Welcome to the Prime Timers A.B.F.

The Prime Timers meet every Sunday in the Payne Education center, second floor, rooms 210-212 from 10:10 am until 10:50 am. Join us for coffee, donuts and fellowship and stay for a program from the National Council of Churches, "Called to Be God's People".

This week all the St. Martins A.B.F.'s will meet in the Bagby Parish Hall as part of the Faith Alive activities.

Our group this past Sunday. Dr. Bill Moore (right, front row) made a donation to Henny Penny's Good News Fund.

Overcoming Uncertainty

Our new mentor, the Rev. Rusty Goldsmith, began this weeks session with a few words and the opening prayer. Henny Penny, the Prime Timers chicken, made three dollars this week with good news from Dr. Bill Moore and two items from Max Kech. Dr. Bill gave thanks for the work of Dr. Marcus Borg, who was in Houston this weekend for presentations.  Max gave thanks that one of her daughters got the job she's been wanting and that her two granddaughters were being baptized on Sunday.

The reading for this week comes from the Book of John. Its the story of Nicodemus, the Pharisee who meets with Jesus to overcome his uncertainty in what it means to be born again. This book was meant for Christians, Christian Jews, and non-converted Jews. There is evidence that the source material for this book is different from that of the Synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a person of the highest standards and an arbiter of the many Jewish laws. He sought out Jesus at night, indicating that he was not sure of whether Jesus was who he said he was, or needing secrecy to discuss and clarify his doubts.

He comes taking Jesus literally, and Jesus explains the what he means with the phrase “You must be born from above.” This story was written in Greek, and the word used is "anothen", literally "from above". The phrase "born again" has been co-opted by some in Christianity. Jesus was using it to explain the spiritual element of doing God's work.

The session ended with the suggestion that when things in our life start to get out of hand, that we pray, study scripture and seek mentors to help us.

Prime Timers Contact names and numbers

Co-Leaders

Maxie Kech brought two good news stories.

The Spring like weather we've had recently reminded me of this great resource we have, and its only about a hour north of Houston.

The Lesson for Sunday, February 27 is titled "Overcoming Prejudice"

Key Verse:  Galatians 3:28

Focus of the Lesson:  It is often difficult to overcome barriers raised by prejudice. Whom are we prejudiced against, and how is God calling us to change this? Neither Jesus nor the Samaritan woman lets prejudice interfere with their conversation. As a result, Jesus identified himself to her and she spread the good news.

The reading is John 4:7-10, 19-26. This text is from the New Revised Standard Version.

7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.)
9 The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’

19 The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.’ 21 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ 25 The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ 26 Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you.’

Galatians 3:28

28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.