Who Are These Brethren?
You probably have driven by the church building many times. Some of the members are probably your neighbors. But what do you really know about this congregation that has been meeting on Graham Avenue for over 125 years? Let us explore this briefly.
Members of the Church of the Brethren find their roots in Germany, back to 1708, making us a fairly young Christian denomination. The early founders made a covenant church founded on adult decision of baptism to form a church with Pietist roots. Choosing a life of simplicity and religious freedom, the church moved eventually to the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania about 1720. The church grew and expanded throughout the United States till the present day with over 1000 churches. Compared to other Protestant denominations, this church is small, but with a clear witness to biblical concerns such as peace-making and service. We are a New Testament church founded on faith in Jesus Christ. Central to our heritage is the position of no creed but the New Testament.
Rummel congregation began with a church building known as Borders, or Greenland, erected about 1874 on ground donated by Jacob Rose. The second building ca. 1886 was put on ground given by Jacob and Rebecca Fox in Ogletown. These two meeting houses were part of the Shade Creek congregation until 1916. The Rummel building was erected in 1903 and added to, but then destroyed by fire in 1971. A new and present building was erected and dedicated in 1973 and serves the present congregation. Other congregations that came from the Shade Creek congregation were Berkey, Scalp and Windber churches
At one time, Brethren were highly distinguishable by their dress and manner of living. Some say we looked Amish or Mennonite, but today this is not so. Brethren today are to be distinguished by their manner of living in the sense of how we live out our Christian witness. Words from Our Pastor. . .
The New Year has begun! Our message in 2001 is still the same; preach Jesus until He returns. Thats my call. Thats my congregations call. Thats our denominations call. As a matter of fact, that is every Christians call! Preach Jesus until His return; let the whole world know. This simple newspaper is part of our call to the Windber area. Rummel congregation and I want you to know Jesus. More important than anything else, we want you to know Jesus. If you do, terrific!
If you have a church family, great! Sit back, read this information about His church, the work of the Rummel congregation, and then pass it on to someone who may be interested in the same reading. May you be blessed and inspired and may you continue in your walk of faith. May your service in your church continue and may you know Gods peace.
On the other hand, if you do not know of Jesus, and the life changing effect He can have in your life, then please read this paper also. Consider joining us here at the Rummel meeting house of the Church of the Brethren. Visit us, call us, write us, contact us in any way you wish, and let us introduce you to Jesus Christ. Nothing would give us more joy.
Perhaps your are somewhere in-between. Perhaps it has been a long time since you have been to church. Maybe there is something that keeps you from returning to God. Maybe you need a fresh start. Maybe. . . and the list can go on. Truth is, whatever your reason(s) it is time to consider what part God has in your life and if there is a possibility that we may help you in your faith walk, we would love to try.
You will receive this paper a few more times this year. We will continue to tell you of our ministry here in the Windber community. A little of our past, a little of our future and we pray a good bit about Jesus Christ. The Gresh family, my wife Gieta, our four children and myself, and the people of the Rummel congregation invite you to worship with us if you do not have a church family. Especially consider joining us for Easter worship if nothing else. May your New Year be blessed as you listen to His call.
--Pastor Ken Gresh
Tragedy to Triumph by Louella Edeline
It happened on a Sunday morning--May 23, 1971.
I was getting ready to attend services at my church, Rummel Church of the Brethren, Windber PA. All of a sudden, regular programs on the radio were interrupted with the disastrous news that the Rummel Church of the Brethren was burning due to an explosion. My church -- the only church I knew -- was being destroyed.
I felt so lost. This was the place where my mother carried me in her arms; the place where I attended Sunday School, Daily Vacation Bible School, Youth Group meetings, where I worshipped and attended worship services regularly. Here I was baptized in the basement baptistry at age nine on May 9, 1934. Here my husband was also baptized; where my baby son was dedicated and later baptized. All of these memories were racing through my mind when the news came over the radio.
I had been a widow for more than a year and was living alone at the time. When my family came to take me to church that terrible Sunday, we instead went to Emmanuel Baptist Church on Luther Road. I didnt see how we could worship at Rummel that day. We later learned that some folks did show up for worship and Pastor Jack Byers did conduct services. Fortunately, the Fellowship Hall with adjoining Sunday School rooms had already been completed.
At the time, prior to the fire, the church was somewhat divided in whether to build a new sanctuary or remodel the old one. Feelings were moderately pronounced on both sides. Now, there was no division. A new church would have to be built.
Several churches in the Windber area offered us the use of their buildings, but we decided to keep the church members together and worship in the Fellowship Hall until the present church building was complete in 1973. The dedication was held October 21, 1973.
Yes, I felt a great loss when the church burned on that fateful day in May, 1971. I came to realize, though, this was a building and the real church was the congregation, the people under the Lordship of Christ. This tragic experience united us and tied us together in an amazing way. We were willing to work together, pray together, shed tears together and rejoice in the Lord -- together.
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