Buffalo's Church Officers and the Congregation's Commitment to Community Service
Buffalo United Methodist
Church Officers for 2022 Administrative Council Chair: Margie V. Marrs Recording Secretary: Chris Gochenouer Lay Leader: Mary Fredericksen Worship, Music & Education: Judy Hackney, Marlene Himes, Eileen Kaplan, Margie Marrs, Outreach, Mission & Evangelism: Sheryl Arnett, Chris Gochenouer, Hep Hentrich, Faye Reynolds Church Treasurer: Judy Hackney Financial Secretary: Chris Gochenouer Council Members-at-large: Sheryl Arnett, Gloria Clinton, Bob Marrs Committees Board of Trustees: Becky Durand (Chair), Marlene Himes (Co- Chair), Gary Hackney, Bob Marrs Pastor-Paris Relations: Judy Hackney (Chair), Gloria Clinton, Larry Hartmann, Bob Marrs Nominations: Pastor Carol Mart (Chair), Barb Crawford, Becky Durand, Mary Fredricksen, Gary Hackney, Joyce Hartmann Memorials: Sheryl Arnett, Barb Crawford, Judy Hackney, Marlene Himes Communion Steward: Becky Durand Historian: Barb Crawford Sound Systems Engineer: Hep Hentrick Audit Committee: Barb Crawford, Chris Gochenouer, Joyce Hartmann Conference Lay Delegate: Mary Fredericksen (Judy Hackney or Bob Marrs, Alternates) |
Buffalo Ministries
Neighborhood Potluck Lunches - On the second Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m., people of all ages join together for a potluck meal. Many of the participants do not belong to Buffalo Church and come for the fellowship and good food. There is always plenty to eat. Come join us! Summer Rummage Sale - On a Thursday and Friday early in June, we conduct a marvelous rummage sale with reasonably priced, clean merchandise for sale. A lunch and baked goods are available for hungry customers. The profit is used to benefit the ongoing missions of the church. Fall Bazaar - On a Saturday in the middle of October is Buffalo's fall Bake Sale, Rummage Sale, White Elephant, and Soup Luncheon. Members of the congregation make noodles for the soup, which is also available for sale. Mission of Hope - We help Bertram United Methodist Church serve lunch on the first Tuesday of every month at the Mission of Hope (located at 1700 B Ave NE in Cedar Rapids). Donations of food and money are appreciated. Mission of Hope website: http://www.missionofhopecr.org/ Other organizations we support include Matthew 25, Cedar River First Nations Church, the Ecumenical Community Center, UMCOR, Linn Community Food Bank, and Waypoint. United Methodist Women - The group meets monthly during the school year on the third Thursday of the month at 9:30 a.m. There is a short business meeting followed by a program and refreshments. The focus of the group is Missions. Garfield Elementary School - For several years we packed bags of food for the backpack program at Garfield. The bags were assembled at the church and delivered once a week during the school year so the students would have food to eat over the weekend. We also provided books, toothbrushes, underwear, outerwear, and treat bags at holiday times. Once a month we popped popcorn at Garfield School to raise money for HACAP, which furnished the food we delivered to the backpack kids. Each year we raised $750-1000 for HACAP. Because of the pandemic, this program has been curtailed, but we still provide financial assistance to HACAP and collect Hy-Vee receipts to support the purchase of educational materials and equipment at Garfield. For more information on any of these Buffalo ministries, please feel free to contact: Pastor Carol Mart Email: [email protected] Phone: 319-721-6016 Chris Gochenouer - Administrative Board member Email: [email protected] Phone: 319-363-5000 “A welcoming fellowship reaching out and caring for the community” ~Buffalo’s Mission Statement |
“Every day I’m alive is a blessing, and it’s something I need to be grateful for. I’m so glad this spiritual discipline has become important to me. The time that God has given me, the opportunity to be helpful to other people. It’s not about me, it’s about others. Buffalo has brought me to this point in my life. The last year has been the happiest, most contented year of my life. Buffalo has been a huge part of that. It amazes me that that little church and that little congregation has hung on as long as it has. 140 years. It’s unbelievable. Buffalo has come close to be snuffed out, but they’ve kept it going, doing whatever they’ve got to do. I feel honored to be a part of that. . . . That church has really helped to transform my life. I hope maybe I can help someone else discover Buffalo.” ~Don Durand (a beloved member of the congregation who shared these thoughts shortly before he passed away after a long, heroic battle with cancer)