You are invited to The St. Martin's Prime Timers Adult Bible Fellowship!

We meet in rooms 207-207 of the Payne Education Center, every Sunday from 10:10am to 10:50. Bring a friend! This is a good time to jump in as we are beginning a new lesson plan with the first quarter entitled "You Will Be My Witnesses."

Do you know the story from the Bible that this stained glass window from our new church represents?

Good News!

Every week we set aside time to listen to news from our members. For $1 you can tell us what's going on in your life, and contribute to a good cause.

Jackie Rose, the Prime Timer's leader, is taking care of her husband Robert. He had knee-replacement surgery this week. Our first news was from Anne Berry, who told us that the operation was a success, however Robert's esophagus had closed, making it hard to eat. He will be going back into surgery this week for this and our prayers go out to Jackie and Robert.

Anna Jeffrey tried for a two-for-one-dollar special with the chicken and a split blessing. First she reported that her son Spencer is off to college and second she prayed that a misplaced keepsake and an emptied glove box in the car would not lead to disaster. Luckily the item turned up and for that she is thankful.

Max Kech, from the Prime Timers Caring Ministry followed up on last week's lesson with a real life Good Samaritan story. A resident at a property where she works was having an armoire filled with family treasures, including a checkbook (!) moved and, unknown to her, it fell off the back of the truck. Some Day Care workers found the piece of furniture in the middle of the street and through the check book were able to locate the owner. They loaded everything on their van and returned it. Praise the Lord! Also as a follow-up to her prayers on Sunday, Max's daughter Julie arrived home safely after 20 hours on the road from New Orleans!

Building Community 

Today's session was an end and a beginning. Last September 5th we began a lesson plan from the Uniform Series from the National Council of Churches with readings from Genesis and this week Skip Maryan concluded with a lesson from the Gospel According to Luke. Next week we will begin a new year long plan. If you ever wanted the perfect time to join us this would be it!

Today's vocabulary words are Humility--lack of pride, a modest opinion of one's own status, and Hospitality--cordial, generous reception of guests, treating strangers in a warm, friendly generous manner.

These words lead right into the readings--two stories centering around eating from Luke. The first (Luke 14:7-11) suggests that you don't try to take the top place at the table, in case you have to move to make way for someone else and be humbled. The second involves a feast where no one comes, giving the excuses many of us might find familiar when we are declining an invitation.

Pride goeth before a fall pretty well sums up the first story. As Skip asked for discussion he noted that humility is a virtue singularly lacking in the world today, citing rush hour traffic and how humility can even be a negative in today's business climate. The first comment from the group was about ego and self-importance, second that fear about today's economy can lead to rash behavior. Third was that if you won't promote yourself, no one else is likely to do it for you. It is troubling that a foundation for a Christian community is so little thought of.

The second story is of the feast where no one comes. This can be seen as an allegory for Jesus bringing the Good News for everyone, not just those following the strict Jewish Law.

Skip then began to sum up and conclude our year long journey of faith. This past year we have "unbundled" scripture. God reveals himself to us in small pieces that we can understand. He noted that three of the major religions today, Christianity, Judaism and Islam; religions that are so often at each others throats, all have a common figure as a founding figure, Abraham.

We started with the Old Testament and its promises, moved on to the vengeful God of David and the Psalms and concluded in the times of Jesus, where Jesus broke through the complicated checklist for salvation that the Jewish Law had become.

Skip left us with the thought--does God continue to reveal himself to us today?

Max Kech concluded our session with our healing prayer, and then Skip read the Benediction.

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Mentor

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

Leader

Teacher Skip Maryan (l) chats with Linda, Rick, Maud Ella and Prime Timer Outreach person Ann Berry.

Anne Berry brought news of Jackie Rose' husband Robert.

Anna Jeffrey had two part news for the chicken!

Max Kech brought a real-life Good Samaritan story.

Rev. Bob Brown gets adjusted by the Prime Timers!

 The Lesson for Sunday, September 4th is titled "Encountering the Spirit"

Key Verse:  Acts 2:38

Focus of the Lesson:  People search for good news that will transform their lives. How does this life-transforming message come to people today? The story of Pentecost shows that God's Spirit helps people hear the message of the risen Christ.

The reading is Acts 2:1-8,38-42. This text is from the New International Version.

   1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

   5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

   38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

   40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

   42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

NIV®