Shining Light Yoga MHK was born in the spring of 2018 while Pastor Caela was supposed to be quieting her mind during savansana (that time in yoga where you lay down quietly and rest). Instead of focusing on her breathing, she was thinking about how thankful she was for the practice of yoga and how it had helped her immensely with finding calm in the midst of a very hectic (and sometimes downright scary!) world. 

Caela knew there were a lot of people who are a part of First Congregational UCC and also practice yoga regularly. She started wondering if any of them would be interested in starting a kids' yoga program here in Manhattan. If the world is stressful and scary for adults, imagine what it must feel like to young kids! If we could find a way to help kids honor their bodies, get in touch with their spirits, and learn self-confidence and calming techniques....all while having fun? That would be AWESOME. 

So we wrote a grant and submitted it to our denomination, the United Church of Christ. We said that we would like to "Improve the overall mental, spiritual, and physical health of children in our community by helping them
learn to manage emotions, care for and connect to their bodies. We hope to help the children learn skills
for living peacefully and cultivate a commitment to non-violence in a violent world."

We received the grant and in the summer of 2018, eight of us were trained to become kids' yoga teachers (seven of us were trained through Om Slice in Chicago and one of us through YogaKids online). We worked with SEG Media Collective here in Manhattan to spread the word about our new program. 

And now....it's happening! We host a Yoga+Donuts program the first Sunday of every month at 9:30am. You can learn about our upcoming events by following us on Facebook or signing up for our e-mail list. 

Why Sunday morning? Well, that's a time when we already have a group of kids at our church who are used to participating in activities (we have Sunday School the other weeks of the month). And we know that lots of families aren't busy on Sunday morning, so it seemed like a great time to invite people to join us. 

This is in a church....are you going to be teaching the Bible to my kids? We are just doing yoga at these events. Yoga is, of course, inherently spiritual in nature and it is a goal of ours to help your child get in touch with their own spirit. But these classes are meant for people of all faiths or no faith at all. Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Baha'i, Buddhist, Wiccan, atheist....you are welcome! It's probably a good time to mention that we believe there are lots of ways to experience the Holy and be a good person. We don't think Jesus is the only way to do that. Of course, if you do happen to be looking for a Christian faith community, we'd love to have you join us....but that is totally optional. 

How much do the classes cost? We want the classes to be accessible to everyone, so they are by donation only. We do have a few ongoing, fixed costs....the website, food, supplies for class, etc. First Congregational UCC is self-supporting and we aren't a huge church. So if you can chip in a few dollars or $5 or $10, awesome. If not, no big deal. | donate online

Do you want me to stay with my child? Totally up to you. If you'd like to enjoy some quiet time you're welcome to hang out here in a different room or go grab a cup of coffee or take a quiet stroll through downtown MHK. If you want to stay and join in the fun, great! If you're interested in doing church-y stuff, we have classes for adults that meet at 9:30am every Sunday, too. We would like to have you come back by 10:20 to join us for snacks. One of our goals is to help parents get to know each other and develop a sense of community. We ask that kids be picked up no later than 10:30am. 

I have more questions. No worries. We've got you covered. Send us an e-mail and we'd love to be in touch.

We are so excited about our new children's yoga program that will launch this fall! Beginning in September, the whole MHK community will be invited to join us on the first Sunday of each month at 9:30am for Yoga + Donuts. Kids aged 3 through 6th grade will participate in a lively yoga class led by our trained volunteers and then enjoy yummy donuts and conversation. 

On Saturday, August 25 we invite kids AND their adult caregivers to join us at the Manhattan Public Library at 10:00am for a Family Yoga class led by Pastor Caela. This will be a great way to preview our new yoga program and we hope you can join us! Storytime at the library will follow at 11:00am. 

A note from Linda Thurston, one of our Second Helping coordinators, written in July, 2018:

Last Sunday Pastor Caela talked about the Mutuality of Hospitality.  Second Helping, the community meals we plan, prepare, and serve every Sunday in Pioneer-Blachly provide hot meals for those in the community who need food and conversation.  Second Helping also blesses us with the opportunity to visit with guests and volunteers and an opportunity to serve God’s children. Did you know?
Second Helping serves 100-150 hot meals every month.  We also provide sack breakfast/lunches for all our guests.  What does it take to provide up to 300 meals a month:

Volunteers:  cooks, kitchen crews, church hosts, and coordinators who plan meals, order food, and pick up groceries and supplies.  That’s a  minimum of 10 people a week! (and about 27-30 hours a week!)

Supplies:  the church budget provides most of our supplies and paper products.  We use over 100 sandwich bags a week, which we fill with sandwiches, cookies, and carrots and celery.

Food:  During the school year, we often receive food recovered from  the K-State training table, which is frozen for use to store and use as needed.  We also receive some commodities, such as ground beef, noodles, rice, and canned fruit and vegetables.  We purchase needed weekly groceries at Hy-Vee at a discount.  We often need to buy:
                                    • 4 loaves a bread a week
                                    • 35 breakfast bars a week
                                    • 70 – 105 cookies a week
                                    • 70 packages of instant oatmeal a week
                                    • 35 packaged peanut butter or cheese crackers a week
                                    • dinner rolls (about 4 dozen)       
                       
Donations:  On the first Sunday of every month, we collect food items and cash donations that go to providing our meals.  Church volunteers sometimes bring dessert for our Sunday meals.  Others bring produce or extra food and beverages from catered events.
 
Wondering how you can be a part of Second Helping? 
You can:
            Volunteer to be a church host (training provided).
            Volunteer to cook or be part of the kitchen crew (training provided).
            Sign up to provide dessert for 35-40 on Sunday evening.
            Give a cash donation.
            Include our guests and volunteers in your prayers.
            Donate food:  breakfast bars, packaged cookies (Oreos are very popular), instant oatmeal packet,                                                 packaged cheese crackers,
            And our guests appreciate fresh produce, fruit and home-made goodies.  Last year we put out donated                  pears, tomatoes and cucumbers for our guests to take when they picked up their sack lunches– a big hit!
 
Our guests are thankful for our efforts – some help out as we set up or clean up.  Guests have handed us coins to help with expenses.  Others play the piano for the group or help others with more iced tea or coffee.  And we as individuals and as the church are blessed by our guests and our community of volunteers…. The mutuality of hospitality. 
 
Linda Thurston

​It’s Feast and Festival time! Join us Sunday, August 19th at 6 pm in Pioneer and Blachly Halls for food and fun. Paper goods will be provided or bring your own table set-up. Menu will include vegan options and homemade ice cream.

Once again, we will have the cake walk and the Ministry of Decorative Scissors will have a crafting table set up.

​Monetary donations are requested and if you have a cake/dessert to donate, it will be appreciated! Our friends from Second Helping will join us.

​It's back! One of our favorite Sundays of the year. Join us for smooth and raucous jazz on Sunday, August 12 at 10:45 a.m. (And, yes, you'll get to sing and dance along. Jesus loves a good party.)

Sunday, August 19 we will have a Blessing of the Backpacks and Teachers during worship at 10:45 a.m.. Children are invited to bring their backpacks and receive a blessing as they return to school. We are thrilled that the Ministry of the Decorative Scissors is again providing the custom-made backpack trinkets for our children. "Big kids" and adults are welcome to bring along their briefcases, diaper bags, work uniforms or other items that represent their daily work in the world. We will also bless those who are returning to teaching – whether that’s in a college classroom, an elementary school, or at home with young children. 

This is also the same day we return to OUR school year with Sunday School for all ages beginning at 9:30am. We hope you'll be able to join us!

Information about Sunday School....
....for adults & youth
....for children
Our nursery is also open for children aged birth to three.