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 (PayPal | other options)
            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.