools and the Online Book of Common Prayer for the text.