The Altar at St. Martin's Church

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder Jackie Rose was to have a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are still online here. The group disbanded but the readings below are being kept up to date.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, May 24 are from the Lectionary Year A Seventh Sunday of Easter: Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 and John 17:1-11. The text is from the Bible Study Tools - New International Version.

Acts 1:6-14

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. ¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

¹² Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36

¹ May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
     may his foes flee before him.

² May you blow them away like smoke—
     as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.

³ But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;
     may they be happy and joyful.

⁴ Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
     extol him who rides on the clouds ;
     rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.

⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
     is God in his holy dwelling.

⁶ God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing;
     but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

⁷ When you, God, went out before your people,
     when you marched through the wilderness,

⁸ the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
     before God, the One of Sinai,
     before God, the God of Israel.

⁹ You gave abundant showers, O God;
     you refreshed your weary inheritance.

¹⁰ Your people settled in it,
     and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.

³² Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,
     sing praise to the Lord,

³³ to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
     who thunders with mighty voice.

³⁴ Proclaim the power of God,
     whose majesty is over Israel,
     whose power is in the heavens.

³⁵ You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
     the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
     Praise be to God!

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

^5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

John 17:1-11

¹ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸ For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.