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 21st,  is "Shepherds Glorify God"

Key Verse:  Luke 2:20

Focus of the Lesson: People yearn to hear the good news of the fulfillment of promises. What results from our appreciation for promises that are kept? The shepherds glorified and praised God for the gift of the long-awaited Messiah and told others the good news.

The reading is Luke 2:8-20 This text is from the New International Version. (NIV)

Background Scripture:  Luke 2:1-20

   ⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

   ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
      ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
          and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

   ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

   ¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

NIV