"...He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him." (John 2:11)

Prime Timers is a St. Martin's Adult Christian Education group, also known as an Adult Bible Fellowship. We are people in the Prime of Life, age 50 and beyond, inviting one and all to come to the Parlor near the Church Offices each Sunday from 10:15 am to 11:00. This season we are following the Revised Common Lectionary. 2010 is a great time to jump in: our chairs are comfortable, the coffee is hot and the donuts are fresh! See you there.

St. Martin's is right in the path of the Houston Marathon. This year we welcomed the runners with pretzels! Prime Timer's mentor Rev. Dick Elwood is the man in the white robe! You couldn't miss us, just look for the pink flamingos!

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 charity, currently the Amistad Mission in Bolivia.

Water Into Wine

Carol Hartland led the Prime Timers this week as we explored Jesus first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Maybe Jesus was not quite ready for this, as we read in John 2:4 where Jesus says "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." The woman Jesus was referring to is Mary, and all through John she is not referred to by her name. As Carol told us, this is not a form of condescension, rather a term of respect! Jesus uses this form of address again on the cross.

Rev. Fields' notes for this lesson mention that when you see "the third day" in scripture you know the event is important. And indeed, John's scripture begins this very way. Jesus just returned from the forty days in the desert where he was tempted by the devil but refused to use his miraculous powers for his own needs. Then he comes back and goes directly to a wedding! This is a happy time, a festive occasion. Perhaps his reluctance to use his powers was a result of his recent trial. At any rate it is a manifestation of his glory, a blessing indicating that his religion was one of joy.

Speaking of Rev. Ken Fields, someone in class is attending his Wednesday night series "The Bible for Dummies" and reports that it is entertaining as well as informative. The program is each Wednesday, January 13 to February 10. There is a Eucharist at 6pm, followed by dinner from 6:15-6:45 and the program itself from 6:45pm to 7:30 in Bagby Parish Hall. No reservations are required!

Another class member commented on how there are people who regard alcohol as the work of the devil, and here we have Jesus making wine from water! Just to be very clear, she is not casting Jesus as the devil, just pointing out that in Jesus' ministry (John 10:10) "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Class discussion turned to miracles. Carol mentioned Joshua Bell, a famous violinist, who took his Stradivarius down to a metro station in Washington, DC and began to play. This was part of a social experiment by the Washington Post. Very few people paid any attention to him at all! Carol's point here is that very often people are not looking for miracles, and yet sometimes they can be all around you. When was the last time you saw a beautiful sunset or sunrise?

Elizabeth mentioned her oldest son, a bachelor whose father believes the son does not pay enough attention to others. Recently he took two of Elizabeth's grandsons to the Boat Show. Everyone had such a good time that the son now wants to take one of Elizabeth's granddaughters to the Rodeo! Is this a miracle? Does it really matter when something wonderful happens?

Sue takes the recorded sermon from St. Martin's to Hampton House and plays it for residents who can't make it to church. This week there was construction going on and Sue was afraid no one would be able to hear the sermon, but as she started the CD the noise stopped! We need to be thankful for miracles, no matter how small.

Carol is a big believer in the Outreach opportunities at St. Martins. If you are not busy Saturday morning you might consider volunteering at the Christian Community Services Center (CCSC) to sort clothing and food donations and staff their Food Pantry and Clothing Shop. They meet under the big tree in front of the CCSC at 3434 Branard (2 blocks south of West Alabama at Marquart, east of Edloe Street) at 8:50 AM and work from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Wear comfortable clothing. The upcoming days are 1/30, 2/27, 3/27, 4/24, 5/22, 6/26, 7/24, 8/28, 9/25 and 10/23/2010.

Carol concluded class with a short prayer.

The Readings for Sunday, January 24th are from Lectionary Year Three, Epiphany 3-C "The Lord has Anointed Me"

The Readings this week are Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; and Luke 4:14-21. The text is from the New International Version.

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

¹ all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

² So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. ³ He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

⁵ Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. ⁶ Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

⁸ They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

⁹ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm 19

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

³ There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

⁴ Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

⁵ which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

¹¹ By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

¹²The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

¹⁴Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. ¹⁵If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" ²²On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Luke 4:14-21

¹⁴Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

¹⁶He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

²⁰Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

NIV