At Tonawanda United Methodist Church, we are grateful to have an outstanding team of leaders who are dedicated to serving the Lord. Our philosophy is that we are truly blessed to be a blessing.
Pastor Chris Hagler has been serving with us since July of 2017. Pastor Chris was first introduced to the Christian faith in the Roman Catholic tradition. Upon his senior year in high school he experienced first-hand God’s gracious love for him through Jesus Christ. Through many twists and turns along with a few ups and downs he has found his faith rejuvenated again in The United Methodist Church. Pastor Chris earned a Master of Divinity degree in May 2000 and previously served as an assistant pastor and pastor within the former jurisdiction of the WNY annual conference of The United Methodist Church. Pastor Chris became a board-certified chaplain with the Spiritual Care Association in the fall of 2021.
Pastor Chris and his wife, Tracy, between them have four children (Chris’ adult son, Tracy’s adult son & daughter, and their pre-teen daughter)
Since his appointment to our church, he leads Sunday morning worship. We are blessed to have him serve as our Pastor here at Tonawanda UMC.
Molly Saviola, Music Director – Following in her siblings’ footsteps, Molly Saviola joined her parish youth choir at age 8 in Pensacola, Florida. At 11 she became the choir’s warm-up accompanist and at 15 became the Assistant Organist for the Family Service at her church. She was a Church Organist/Choir Director for the next 28 years. Along the way, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organ Performance from Florida State University and a Master’s Degree from The Eastman School of Music. After completing her degree in WNY (and getting married), she worked as Organist/Choir Director in various Episcopal Churches in the area. When her young family grew up, she left Church Music and went back to school to get a degree in Education and is currently a Music Teacher in the Buffalo Public Schools. She is enjoying the opportunity to return to her first career, Church Music.