The Houston Marathon!

The Houston Marathon is an annual event, and makes travel by car to St. Martin's something of a challenge. This has nothing to do with the Prime Timers, but we thought you might like to see what went on in case you missed it!

St. Martin's Marathon Sunday snacks.

Parishoners welcoming Marathon runners.

Chilly children!

Go Runners!!!!

Pretty in Pink!

Hello Mr. President! Former President George. H. W. Bush and Barbara are on hand to greet, and be greeted!

Prime Timers enjoys bringing you photos from this annual event. We have photos of the Marathon going back several years that you can see by clicking on the years: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006!

This is a Great Time to Join the Prime Timers!

We are a Christian Education group at St. Martin's for Episcopalians aged fifty and above. If you are near the Parlor in between the 9:15 and 11:00am services, come on in, you are invited! We follow a course of study based on the Revised Common Lectionary, the three year cycle of readings from the Bible you hear at every church service. Next week's readings are right here, at the bottom of the page.

Prime Timer Good News!

A Prime Timer tradition is hearing what others are up to, and charging a dollar for the privilege! We donate the money we collect to charities supported by the church. George and Elizabeth gave thanks for their grandson Johnny and his new life!

Come and See

George Laigle led the Prime Timers as we read the first of several readings during the season of Epiphany. Due to the Houston Marathon class was rather more informal than usual, starting with the story of the boy Samuel, who gets the call from God but mistakes it for his own father. The Gospel from Mark with Jesus recognizing Nathaniel was the subject of Rev. Fields sermon this morning. No need to hide who you are from Jesus!

Donald S. Armentrout Synthesis Editor for Tradition, is retired as Professor of Ecclesiastical History at The School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. He has written:
“In today’s Gospel we see Nathanael’s skepticism about the Lord simply because Jesus was from Nazareth, an obscure village that had an unfortunate reputation, as reflected in the proverb: ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ The Gospels make no attempt to paint a rosy picture of the disciples—even this one whom Jesus said was without guile. They are not seen as papier-mâché heroes, but as people of flesh and blood. They sometimes have remarkable insight, and they sometimes say incredibly stupid things.
“We find ourselves wishing they would learn—and yet knowing more and more that we also have a lot to learn. It is not surprising that it is those who are open who perceive the marvelous works of God.
“The season of Epiphany says to us what Philip said to Nathanael: ‘We have met the man spoken of by Moses in the law, and by the prophets: It is Jesus! … Come and see.’”

Elizabeth gave a heartfelt prayer to end today's class.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, January 22nd are from Lectionary Year Two, Epiphany 3-B, "Fishers of Souls": Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:6-14; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 and Mark 1:14-20. The text this week is from the New Revised Standard Version.

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

¹The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ²‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ ³So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. ⁴Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ ⁵And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

¹⁰ When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Psalm 62:6-14

⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
⁷ On God rests my deliverance and my honour;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah

⁹ Those of low estate are but a breath,
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
¹⁰ Put no confidence in extortion,
and set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

¹¹ Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
¹² and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.
For you repay to all
according to their work.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

²⁹I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, ³⁰and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, ³¹and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Mark 1:14-20

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, ¹⁵and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

¹⁶ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ ¹⁸And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

NRSV