It's the Season of Advent

Join us at Prime Timers, a St. Martin's Adult Christian Education (A.C.E.) group, also know as an ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship), for people in the Prime of Life, ages 50-64. We meet in the Parlor near the Church Offices each Sunday from 10:15am to 11:00. We are following a course of study from the United Council of Churches titled The New Testament Community. It's difficult to study in December but we are charging ahead with a new unit entitled "Human Commitment" with readings from Luke and you are invited!

There were no ABF classes this week but...

We heard a very inspiring talk by Rev. Dr. John MacReadie Barr III who used Psalm 46 as his basis. I thought I would bring that Psalm here. The first reading is from the New International Version (NIV) that we use for our class readings. The second is from the King James Version.

Psalm 46 from the NIV:

   ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
      an ever-present help in trouble.

   ² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
      and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

   ³ though its waters roar and foam
      and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah

   ⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
      the holy place where the Most High dwells.

   ⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
      God will help her at break of day.

   ⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
      he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

   ⁷ The LORD Almighty is with us;
      the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

   ⁸ Come and see the works of the LORD,
      the desolations he has brought on the earth.

   ⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
      he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
      he burns the shields with fire.

   ¹⁰ "Be still, and know that I am God;
      I will be exalted among the nations,
      I will be exalted in the earth."

   ¹¹ The LORD Almighty is with us;
      the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalm 46 from the King James Version:

     ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
       a very present help in trouble.

   ² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
       and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

   ³ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
      though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

   ⁴ There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
      the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

   ⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:
       God shall help her, and that right early.

   ⁶ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
       he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

   ⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us;
       the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

   ⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
       what desolations he hath made in the earth.

   ⁹ He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
       he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
       he burneth the chariot in the fire.

   ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God:
       I will be exalted among the heathen,
       I will be exalted in the earth.

   ¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us;
       the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Prime Timers Celebrate Good News!

We celebrate our members Good News at Prime Timers with a $1 contribution to Henny Penny, our Good News chicken. Periodically Henny donates the money she collects to a worthy charity, currently the Amistad Mission in Bolivia.

The Lesson for Sunday, December 14,  is "Elizabeth's Commitment"

Key Verse:  Luke 1:41-42

Focus of the Lesson: Sometimes a commitment varies in its degree of complexity. How can a person make multiple commitments? Elizabeth remembered God's promise to her and to Zechariah, recognized the fulfillment of God's promise to Mary, and committed herself to the Messiah.

The reading is Luke 1:39-45 This text is from the New International Version. (NIV)

Background Scripture:  Luke 1:5-24; 39-45

   ³⁹At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

NIV