What kind of computer do you recommend?

[publius2k4]

If you're just going to be writing sermons and newsletters, I would consider Linux. Linux Mint is similar to Windows XP or 7 but is more stable and secure than any Windows operating system. In fact, when I ran a Linux Mint VM, it was actually easier to learn than Windows 8. Chromebooks are also worthy of consideration.

Regardless of the operating system you choose, LibreOffice is a highly capable freeware alternative to the Microsoft Office.

There isn't a huge difference between different manufacturers. Refurbished PCs are often a bit less expensive than new machines, but they also have a slightly higher risk of things going wrong. It's up to you whether these savings justify that risk. Asus and Toshiba often seem to offer a good value, but as long as you avoid the bargain-basement $250 laptops, you'll have a hard time finding a lemon in the lot.

Mint is Ubuntu based, with a KDE window manager instead of the standard Unity that Ubuntu comes with. And I agree with you. Mint is very stable and user friendly.

A lot of people are big fans of Chromebook. I've run ChromeOS in a VM, and I didn't particularly like it. It didn't offer the features I need....but then again, I'm an above average end-user. That being said, it is very secure and stable.....and it's linux based