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Welcome to the St. Martin's Adult Bible Fellowship Prime Timers Web Site! We meet each Sunday in the Payne Education Center, rooms 207-209 in between the 9 and 11am services from 10:10 to 10:50. You are invited to join us! The next two weeks all the St. Martin's Adult Bible Fellowships take a break due to Christmas and New Years. We all wish you and all of yours the very best for this wonderful time of year. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! This page will be updated with readings from our study guide, "Christ, the Image of God" so come on back each week to check us out! The Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence, by Caravaggio, 1609. Oil on canvas, Formerly at San Lorenzo, Palermo (lost)! Walking in the Light Pete Seale led the Prime Timers in our passage from 1 John. There is some speculation that this was written by a disciple of John, but early Christian communities cherished this letter, along with 2 and 3 John, as personal and practical guides to Christian faith. We can assume that it is an authentic communication sent by a pastor or teacher to proclaim the gospel. Pete discussed the first part of the reading by focusing on the phrase from 1 John 1:5 "...God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." Either we walk in the light or stumble in the darkness. But who among us is perfect? While we like to think of ourselves as good people, how many times have we hurt someone, maybe with cross words or a hurtful comment? Pete, and John, remind us that our religion provides for forgiveness. If we stumble we can be forgiven, (1 John 2:1) "...we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." Pete concluded with this short benediction
from Jude 24-25, after which he dismissed the class: Now to
him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without
blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our
Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and
authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Mentor Rev. B. Massey Gentry
Anne
Berry
832/251-8868 H
Teachers Richard Cruse Chris Hershberger Pete Seale
Ben Welmaker Outreach (inviting and welcoming new members)
Anne
Berry
832/251-8868 H
atberry@proctor-law.com
Elizabeth Sleeper Max Kech 713/802-0690 H maxkech2003@yahoo.com Click here for a print friendly version of this page! |
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St. Paul from the St. Martins New Church Stained Glass Windows. The Conversion of St. Paul, by Caravaggio around 1600. Oil on cypress wood, Odescalchi Balbi Collection, Rome The Lesson for Sunday, December 31st is titled "Keeping the Balance" Key Verse: Philippians 2:3 Focus of the Lesson: Some people avoid humility as a sign of weakness, while others embrace it to the point that they become proud of their humility! Is it possible to balance a sense of humility with an appropriate level of self-esteem. Pointing out that Jesus Christ achieved the perfect balance between humility and exaltation, Paul urges Christians to take on the mind of Christ. The reading is Philippians 2:1-11 This text is from the New International Version®. 1If you have any
encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his
love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and
compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you
should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others. | ||
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© 2006
St. Martin's Episcopal Church 717 Sage Road | Houston, Texas 77056-2199 | (713) 621-3040 | (713) 622-5701 Fax |