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|
June 24, 2007 "Finding
Satisfaction" |
Come on in. Its Cool Inside! Welcome to the St. Martin's Prime Timers Adult Bible Fellowship.
Prime Timers is geared towards people aged fifty to sixty-four but don't let that stop you! We always welcome new members and whatever your age you are invited. We meet in the Payne Education Center, rooms 207-209, Sunday from 10:10 to 10:50am.
This summer until the end of August our class is studying the Prophets: Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Lamentations (traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah), Ezekiel, Zechariah and Malachi. These prophets proclaimed God's word over several hundred years, but their message was consistent: A faithful relationship with God entails specific requirements, one of which is to do right. What do you think? We'd be honored to have you join our class!
True Worship!
Chris Hershberger guided us through today's session with the prophet Isaiah. In today's reading there is something of a turnaround in the Old Testament. Sacrifices and burnt offerings are part of many rituals in the Old Testament, yet here we have an angry God chiding his flock as hypocrites. He tells them he is tired of all the offerings and blood and festivals made in His honor. Here God is asking His people to "walk the talk" and perform good deeds instead of staging elaborate ceremonies.
Chris recalled Rev. Jerald Hyche's sermon on "Low Sunday", the week after Easter, or "High Sunday", when all the "CEO's" showed up (Christmas, Easter and One other time). The sermon was about the resurrection and how Christians wondered a week later if it really happened, and were looking for a sign. He was also reminded of Matthew 25:35-36 "for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
Actions speak louder than words could be our theme here. Chris reminded us of the Great Thanksgiving in our Holy Eucharist: "It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God."
Our mentor, St. Martin's Vice-Rector the Rev. Massey Gentry, provided some context for this reading telling us that Isaiah is chastising the Jews for compromising the faith by including Pagan Gods into the services. Baal the fertility God plays a role here. In a farming based economy fertility is a major factor. Perhaps the Jews allowed these pagan Gods into their service to keep membership up in their church. Massey pointed out that in South America, even though it is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, many symbols of older religions still persist.
We concluded noting how when a Christian cleric is asked to pray at a public, civic event there is some agonizing over whether to pray specifically to Jesus or to use more amorphous, generalized wording. One method is to use the phrase "My Lord and savior Jesus," in other words your Lord may vary. Massey noted how Christianity is the only religion with this problem. Islam, Buddhism and others would simply pray to their God without considering the religious faiths of others.
Another member was asked to deliver a benediction at a large gathering of his company and after eliminating everything he thought might be a problem for one group or another found he had a very short benediction!
Prime Timers Contact names and numbers
Mentor
Rev. B. Massey Gentry
mgentry@stmartinsepiscopal.org
Leaders
Anne Berry
832/251-8868 H
atberry@proctor-law.com
Max Kech
713/802-0690 H
maxkech2003@yahoo.com
Marty Smith
713/464-6737 H
martys@houston.rr.com
Teachers
Richard Cruse
Chris Hershberger
Pete Seale
Ben Welmaker
bhwjr@flash.net
Outreach (inviting and welcoming new members)
Anne Berry
832/251-8868 H
atberry@proctor-law.com
Elizabeth Sleeper
jsleeperjr@houston.rr.com
Caring (prayers, follow-up w/class members who have been ill or have other needs)
Max Kech
713/802-0690 H
maxkech2003@yahoo.com
The Prophet Isaiah by Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1509, Fresco at the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican.
A View from the recently opened Cloister Garden at St. Martin's Episcopal Church.
Another view of the Cloister Garden.
The Lesson for Sunday, June 24th is titled "Finding Satisfaction"
Key Verse: Isaiah 55:6
Focus of the Lesson: Most people want an abundance of good things in their life. What is the source of such abundance for us? Using the image of a great feast to which we are invited, Isaiah says that God is the one who generously provides all good things for us.
The reading is Isaiah 55:1-3a, 6-11. This text is from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).
Background Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-11
1Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2Why do you spend your money for that
which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
6Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
7let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may
have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10For as the rain and the snow come down
from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered
the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
NRSV
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