The Joy Connection. May What Do We Believe? Worship Events. Sunday, May 1 God the Father John 14:1-11 Holy Communion

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1 The Joy Connection May 2016 A monthly publication of Buffalo United Methodist Church Worship Events Sunday, May 1 God the Father John 14:1-11 Holy Communion Sunday, May 8 We Believe: God the Son and Redeemer John 1:1-18 Sunday, May 15 We Believe: God the Holy Spirit and Sustainer Acts 2:1-4, Biker Blessings Pentecost! Sunday, May 22 We Believe: God s People, the Church Matthew 28:16-20 Celebration Sunday & Volunteer Recognition Sunday, May 29 We Believe: The Forgiveness of Sins Romans 5:12-21 Memorial Sunday (Late service at 9:45 am) Sunday Schedule Joyful Praise Worship 8:15 am Fellowship Hour 9:20-10:20 am Celebration Worship 10:30 am (thru 5/22) 9:45 am (starting 5/29) What Do We Believe? As long as the Church has existed there have been disagreements about what we believe and how we are to live out our faith, individually and collectively. Shortly after the Church was born on the Day of Pentecost, the Apostles had to have a special meeting in Jerusalem to settle the issue of whether circumcision was still required of Christians in the way it had been for Jews (Acts 15). The past two thousand years have been marked by innumerable councils, the Protestant Reformation, and countless church splits, mergers, and new church plants. Did you know that during the Civil War the Methodist Episcopal Church split into North and South branches, with the MEC South churches arguing that slave trading was a Biblically-approved practice? The little Methodist church in Wilmore, KY where I went to seminary still bears that name on its cornerstone. With such a turbulent and often shameful history, has the Christian Church ever agreed on anything? Can the Christian Church agree on anything today? The motto In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity is oft repeated in United Methodist circles, although attribution of this motto to John Wesley is probably erroneous. Never-the-less, it is a common phrase in many United Methodist churches and it begs the question, What are the essentials? For thousands of years, the many branches of the Christian Church have answered that question with the Nicene Creed and its close cousin, the Apostles Creed, serving as creedal summaries. Scholars guess that the Apostles Creed came into use sometime in the fourth century AD, when it was commonly accepted that the creed had been created through contributions from each of the twelve Apostles, each one inspired by the Holy Spirit. While the origin is uncertain, we know that the creed has been transformed over the years and adapted in small ways by the various strands of Christianity for their own purposes. Despite these changes, the Apostles Creed has remained remarkably consistent over time as a concise statement of the essentials of our Christian faith. What we use today in our church is the Ecumenical version of the Apostles Creed, produced in 1988 to update a few language issues. Recently, our use of this creed has been largely limited to Communion Sundays at the 10:30 service. This month we ll dust off this historic creed at both services to examine the most basic building blocks of our Christian faith and their relationship to our living faith today: God the Father and Creator, God the Son and Redeemer, God the Holy Spirit and Sustainer, God s people the Church, The Forgiveness of Sins, and the Resurrection and Life Everlasting. In a world that is increasingly divided, it s good to know that Christians really can still agree on something! Blessings, Pastor Bill

2 Buffalo United Methodist Church serving people for Jesus Christ so that we all may know joy! Grow in Love of God and Neighbor Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul & mind and love your neighbors as yourself Matthew 22:37-40 Introduce People to Jesus Therefore, go and make disciples of all people ` Matthew 28:19-20 Heal a Broken World The spirit of the Lord is upon us to bring good news to the poor Luke 4: Leadership Team Peter Bedker Member at Large/Lay Leader Pam Sieberg Member at Large/Lay Leader Paulette Moore Lay Leader Dexter Lehman Treasurer Tyson Kaldenberg Finance Team Chair Dave Sieberg Property Team Chair Al Sheldon Staff Parish Relations Chair Lydea Laudenbach Recorder Laurie Schroeder Lay Associate Minister Bill Reinhart ex officio Staff Pastor Rev. Bill Reinhart PastorBill@buffaloumc.com Lay Associate Minister Laurie Schroeder Laurie@buffaloumc.com Youth Leaders Jana & Mike Knutson Jana@buffaloumc.com Children & Family Min. Dir. Lydea Laudenbach Lydea@buffaloumc.com Administrative Asst. Sarah Klett Office@buffaloumc.com Bookkeeper Sarah Klett Sarah@buffaloumc.com Preschool Director Melissa Ungaro Melissa@buffaloumc.com Preschool Teacher Christine Hartke Preschool Aide Dustine Jerde Organist Kathie Denison Handbell Director Jill Starr Custodian Bob Highberg The Joy Connection is a monthly publication for members and constituents of Buffalo United Methodist Church. Buffalo UMC is part of the Minnesota Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.

3 Spiritual Growth Missional Church Initiative Begins Great news! Our Leadership Team has voted to accept our Bishop s special invitation for BUMC to take part in the Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI). This program will equip our church to discern how we can increase our effectiveness in reaching new people with the love of Jesus. While this will initially involve your pastor and leaders over the months ahead, as the program unfolds all will be invited to share in the process of discovering who we are as a church and where we hope to be in the years ahead. A team attended the Breakthrough Prayer Initiative workshop in April as a kick-off to undergird the process with prayer as we move forward. Stay tuned for more information and ways that you can begin praying for our church! Biker Blessing on Sunday, May 15 Join us for our annual blessing of motorcyclists and bikers! Riders from local motorcycle clubs have been invited to join us on May 15. The congregation is also encouraged to join our guests for the youth mission team s fundraising breakfast served from 9:00-10:30 am. At 10 am Pastor Bill will lead a brief prayer outside for all riders. All from our congregation are encouraged to participate in the blessing whether you bring your ride or not! We will hold a blessing of all children who are riders (bikes, skateboards, unicycles?) during the worship services. Children are encouraged to bring a helmet with them to the children s message times. Be here for a fun day of worship, blessing, breakfast and hospitality! Invite your biker friends. Worship Upcoming Worship Events May 1 May 15 May 22 May 29 Holy Communion; Jesus Rocks team sings at both services Bicyclist Blessing (children) during worship services; Motorcyclist Blessing (adults) at 10:00 am Volunteer Recognition; Sunday School Celebration and children sing. Peace with Justice Offering received. Memorial Sunday; late service moves to 9:45 am Peace with Justice Offering On Sunday, May 22 we will receive this special offering which helps fund programs that advocate for peace and justice in the U.S. and around the world. These ministries empower United Methodists to speak out for removal of structures and systems that harm God s children globally. This is one of six annual UM special offerings. Summer Schedule Change May 29 Late service moves to 9:45 am on May 29 and remains that time through Labor Day weekend! Memorial Sunday May 29 Each year on the Sunday of Memorial weekend, we acknowledge the memorials gifts to the church from the past year. These gifts remind us of loved ones lost, and also help support the ministries of the church in a variety of ways. The memorials received from May April 2016 are: Paul Bjorklund sound equipment Dwight Filipek family fund Bill Johnson family fund Madison Kautz young children s ministries Lorraine Kurtz memorial fund Robert Maehling playground & preschool Dave Pramann memorial fund Jessica Tuchtenhagen memorial fund

4 Chancel Chimes Play at Parkview Join us and the residents at Parkview Care Center Chapel for a short concert by the Chancel Chimes on Wednesday, May 4 at 7 pm. This is the last time we play before our summer handbell hiatus. Worship Attendance Early Late Total March 27 (Easter) April April April Ministry & Missions Playground Development Progress Good News! The Buffalo City Council has enthusiastically endorsed our partnership for the remodel of the Methodist City Park playground. We have a signed lease with the City regarding their role in the installation and project provisions. The Mayor even commented at the city council meeting that this project should be a model of how churches and cities work together. We have received $16,412 to date, which is nearly 2/3 of the funding required to complete Phase 1! Can you help us meet our $26,000 mark to break ground in September? Donations welcome! Blankets for Beds Even though the weather is starting to warm up, the need for blankets continues. Please bring new and gently used blankets, bedding and towels for local distribution. If you need items to be picked up, please contact Dianne McLain at United Methodist Men s Fellowship All men are invited for breakfast, devotions, and fellowship with the United Methodist Men s Fellowship on Saturday, May 21 at 7:30 am. This is our final meeting before we go on summer hiatus June through August. We would love to see some new faces. Come enjoy some breakfast and see what the UMM is all about. Questions please contact Ivan Erickson at UMW Bake Sale May 22 If you like to bake or prepare snacks, please bring those items to the church when you come to worship and place them on the table provided. Congregation is invited to give a free-will donation and take those goodies home to enjoy. Money received will go towards the 2016 UMW Missions. United Methodist Women The UMW meets on Thursday, May 12 at 1:00 pm. Sue Sorsoleil will report on the expanded Buffalo Food Shelf and we hope to visit the facility. Joyce Dietz and Esther Kiphuth are hostesses. All women of the church are welcome to join us. Frozen Meals Available Thanks to Debbie Bishop and everyone that helped re-stock our supply of frozen meals. There are now turkey pot pies and chicken soup (glutenfree) in the freezer to take to people who could use some help with a meal or two. Sometimes we aren t aware of a need, so please let us know if you or someone you know could use a meal. These are meant to be a gift from the church, whatever the need. Please let the church office know when you deliver one to someone on behalf of the church. NEW! Celebration in The Park The MN Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is planning something new this year. On Tuesday, June 21, the conference is hosting a Celebration in the Park at George Park in St Cloud from 6-9 pm. There will be a band, food vendors, a hands-on mission project of helping assemble health kits, amusements, and a chance to meet other Minnesota Methodists. This is a great chance for all ages to experience our Annual Conference in a fun setting. (Confirmands, this is a great opportunity to get some community service credit!) No registration is required, but you are responsible for your own meal and entertainment expenses. Unidos en Cristo Spiritual Retreats Unidos en Cristo (aka Cursillo) is a threeday ecumenical retreat encounter with God s grace designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people. Many from our church have attended a UEC weekend and we invite you to attend one, too! Sign up as soon as possible.

5 Upcoming Summer Unidos en Cristo weekends: Men: July Women: July at Rosemount UMC, Rosemount Upcoming Fall Unidos en Cristo weekends: Men: October Women: October at Brooklyn UMC, Brooklyn Center To learn more, talk with Darla O Flanagan, Gail Hurley or someone else who has attended, pick up a brochure, borrow the DVD available at church, or visit the website at We will meet at church at 5:45 pm to carpool out to the park. If you intend to meet us there instead of at church, PLEASE let us know! We'll break out the volleyball net and have a grand time celebrating together. Please check out the Connection Points page at the end of the newsletter for information on ministries which meet regularly! Confirmation Confirmation Schedule Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30 pm unless indicated May 4 Faith Night with faith partners May 11 May 18 May 25 Writing Your Faith Creed Focus Night The Bible and My Life Focus Night Stewardship of Treasure End of Year Picnic Beebe Lake Park Confirmation Update Our year is winding down, and students expecting to be confirmed in the fall need to have all of their assignments completed by the end of May. These assignments include worship notes, helping with a Wesley Meal and personal faith creed submission. All creeds are due to Pastor Bill by June 15. REMINDER: creeds must be submitted in a Word document or in the body of an to pastorbill@buffaloumc.com. (Please, no Google-Docs links.) Review the submission guidelines given to each student on their last Faith Night. End of Year Picnic is May 25 The annual picnic for confirmation students, parents, partners, and senior high youth is held at Beebe Lake Park on Co. Rd. 34 on Wednesday, May 25, from 6:00-7:30 pm. We ask 7 th graders to bring salads or munchies and 8 th graders to bring desserts. Faith partners are welcome to bring a dish to share if they wish. Senior high youth should bring their usual pizza money to provide the hot dogs and buns. Tableware is provided.

6 Fun & Fellowship Accordian Concert Saturday, May 21 7:00 pm Don t miss the incredibly fun and unique Saturday Awakenings concert on May 21 with much-acclaimed accordionist, Dan Newton. He plays many surprising and creative genres of music on accordion, and even if you don t think of yourself as an accordion-lover, you will be thoroughly entertained! Dan is nationally known, having played at the Kennedy and Lincoln Centers, and all over the Midwest. Bring a friend! Diners Out Gatherings Are Back This fellowship ministry will meet on the 4 th Thursday of each month May through September, so join members and friends of Buffalo UMC for dinner and a time of fellowship at Perkins restaurant on Thursday, May 26 at 5:30 pm (please note the time change). If you have any questions or need a ride, call Dave & Sara Gaeth at All-Church BUMC Mid-Summer Celebration is July 17 Mark your calendars now for another fun mid-summer celebration on Sunday, July 17 from 11:30-1:00! This all-church event has something for everyone live music, a picnic lunch, carnival games, petting zoo, cake walk, bounce houses and more! We will again host a blood drive that day and encourage you to sign up to donate if able, and will also consecrate our playground! Invite friends to come for the fun, and if you can help, please sign up as many volunteers are needed for the day. Preschool Open House July 17 If you or someone you know may have a child interested in our fabulous BUMPreschool program next fall, we will have an open house during the Mid-Summer Celebration on Sunday, July 17 from 11:30-1:00. We have classes for year olds. For those of you who have attended our preschool come say hi to our teachers, they would love to see you. Children s Ministries & Sunday School Sunday School Update By Katie Krauze, SS Team Member Wow, time flies when you re having fun. Our last month of Sunday school is upon us. It s crazy how fast this year has gone! There are lots of fun things coming this month, so let s finish strong! The children will sing one last time May 22, please join us for your listening pleasure. It s always so refreshing to hear them and witness their energy and passion. What do you call a person who believes in Jesus? A: Christian What does it mean to be a Christian? A: We share, help each other, spread the word of God, among many other wonderful things Who can be a Christian? A: Christianity is meant to be shared by everyone In May we will learn how we, as Christians and members in this church, can share what we have with others. We will read about Philip, a disciple of Jesus, and the Ethiopian and how Philip helped this man understand the scripture he was reading, but not comprehending. Helping can be even the littlest things such as that, helping someone understand a message. Also on May 15 we learn about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit filling the hearts and minds of Jesus friends with strength and love so that they could go out and tell the world about Jesus. We will celebrate the birthday of the Christian Church! Helping can also be just brightening up someone s day with a simple letter in the mail. The past couple months, some of your preschoolers may have talked to their prayer partners and received thanks for the letters in the mail. The preschool class has been participating in a once-a-month project that included mailing letters to their prayer partners. So far, it s been received well and has inspired people to take that extra step and reach out. And honestly, who doesn t LOVE getting mail, (something that s not junk mail)?! I know I do!

7 As we move forward this month, here is a prayer that the kids can say to go along with the material: Dear God, Help us learn to share each day in all our learning and in our play. Give us strength and courage so that we can tell others about you. Help us follow the teachings of your Son, Jesus, and to love people and help them in whatever way we can. Amen. They praised God and demonstrated God s goodness to everyone. -- Acts 2:47 May 2016 Calendar: May 1 First Sunday mission offering & Jesus Rock Sings in Worship May 8 Jesus Rocks Rehearsal 10:20-11 May 15 Biker Blessing during worship May 22 Celebration Sunday and last day of classes; all children sing in church Biker Blessing May 15 The Bicycle/Helmet Blessing for children is during the children s message at both worship services on May 15, so attend whichever service you prefer. Kids should bring their bikes or bicycle helmets (much easier than the whole bicycle), scooters, skateboards any wheeled device! Celebration Sunday May 22 Sunday, May 22 is our Celebration Sunday! Lots of things are happening, so plan to be here! All SS children will sing at BOTH services to honor SS teachers. They sing at the end of the 8:15 service (be here by 9:00!) and near the beginning of the 10:30 service (done by 10:45). Bring a finger food for our SS Banquet Table! (Parents, if your children have special food requirements, be sure you bring for them.) Sunday School Mission Update May 1 is our final Sunday School Mission offering for The Henderson Settlement in Kentucky. To date we have raised $71.62 and Nicole Wurtzberger, who is going on the July mission trip, is our High School youth liaison. There is info in the hallway across from the 6 th grade classroom. Feel free to leave a question for Nicole or contact her at fishesandloaves@charter.net. The group will work, work, work and worship. Please pray for our youth and adults as they impact lives in Kentucky! Jesus Rocks Sings in Worship Our Jesus Rocks youth praise team (grades 5-8) will share music in worship on Sunday, May 1 and also on May 22 at both services. We rehearse on Sunday, May 8 from 10:20-11:00 am. Prayer Partner Party May 7 We thank all of the Sunday School children and adults who participated in the Prayer Partner ministries this year! To celebrate this ministry and the connections that have been made, Sunday School families and adult prayer partners are all invited to a party on Saturday, May 7 at 9:00 am. How fun to meet with each other! Plus, all prayer partners will experience a prayer walk, and get to make and a prayer craft to take home. Mark your calendars now, and please sign up on the bulletin board. Parenting Sessions The final two parenting sessions happen in May. No pre-registration necessary. All are welcome to these sessions. Mark your calendars today! Wednesday, May 4 from 6:00-7:30 pm Understanding Childhood Psychosis Angie Lee from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) gives tips on recognizing and understanding symptoms of mental illness in youth. She ll also discuss causes and treatments of early episode psychosis and how loved ones and family members can help support a young person through recovery. Wednesday, May 18 from 6:00-7:30 pm The Sex Talk Jennifer Poole-Stout, the Community Education Manager from myhealth for Teens and Young Adults, will talk to parents about clarifying and communicating family values, expectations and attitudes about sexuality, and also how to answer questions, identify teachable moments, and locate resources and developmental information.

8 Summer Camp Funds Available! It s not too late to sign up for summer camp, and remember BUMC pays half your registration fee! This is a great way for us to give kids this great faith formation experience and support our UM camping programs at the same time! To register, pick up a camping brochure at church or go online to Then complete our BUMC camping form and return it to church so we can pay the other half. First-time adult campers at UM camps also qualify. Scholarships are also available for anyone needing some help with the remaining registration fee. Contact Jana at church for more information. VBS Volunteers Needed August 9-11! Help make Vacation Bible School happen! We are looking for volunteers to Take Flight with us August 9-11 and help with this year s VBS program for ages 3 years through 5 th grade. The evening sessions include a meal and an opportunity for parents to receive Nurtured Heart training, which is a discipline approach to help children build their inner wealth. (See below) We are looking for a variety of helpers and need to have volunteers in place soon. Please see Lydea Laudenbach, Children and Families Ministry Director or sign up in the entryway at church if you can help. Nurtured Heart Training BUMC will host a three-night Nurtured Heart parent training on August 9-11 in conjunction with our VBS sessions. Nurtured Heart is a behavior management strategy for creating healthy relationships and positive self-esteem among adults and children. Nurtured Heart is a great class for not only parents, but teachers, coaches, counselors and any people who have interactions with children. Mark your calendars to join us and watch for registration. If you have questions contact Lydea Laudenbach in the Children and Families Ministry Office. This training coincides with the VBS Take Flight program, which will provide activities for children ages 3 years through 5 th grade. In The Community Plant Sale at Monticello UMC Community United Methodist Church in Monticello is holding its annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 7, 8-11 am. There will be perennials, caramel rolls and a bake sale. Come and help support other area United Methodists in ministry and missions. Ministry Team Reports Staff Parish Team Report We regretfully accepted the resignation of Dan and Traci Torgerson as custodians as of May 26. Dan and Traci feel that God is calling them into greater foster care involvement again. Although they will no longer be serving as our custodians after that date, we re happy to report that they will continue to be members of our church family. We thank them for their dedicated service. Staff Parish is accepting applications for the custodian position. This position is a permanent part-time position with an average of hours per week. Light maintenance skills are a plus for this position, though not required. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please visit our website for the job description and application or call the church office. We also regretfully accepted the resignation of Mike and Jana Knutson as Youth Ministry Directors as of July 31. We thank them for 9 years of ministry with our youth. Again, we re happy to say that the Knutsons will remain active as members of our church family. Staff Parish has begun an evaluation of our staffing needs for youth ministry and will report on our progress in the near future.

9 Property Team Update As we move into spring and summer months, there are always opportunities for you to help us maintain the grounds and church property. You may have noted that the property team is fixing up the south side of the church where we took out all the shrubs last fall. They will be laying sod soon, so if you might be able to help with the installation or consider helping to keep the new grass watered, please sign up on the bulletin board. We ll let you know when projects will be done, including everything from to putting in rock and timber along the building, laying sod and watering. We also have a need for ongoing weeders, though the area to be weeded will be less than in the past! Also, we ve managed to avoid the cost of hiring a lawn service thanks to weekly volunteers doing the mowing, but we re always looking for more people to help with the mowing. If you would consider taking a turn this summer, contact the church office ASAP! The church has three mowers here and it takes around 3-4 hours for one person but we try to schedule at least two to go faster. Finance Team Update BUMC ended March with a monthly deficit of $1,184, but we are thankful to report that we were able to meet all our financial obligations for the first quarter of the year, including March s apportionment payment. April s financial update will be in June s newsletter. As we near the summer months, we encourage you to consider electronic giving if you aren t already doing it. It really helps us to keep the cash flow more even, regardless of summer attendance. With a new bookkeeper coming on board in June, it would be nice to make things as smooth as possible for our newcomer!! Contact the church office for information on setting up your automatic contributions. The BUMPreschool will close their fiscal year this June with a deficit, and will have to dip into their earlier-established reserve fund. This is due to lower than hoped for enrollments in Help us prevent it from happening again next year by spreading the word about our wonderful preschool to anyone you know with 3-5 year old children! Filling our classes for is the solution to our cash-flow management. Did you know that our church has four different Facebook pages?!?! These four symbols represent them. Type Buffalo United Methodist and see what pops up and like us, then share with others! Our Church Family Sensitive Scents, Please Several people in our congregation suffer with respiratory problems, so we ask that you be conscientious about wearing perfume or aftershave in light quantities as you come to worship. It will be greatly appreciated by those who react to them! Prayer Matters For Linda Sherman as she grieves the loss of her uncle, Clair Willis, and for the Willis family. For Michael Jones as treatment plans are made for the tumor on his thyroid. For Marisa Miner as she continues to struggle with the platelet disorder she was diagnosed with last year, as well as the return of the tumor she had removed from her ovary. Both health conditions are being watched very closely. For Bev Barringer s nephew, Brian Elliott, who had brain surgery at Mayo this past Monday. Prayers for a successful surgery and recovery that will eliminate the terrible pain he has been suffering. For Bev Barringer to find relief from hip and knee pain. For Marjorie Zacharda as she transitions to her new home in Elk River in early May. Her new address is 280 Evans Ave NW, Apt. 105, Elk River, MN For Bob and Diana Maass as Bob continues his journey with ALS. For Mariah, Erva Hance s 13-year-old great niece who is recovering from a kidney transplant on April 20. For Lawrence O Flanagan to have a successful kidney transplant surgery on May 19, and a

10 smooth recovery. Please pray for his kidney donor, Brad, as well. Please pray for strength for Jeremy Carlson's uncle Roger as the family mourns the loss of Roger's son Chad. For Mary Ann Peterson, who is recovering from her third back surgery on March 27. Please pray for this one to result in greatly reduced nerve pressure and pain, and for her to regain function. For Amy Fouquette who is experiencing elevated white blood cell counts, which could send her back to Mayo sooner than hoped to treat her chronic lymphoma. For Don Wermager s brother Doug, in his final months of life. For those grieving the loss of a loved one, whether it s been weeks, months or even years. For all those suffering from symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer s, as well as their families. For broken relationships between parents and children, spouses; siblings or whatever situation needs reparation and forgiveness. Celebrations: Lofton, son of Josh and Christy Leuer was baptized on April 10 th. Thank You from: Lawrence O Flanagan: Thank you, church family, for your thoughts and prayers. I will always need them and it s a nice feeling to know you have this many people praying for you. It s an awesome feeling! Elaine Varner Thank you to everyone who sent cards and prayed for me during the last three months. I have moved to Cokato Assisted Living and am feeling wonderful. Praise God! My new address is Elaine Varner, 180 Sunset Ave., Apt. 15, Cokato, MN 55321

11 Families & Faith By Lydea Laudenbach Children & Family Ministries Director Prayers for summer Summer is busy time of year, especially here in Minnesota where the sun only shines for a short period of time. Remember summertime is a time for God, too. So here are some summertime prayers to get you through the season. Creation Prayer: That we can glimpse you within creation is a beautiful thought, but also tells us that you desire to be seen, to be found and known. Open our eyes, Lord, as we walk through this world, feel the wind and sunshine, see the majesty of creation unfolding before our eyes. Help us to see you Summer Fun Prayer: Father, we bless Your Holy Name. We come before Your presence with thanksgiving and we shout joyfully to You, the Rock of our salvation. Father, we thank You for our children and youth. We thank You for fulfilling Your plans and purposes through our children and youth during their summer activities. Thank You for blessing our children and youth with a chance to rest and relax. Beach Prayer: Joyful God, we thank you for this time together. We thank for the sun in the sky, the cool sea water, and the sand. We thank you for yummy snacks, buckets, pales and beach umbrellas. We thank you for our family, our friends and the life guards who keep us safe. We ask that you bless us on this beautiful day and we praise you for this beautiful Creation that you have entrusted to us. Amen. Travel Prayer: Loving and merciful God, you have commissioned your angels to guide and protect us. Command them to be with us from our leaving until our return; keep us safe from all injury, accident and sin. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. Then there are the prayers for the realistic at heart: God, make it warm enough so my tomatoes will grow, but not so hot that I can t sleep with the window open. I will not hyperventilate at the prospect of a summer spot where there are no bars on my phone. Lord, I know you send rain on the just and unjust, but please not for the whole week I m off. Make me tolerant of others on the road and use quotable language behind the wheel of the car. No mosquitoes, no poison ivy, no airport delays, no deer ticks. A sudden thundershower, fresh peaches, a mouthful of watermelon seeds, crushed mint, a Frisbee on the beach: For these I give you thanks, O God. Have a safe and happy summer! Lord, I can t say it in words Can you please just listen to my heart? Lydea Laudenbach, Family Ministries Director Contact me at or LydeaL@buffaloumc.org

12 In May we will hold conferences for our 4/5 class, go on our community field trip to Huikko s bowling center, prepare a special surprise for Mother s Day, and end the year monkeying around with jungle animals. We will be playing outside whenever the weather permits, experiencing more big muscle exercise with our swings, riding toys, balls and basketball hoop---and getting lots of Vitamin D! We will also have our last classes with Gym Nation and our lasts visits from Mrs. McLain. PRESCHOOL STAFF: Melissa Ungaro, director Christine Hartke, 3-year-old & 4/5 teacher Dustine Jerde, teaching assistant What s Up In Preschool? By Melissa Ungaro, director We spent much of April enjoying wonderful units on Nursery Rhymes and Spring, even though the weather felt more like spring one week and then winter the next, with a little outdoor play time in between! In our classroom we opened our Garden Cart Flower Shop with lots of flowers, seeds and gardening tools bought and sold many times over, and learned so much about how God makes seeds grow, despite the fact that we could not go outdoors and make it all happen in the real soil! Next on to Nursery Rhymes, which are as much loved by today s children! We danced, sang, recited and acted out some of the classics, bandaged up Humpty Dumpty, made wonderful spring projects with It s Raining, It s Pouring and The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and learned about time with Hickory Dickory Dock. Mrs. McLain shared a story about Alphie, and we learned about spring time, and the new life that God helps create. Also in April we had a booth at the ECFE Family Fair, where we talked and played with many interested parents and kids, spreading the word about our wonderful preschool. As we are maturing, we get many more folks saying they have heard such good things about our Preschool. The month of May also sadly brings our Preschool year to a close. On May 26 and 27, right before Memorial Day, we will have our end-of-theyear picnics. On those days, families bring picnic lunches for our outdoor gathering; each class shares some special songs and dances, and the teachers present each child with his/her personalized CD full of photos of the year. And then, of course, lots of hugs and kisses as we sadly say good-bye and head into the days of summer. Looking into fall, know that we still have openings in both classes. We are offering 2-day morning classes for our 3 s, and 3-day morning classes for our 4/5s, with an optional Lunch Bunch program that extends the 4/5 class to 2:00. I will give tours of our facility all summer as needed, and families may sign up any time. Be sure to tell others about our informative website if they wish to know more. ( Thank you for all the support and interest from our congregation this year! Our scholarship dollars were well used by helping 5 families, which helps provide vital early education for their youngsters. We already have requests for next year, and we know that our school is unique in being able to offer some financial assistance. What a tremendous outreach we provide by helping the youngest in our community build the base for a solid education in a Christian atmosphere, a chance they may not have without your generosity. Your dollars are well spent!! Christine, Dustine and I feel privileged and thankful to work here, and we dearly love all of our preschool children. God has richly blessed our lives, and so we educate and enrich the lives of our little ones, teaching them about their world and God s love!

13 Connection Points Ministries and fellowship opportunities meeting at regularly scheduled times United Methodist Women Every 2 nd Thursday of the month All women are invited to join in the fellowship hall monthly to spend time in fellowship, and to learn more about the missions supported by the UMW. This Month: Thursday, May 12 at 1:00 pm Program: Sue Sorsoleil talks about the Expanded Food Shelf & Tour Hostesses: Esther Kiphuth & Joyce Dietz United Methodist Men s Fellowship Every 3 rd Saturday of the month Men of the church interested in service, faith and fellowship are invited to come meet with other men for fellowship, devotion and fund raising projects. The meetings begin with breakfast at 7:30 am. This month: Saturday, May 21 at 7:30 am Prayer Shawl Ministry Every 4 th Monday Gather at Arlene Nelson s home at 1:00 pm to knit or crochet shawls for people who might be homebound, in the hospital, grieving, or in other challenging situations. You may participate in ministry even if you can t attend the sessions. Call Dianne McLain at with questions. This month: Monday, May 23 at 1:00 pm Thursday Gatherings Every 1 st Thursday of the month Gather in the fellowship hall at 1:00 pm for a time of fellowship playing games and occasional service project. Bring a favorite game and snacks. All are welcome! Call Esther Kiphuth at if you have questions. This month: Thursday, May 5 at 1:00 pm Diners Out Fellowship Gathering Every 4 th Thursday of the month Gather at Perkins during the months of May-September at 5:30 pm for food and fellowship. Primarily active seniors, but all are welcome! Call Sara Gaeth at if questions. This month: Thursday, May 26, 5:30 pm

14 YOUth News to help put YOU in Youth Ministry May 2016 The purpose of BUMC Youth Ministry is to connect all youth with the life-changing grace of Jesus Christ so that they may be life-long Christ followers. Team Home is a huge part of Summer Youth Mission Team. Each year, we count on the support and prayers of the congregation before, during and after the mission trips. These trips couldn't happen without a Team Home. First, THANK YOU to everyone who has supported youth fundraisers this year. Your contributions to the Chili Cook-off, Lenten Meal and Souper Bowl helped individuals raise money for the trip. We have one more fundraiser coming up: The Biker Blessing Breakfast on May 15 th. Enjoy a hot breakfast between services and your free-will donation will help the team with travel expenses. As the team continues to prepare for their July Mission Trip to Frakes, Kentucky, we have a few additional opportunities for Team Home. Please prayerfully consider where and how you can be a blessing: Prayer Partners: We assign one person to specifically pray for each team member during the trip. In addition, Prayer Partners are asked to write a short note to their assigned team member, letting then know they are being prayed for. This is a powerful moment for the team, knowing that someone is specifically holding them in prayer all week long. If you'd like to be a Prayer Partner, let Jana know and she will match you to a team member. Send-Off Team: The Mission Team will be blessed at both services on July 17 th. Your presence in church that morning to be a part of the blessing is a great gift to the team. Another send off opportunity is to help pray the team out of the parking lot on Saturday, July 23, around 6am. Join Jana and the team members' parents and families as they load up and head out. Mail Call: For each trip, we plan a nightly mail call for all of the participants. The idea is to help them remember that they are loved and being prayed for while on the trip. This year, we'd like to invite everyone to cover the team in mail for the week. Here's how it works: 1. Choose a name from the list below 2. Write a note, letter, or card to that person. 3. Put it in an envelope with that person's name on it. 4. Give it to Jana or drop it in the Mail Call box by the church office. 5. Repeat if desired (for that person or someone else). Jana will sort and organize the mail, making sure that each team member has mail for each day of the trip. A set of notes will be distributed each evening during Mail Call. Mail Call is a powerful reminder to the team that they are loved and cared for by their BUMC family. This tradition has become a cherished part of our mission trips. Please consider writing a note or two. Team Members Deanna Armstrong Maddie Smith Nicole Wurtzberger Ian Smith Elizabeth Knutson Kyle Ewer Ben Weese Tyler Hirsch Ethan Ellis Conner Seidel Lydea Laudenbach Suzy Smith Glenda Vidmar Mike Knutson Senior Blessings On Sunday, June 5 th, we will bless the graduating class of At both service, these youth will share with you what their future plans are. Please plan to be in worship for this final faith stepping stone and bless these young adults with your prayers and presence.

15 Scripture Reader Schedule May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 May 29 at 9:45am May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 May 29 8:15 am May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 May 29 10:30 am May 1 May 8 May 15 May 22 9:45 am May 29 Traditional Celebration Service 10:30 Dave Gaeth Paulette Moore Duane Otness Pam Croft Linda Sherman Coffee Server Schedule Resources Current issues of the Upper Room, Alive Now, Pockets (for children), and DevoZine are available in the entryway for a nominal donation. Prayer Requests Call the office or use the cards available in the attendance pads to make prayer requests. Turn them in to the pastor before services on Sunday morning for inclusion in announcements. May Schedules UEC Gail & Jane Hurley Georgia Pollock & Ether Kiphuth Tim & Kathy Maiden Iona Markley & Kathy Varner Barb Odenthal & Mary Johnson Usher Schedule Barb Odenthal & Marjorie Zacharda Dave & Pam Sieberg Tim Schwietering & Kathy Hanson Georgia Pollock & Jan Heyerdahl Larry & Darla Frink Ivan Erickson & Lester Hamann Lester Hamann & Jeremy Carlson Linda Bostic & Gloria Farwick Bob & Chris Highberg Jim & Donna Lanie Information June 5 June 12 June 19 June 26 July 17 July 24 July 30 Prayer Circle Please call the church office at with prayer concerns or to be part of the prayer circle. Flowers for the Altar Do you have a special event or person you want to honor with flowers some Sunday? Sign up on the flower chart posted by the office, and indicate if you will bring your own, or place your check for $39 in the offering marked flowers and we will order. Looking Ahead Items to Put on Your Calendar Graduate FSS Blessing LOVE Offering Common Hope Commissioning Camper Blessing Parkview Service Sr. High Mission Trip Commissioning Mid-Summer Celebration Blood Drive Preschool Open House Teen & Adult Challenge Choir Wesley Meal Please let the church office know: If your telephone number, address or mailing address change. When a member of your family is hospitalized or in need of pastoral care. If you would like Holy Communion brought to you. If you know of someone in the congregation that could use a delivered meal.

16 May 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Holy Communion 8 10:20 Jesus Rocks 2 9:00 am Commodity Distribution 9 6:30 BeFrienders 3 10:30 am AA 7:00 pm Property Team Meeting 7:00 pm Preschool Board Meeting 10 10:30 am AA 7:00 pm Leadership Team Meeting 4 6:00 pm Parenting Session Child Psychosis 6:00 pm Sr. High Youth Small Group 6:00 pm Confirmation Faith Night 7:00 pm Handbells at Parkview 7:30 pm Joyful Praise 11 6:00 pm Sr. High Youth 6:00 pm Confirmation Focus Night 7:30 pm Joyful Praise 5 1:00 pm Thursday s Gathering 6:30 pm AA Women s Group 7:00 pm Romans Bible Study at Paulette s 12 1:00 pm UMW 6:30 pm AA Women s Group 7:00 pm Romans Bible Study at Paulette s 6 8:00 pm AA pm Sanctuary & FH Private Rental 8:00 pm AA 7 9:00 am Prayer Partner Party 9:00 am AA 14 9:00 am AA Sr. High Mission Team Retreat 15 Pentecost Sunday! Biker Blessings 10:00 am Motorcyclist blessing 11:30 am Common Hope Meeting 16 12:30 pm MS Support Group 17 10:30 am AA 7:00 pm SPRC Team Meeting 18 10:15 am Preschool Chapel 6:00 pm Parenting Class The Sex Talk 6:00 pm Sr. High Youth 6:00 pm Confirmation Focus Night 7:00 pm Senior Baccalaureate at E-Free 7:30 pm Joyful Praise 19 10:15 am Preschool Chapel 6:30 pm AA Women s Group 7:00 pm Romans Bible Study at Paulette s 20 8:00 pm AA 21 7:30 am UMM 9:00 am AA 7:00 pm Saturday Awakenings Dan Newton Accordion concert 22 Celebration Sunday Sunday School Banquet UMW Bake Sale Peace with Justice Offering 10:20 Jesus Rocks 23 1:00 pm Prayer Shawls at Arlene s 24 10:30 am AA 25 6:00 pm Confirmation & Sr. High Youth Picnic at Beebe Lake 7:30 pm Joyful Praise 26 Last Day of Two-Day Preschool 6:30 pm AA Women s Group 7:00 pm Romans Bible Study at Paulette s 27 Last Day of Three- Day Preschool 1-8 pm Private Rental for Fellowship Hall & Kitchen 8:00 pm AA 28 9:00 am AA 1-4 pm Private Rental for Sanctuary 29 Memorial Sunday Summer Schedule begins no Sunday School; late service moves to 9:45 am 30 Memorial Day 31 10:30 am AA 7:00 pm Finance Team Meeting Sunday Schedule (through May 22) Sunday Schedule (starting May 29) 8:15 am Joyful Praise Worship 8:15 am Joyful Praise Worship 9:20-10:20 am Fellowship & Education 9:15-9:45 am Fellowship 10:30 am Traditional Worship 9:45 am Traditional Worship

17 Buffalo United Methodist Church th Street Northwest Buffalo, MN CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Buffalo, MN Permit No. 31 Buffalo United Methodist Church serving people for Jesus Christ so that we all may know joy! Office Hours: Closed Mondays Tuesday-Thursday 9 am to 3 pm Friday 9 am to 1 pm Don t Miss Biker Blessing Phone Fax Office@BuffaloUMC.com Website Find us on Facebook We will bless motorcycle riders on Sunday, May 15, 10:00 am. Children, don t forget to bring your bicycle helmets for a blessing during worship services. The Joy Connection is a monthly publication of The Buffalo United Methodist Church. Submission deadline is the third Thursday of every month.