Page 2 - 2022 June/July Newsletter

Page 2 Southern Pennsylvania District

There is also the problem of mental illness and the dearth of
treatment facilities and resources to help. Although, if you talk to
mental illness professionals, the mentally ill are more likely to hurt
themselves than others. So that is not the total solution either.
Some point to social media and the cocooning effects of the
Covid-19 pandemic as the problem. As we become isolated from
others, it far too easy to misjudge other’s motives or intentions
when all you see is what comes to you through the internet. Some
people’s research into things is only what they read on FB or other
sites. While the internet can be a helpful tool to explore the world at
your fingertips, like any tool it can become a weapon. I prefer
people to talk to me in person where I can see expressions, body
language, and hear inflections in their voices. But the elimination of
social media is not the total solution either.
I would hope that we could see others as human beings and not
a group. If you consider someone less than human, it is easy to
want to eliminate them from the face of the earth. Just look to the
treatment of native Americans as they were referred to as savages
and less than worthy of humane treatment in the early years of our
country. We can also point to the blight of slavery in America or the
SO PA District COB Holocaust in Europe in the 1940’s.

3375 Carlisle Rd, Ste We need to see others as God sees them. He loves us and gave
A His only Son for our salvation. We have an example of self-
sacrifice not self-aggrandizement or promotion. Unfortunately, in
Gardners, PA 17324 some cases, the church has not been the best model of following

717-778-2264 Christ’s example. But the church is the best hope for making a
difference as we strive together to not be of this world in our lives,
attitudes, responses, and living together. If ever our world needs to

Rev. Dr. William A. be “Jesus in the Neighborhood,” it is now. We are created by God
for this and commissioned to do this. I would hope that we will take
Waugh
a close look at how we deal with one another and how we proclaim
District Executive Christ to our world. Let us love one another with Christ’s love and
724-875-0958 cell show that to the world. Let us pray and work for reconciliation and
bwaugh@brethren.org the salvation of others. My prayer is that we will experience the
truth of Psalm 30:11-12
Office hours:
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my
Mon, Thu, Fri 10-4
sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing
your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you
forever. Psalm 30:11-12
Amy Weaver

Office Manager
SOPADistrict@ Bill
brethren.org

Office hours:

Mon-Thu 9-4

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