St. Martin's Advent Altar.

Hope You Had a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

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. During November we studied some of Paul's letters, December begins a new unit entitled "Human Commitment" with readings from Luke and you are invited! There are no ABF's next week, December 7, due to Rev. Barr's visit and scheduled talk during the ABF time period.

Prime Timers Celebrates 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.

Pete gave thanks that a project for a new Houston Arboretum to the south of the city is taking shape. Pete's wife is involved as a director. Marty celebrated a nice Thanksgiving dinner with his cousin's family, his mother and Aunt at Sandy's Market (http://www.sandysmarket.com/) where they all had a great time, and nothing to clean up when it was over!

Persecution Within the Community

Our teacher today is Carol Hartland. She begins with some background on where Paul is when he writes his second letter to the Corinthians. Paul founds the church at Corinth and the congregation writes to him at least once (1 Cor. 7:1). Paul writes them a letter, referenced in 1 Corinthians 5:9, that is now lost. Paul writes his first letter to Corinth from Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:8). Then he sends Timothy to Corinth as a personal emissary, and Timothy returns with news that a group of Jewish-Christian missionaries arrived at Corinth and were undermining Paul's apostolic authority and teachings. This prompts Paul to return to Corinth, resulting in a "painful visit" (2 Cor. 2:1) and a "letter of tears" (2 Cor 2:4), a letter that is now lost. Evidently this letter did persuade the majority of the congregation that Paul's position was correct, as Titus reported to Paul when they meet in Macedonia. Paul writes a conciliatory letter that begins in second Corinthians, along with some other letters that are now lost. So second Corinthians seems to be a composite of fragments of different letters, with their precise chronology open to question. No wonder it can be difficult to read Paul's letters!

In our passages today, Paul is boasting of his sufferings for the Lord. To introduce the last passage, Carol has us read the preceding two verses (2 Cor. 12:7-8)  "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me." Some scholars feel that Paul's "thorn" might be from a type of eye disease, ophthalmia, common in this era. This could affect Paul's appearance, Paul is not an attractive fellow. He is also partially blind, when he writes it's in large letters. The reading concludes with this statement (2 Cor. 12:10) "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

 Carol's question for the class is will we suffer for our beliefs? We are in a culture that tries to eliminate any trace of suffering, many times without success. If you Google "Christian Suffering" you will find a rich list of links showing that persecution of Christians is going on today, and lots of it! Class members mention how their Christian beliefs can be treated as suspect by business contacts. Pete asks what is going on right now (Sunday morning) saying that most likely it is sports contests and various outings having nothing to do with church participation. The decline in church membership is also mentioned. And everyone's favorite punching bag, "the media" is also blamed for persecuting Christians.

If you don't want to start an argument, take religion and politics off your table! Pete mentioned growing up Catholic in Louisiana, surrounded by Baptists. This resulted in some less than subtle persecution. This opened some nostalgic comments on how times have changed. How many of our grandparents would have their attitudes classified today as racist or at the very least intolerant? Carol mentioned her work at a hospital where she is told not to bring up religion, and how many times the patients she talks to want about spirituality.

We can all be thankful this holiday season that our persecutions are minor compared to Paul's.

Carol concluded class with a short benediction.

The Lesson for Sunday, December 7,  is "Mary's Commitment"

Key Verse:  Luke 1:46-47

Focus of the Lesson: Many people encounter someone or something so charismatic and powerful that it demands their complete commitment. Who or what is able to command such a commitment? Mary recognized the glory of God and made her total commitment to God.

The reading is Luke 1:46-55. This text is from the New International Version. (NIV)

Background Scripture:  Luke 1:26-38, 46-55

   ⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Mary's Song

   ⁴⁶And Mary said:
      "My soul glorifies the Lord
   ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
   ⁴⁸for he has been mindful
      of the humble state of his servant.
      From now on all generations will call me blessed,
   ⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
      holy is his name.
   ⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him,
      from generation to generation.
   ⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
      he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
   ⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones
      but has lifted up the humble.
   ⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things
      but has sent the rich away empty.
   ⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
      remembering to be merciful
   ⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants forever,
      even as he said to our fathers."

NIV