The Buzz newsletter | Updated Weekly
Church Council Update
The Church Council will be meeting this Thursday, May 21. A copy of the agenda is available online. Our district minister, Jordan Ringhofer, will be present to talk about strategic planning from the broader conference level perspective.Then main focus will be preparations for the church business meeting on June 14 - Mission Statement, 2026 budget, and a proposal for a unified budget.
Note that Council meetings are open for guests to attend and listen in. If you have a topic to suggest for a future meeting, or any questions or concerns, please direct those to the council member from your congregation. Please pray for the council as they meet for wisdom, discernment, and unity in decisions to be made.
Pentecost Sunday
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, when we celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit. It is a day when we remember the miraculous birth of the Church, where 3,000 responded to the Spirit at work in Peter and the disciples. Be encouraged by reading once again about these amazing events in
Acts 2, and realize
that same Spirit is alive and well in you, in His Church, and here at Butler!
Eastern Orthodox churches observe Pentecost one week later (this year on
Sunday May 31). Artwork credit: Ed de Guzman
Graduation Congratulations
Teda Pel will be graduating this Saturday (May 23) from the Fresno City College RN Program. She is a daughter to Khom (Mally) Khoutsavanh. Teda writes: "I am extremely grateful to be able to get into this program, complete my ADN, and become an RN. This experience has helped me understand how nurses can impact the community. After graduation, I hope to land a job in a cardiac unit. I plan to continue my education to get my bachelors and maybe masters. In the future, I hope to use my skills to help on a medical mission.”
Congrats, Teda!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Quarterly Financial Update
Having completed the first quarter of the year, we give thanks for all who have given towards ongoing ministries. Below is an update through the end of April.
Our expenses to date have exceeded our giving, which is not uncommon at the end of the quarter due to insurance premiums and giving patterns. Summer months often see a slowdown in church giving, so with the change in seasons and schedules, your consistent giving will help us plan for the remainder of the year for our transition process, ministry (like VBS for kids), and keeping the campus and garden green! If you would like to set up a recurring giving amount or would like some extra giving envelopes, please let the church office know!
Financial Update through April
Anticipated Giving $129,968
Percentage of anticipated 96%
Total Income $126,809
Total Expense $130,219
Net Income -$3,967
Tech Team Opportunity
Are you looking for a place to serve at Butler Church? Would you like to be trained to run our slides, camera, or sound system? Join our Tech Intern, Toby Ens, on
Sunday May 31 for a Level 1 Training on our tech equipment! We'll start with lunch together immediately after the second service followed by an hour of training. If you have questions or would like to reserve your spot, please email
Pastor Connie!
* Note corrected date!
Save the Date!
Our summer Kids Club is back at Butler this summer! Mark your calendar for July 29-31....this activity is for EVERYONE! If you have kids, grandkids, neighbors with kids, the ability to serve, or a heart to pray - there's a way for you to be involved.
This will be a 3 day club in the evenings from 6-8pm. Our theme is all about shining a light on who Jesus really is. There will be opportunities to sign up starting this Sunday, and watch for registration info to come soon! If you're too excited to wait, contact our children's ministry director, Maria Galvan, for details.
Celebrating Asian American Heritage
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage month. Here at Butler Church, we’re blessed to worship together with brothers and sisters from several Asian cultures! In our Asian Grace congregation alone, we have members who are Khmu, Lao, Mien, and T’in! And beyond that we have Filipino, American Samoan, Korean, and Cambodian represented within our broader church family and congregations!
Fresno also has a large Hmong community (different from Khmu). Both people groups originate in modern day Thailand and Laos, with Hmong extending north and east into what is now Myanmar, Vietnam, and China. Here are links to some articles to learn more about the local Hmong community and about Khmu culture.
More news items....
Update from Pastor Ron
Last week’s update included a short description of a trip that Kathy and I are embarking on, today! However, there are items for our church family that deserve another update....Our Council met last evening (May 13) to continue the discussions around elements of transition for the church. The consensus was that we seek input from the church membership in two upcoming church business meetings.
....On June 14 @ 3:00 pm the Council will bring the following three proposals for discussion and vote: a balanced 2026 budget, a "unified budget process" beginning in 2027, and an updated Mission Statement....The Council will call for a listening session in July (date yet to be determined) in which the whole membership can consider the one or two proposals for changes to our ministry model.....
[read the full update on our Council Updates page for details!]
Friends, I know there is a lot of information here that may well raise questions and curiosities. I encourage you to be in touch with your congregational representatives, the Council executive, and the pastoral staff for further conversation and clarification. Remember, we are trusting that God’s spirit is leading us as we continue to do the good (hard!) work of listening, sharing, and discerning together.
See you on Father’s Day in June!
Pastor Ron
Graduation Congratulations
Terry Vongviset writes: "I am currently completing my RN to BSN program at Fresno State and will be graduating this Saturday (May 16). This journey has helped me grow professionally and strengthened my confidence, leadership, and patient care skills. In the future, I hope to continue my education by pursuing a master’s or nurse practitioner program. I am also interested in exploring case management as a career path so I can continue helping patients navigate and improve their healthcare experience."
Terry's parents are Ken & Judy Chaypramouk from our Asian Grace congregation. Congrats, Terry!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
All new Christian Leader this summer!
Don’t miss out on the new redesign of Christian Leader, the print magazine of our USMB churches. Your next issue arrives in July! We’re skipping May/June as we move to quarterly issues starting July 2026. With more pages and time, we’re focusing on stories that matter—featuring a new look, expanded content, and a renewed focus on encouraging faithful, everyday discipleship and leadership. Christian Leader exists to tell the stories of what God is doing across our family of churches, resource leaders and strengthen faith in everyday life. The more people we reach, the stronger our shared connection becomes.
Regular attenders receive a copy of the Christian Leader by mail free through our support through USMB! If you need to update your subscription, let us know!
Children's Ministry Team
One of the best investments you can make is jumping on board with our Children’s Ministry team and serving our kids! Passionate people are needed to help once a month in Nursery, Preschool, or Kids class 1st-6th grade. We are very flexible and offer various roles beyond teaching.
All the curriculum and training is provided; you just bring your love for the children! If you feel the Holy Spirit leading to join our team, please connect with me. Also join me in prayer, for volunteers that will shape the spiritual future of our children!
Would you consider joining us for one Sunday? Join our team and make and an eternal impact on our children. For more information, drop me a note, find me on Sunday, or look for the sign up sheet to indicate your interest. Thanks!
Maria Galvan, Children's Ministry director
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6
Graduation Congratulations
We have several graduates in our Butler family this spring! Katarina Becker is earning her bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley on Saturday May 16 with a double major in Music Education & Psychology (with department ceremonies on May 17 & May 20.) Kat recently completed a senior recital on french horn, and was part of the Cal Band drum line! She plans to enter grad school for a Master’s degree and teaching credential. Congrats, Kat!
We're highlighting our graduates each week! If you are graduating you’re graduating this summer, let us know! (You can also drop a note in the offering this Sunday.)
Youth Ministry Highlights
Recently the youth group spent time in the Butler community garden! Thank you to the youth and others who are helping good things grow in the garden!
Youth leaders Kathy and Chansamone write: "We planted sunflowers, snapdragons, zinnias, lemon grass, two types of basil, cilantro & a variety of peppers. We look forward to seeing these grow and hopefully use them when we are able to cook together. This past Sunday we continued learning about caring for God's creation and being out in nature. Appreciating and taking responsibility for our part in this world makes a difference. We read the blog "Called to Care for Creation" and our youth picked up trash around our campus!"
Youth gatherings are Sunday afternoons at 4pm for junior high and high school youth. (Note that they will be meeting this Sunday but off on May 10 for Mothers' Day.)
Women's Retreat Highlights
Thank you for your prayers for our Butler ladies who participated in the women's retreat last weekend. It was delightful to spend time together in a beautiful setting, and with all meals and dishes taken care of! Activities included a morning hike (so proud of those who got up early!), watercolor painting (fun to see how each art piece was unique) and even folk dancing (a few of us tried it just for fun; what a workout!). We had meaningful times of worship and learning about Grace and Grief, and experienced again the beauty of community and the importance of sharing life together.
Assistance Donations
Through the Butler Church Benevolent Assistance Fund, we have been able to help with several time sensitive needs recently. Given the upcoming cuts in SNAP funding even more requests may be coming in soon. Please consider making an additional donation to the church benevolent fund , by designating for this in the offering or through giving online. We also work with partner agencies like MB Foundation and Everence to expand our capacity through matching grants.
Another way to donate is by contributing to our food pantry. Non-perishable goods can be dropped off on Sunday mornings in the sanctuary foyer. Canned goods like pasta sauce, chili, and chicken are especially helpful.
If caring for needs of folks in our community in very practical ways is something close to your heart , please also talk with your pastor or contact the church office. We would like to build a social action response team that can respond to needs as they are made known. If you have a personal need, please also talk with a pastor.
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Updated on: 5/20/2026
Looking for earlier Butler news stories? You can visit our news archive here.