Page 1 - Newsletter 2025 August September

Southern Pennsylvania District

Church of the Brethren

Simple Living

Abavandimwe! Brothers and sisters! There are many practical reasons for simple living,
but I want ultimately to help us understand the biblical reasons. I don't want to make some-
thing simple to be complicated! We have, as a church, tried to legislate simple living.
Clothing, hair styles, carpet, lightning rods. The old stone farmhouse that I grew up in was
built in the later years of the 1700's. My great-great-great-great grandfather Abraham Rine-
hart was censured by the Coventry church because of the beautiful raised panel cherry
doors in the house.
But there are several things that I want to consider, along with a biblical framework
(and a few Kinyarwanda words) - contentment, work, thrift, and generosity.
1. Contentment (kunyurwa nibyo ufite) - Exodus 20:7-17; Matthew 6:19-34; I Timothy
6:6-10.
2. Work (akazi) - Genesis 2:15 and 3:17-19; I Thessalonians 4:11-12; II Thessalonians

3:6-12.
3. Thrift (kwita ku bintu) - Matthew 6:19-34; Proverbs 31:30-34. Conservation, recy-
CONTENTS cling, cleanliness, care of things.

Message Pgs. 1-2 4. Generosity (Ubuntu) - Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 18:18-25; 19:1-10; II Corinthians 9:6-
———————————- 15; I John 2:15-17.
I never saw my grandfather, Martin Urner, as he died a few years before I was born. I
District Info Pgs. 2-4 learned, however, from an old friend, that he was esteemed by his brethren in the church
______________________ and ministry as a preacher of more than ordinary ability; so much so, that at their yearly
meetings he was always called upon to preach. My friend said that on one occasion when
Upcoming Events Pgs. 5-6 the Yearly Meeting was held in Philadelphia, as the preachers from the country were jog-
______________________ ging along on horseback, going to the meeting, one of the preachers said to my grandfa-
ther, 'As you will no doubt be called upon to preach at this meeting, I want you to preach
District News Pgs. 7-13 particularly against the wearing of fine clothes, as the brethren and sisters of Philadelphia
______________________ are becoming entirely too fashionable in their dress.' And although he urged the matter
lengthily, he thought my grandfather did not give all heed to what he said, and asked, 'Did
Learning Opportunities you hear what I said?' The answer was, 'Yes.' The next question was, 'Will you do it?' My
CEU’s Pgs.14-18 grandfather replied, 'If I am called upon to preach, I hope I shall have something of more
——–———————–— importance to talk to people about than the rags with which they clothe themselves.
(David Urner in J. N. Urner's History of the Coventry Brethren Church as quoted by Mar-
Ministry News/Events
Pgs. 19-27 tin M. Brumbaugh, History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America; Breth-
_______________________ ren Publishing House, 1899.)
So, considering that even our righteousness is as filthy rags, do I have a point here? Is
there a valid argument for simple living? What IS simple living? It is finding contentment
with what God has granted us and has asked of us. Finding joy in the work God has called
us to. Not being wasteful of the resources of time and material. And just as importantly,
being generous with these resources that we've refused to waste.
Guseng Imana - let us pray... Data wo mwijuru, turagushimiye kubwiki gihe hamwe. Tura-
bashimira kubwimpano zoroshye zubuzima. Turagushimira urukundo n'imbabazi zawe
binyuze muri Yesu Kristo.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time together. We thank you for the simple gifts of
life. We thank you for your love and mercy through Jesus Christ. And as we close this
time together we commit our lives to seeking first your kingdom and your righteousness,
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. ~ Chris Elliott
2025