Long before this church existed,
God’s Spirit was already present here.
Our Story
The word Manitou is a Huron name for God. We believe it’s no coincidence that this neighborhood carries that name. Long before this church existed, God’s Spirit was already present here—moving through this place and the people who call it home.
More than 100 years ago, a traveling minister heard children singing nearby. Following the sound, he discovered Mrs. Shumake leading them in songs beneath an old crooked fir tree. What began as a small gathering of children and music grew into a community of faith, and in 1912 Manitou Park Presbyterian Church was officially formed.
From the beginning, Manitou has been a church rooted in its neighborhood. When our current building was completed in 1929, Rev. Acheson described the vision this way:
“Our church is a community affair… planned to serve the needs of the people who live here.”
For more than a century, we have tried to live into that vision—serving our neighbors through food and clothing banks, education, worship, community gatherings, and acts of care.
But above all, our calling is simple:
to reflect the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
That love gives meaning to the name Manitou—and continues to shape who we are today.
Meet Pastor Ken
Hello—I'm Ken Sikes, and I’ve had the privilege of serving as pastor at Manitou since the summer of 2003.
Originally from East Tennessee, I first came to Tacoma in 1995 while serving in the Army. After leaving both the Army and Tacoma in 1998, I returned a year later to marry Erin—a Seattle native and Tacoma teacher. After a few years in Atlanta, Manitou called us back in 2003. The third time proved to be the charm. Since then, we’ve made our home in South Tacoma, where we’ve raised our three children and built a life we’re grateful for every day.
There’s an old saying: “People did not love Rome because she was great; Rome was great because people loved her.” Over the years I’ve found something similar to be true about South Tacoma.
At first glance, our neighborhood might not seem remarkable. It’s a modest, blue-collar community—more often passed through than sought out. But if you give it time, and if you come to love it, you begin to see its beauty: in the fir-lined parks, the diversity of faces and stories, and the quiet strength of the people who call it home.
In many ways, the same is true of Manitou.
We’re not a flashy congregation. We’re a humble gathering of retirees, young families, children, and neighbors from many walks of life. But the longer you spend here, the more you begin to see the beauty of a community learning to love God and one another.
If you have even a spark of curiosity about God, faith, life, or meaning, I’d be honored to walk alongside you as you explore.
Grace and peace,
Ken
Our Leadership
Elders
Ray Wuco
Nyk Pike
Anthony Shipman
Cami Pfingston
Deacons
Jan Wuco
Sherry Marsden
Karen Harris
Missy Pike
Lysette Iglesias
Music Team
Morris Catten
Music Leader
Chris Oglesby
Drums
Our Beliefs
Mission. Manitou Park Presbyterian Church exists to glorify God by becoming a community of Jesus so loving, welcoming and alive that it is worth sharing with others.
Denomination. MPPC is a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination. The PC(USA) is the largest of several Presbyterian denominations. It traces back to 1793 and is now headquartered in Louisville, KY. Its constitution has two parts: The Book of Confessions teaches what we believe and The Book of Order teaches how our church is organized.
In short. Perhaps the best way to communicate our beliefs is through the phrase that begins every worship service. After filling the baptismal font we declare:
I am a child of God.
You are a child of God.
They are a child of God
In the words of one of our saints, “God loves you, I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Your Questions, Answered
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Worship at Manitou is casual and reverent; lively and contemplative; traditional and progressive; friendly and respectful. We like to pray, we like to sing a variety of styles of music, and we like to dive into a particular passage from the Bible.
When you arrive, greeters will meet you and give you a bulletin that describes everything that will happen in worship that morning. And, your neighbors are bound to be friendly and willing to help.
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Our physical address is 6613 S. Cheyenne Street, but if you can find Manitou Park or Manitou Park Elementary off 66th Street then you can find us. Worship starts at 10:00. Some people arrive early to chat, others slide in a few minutes after we start singing. Worship usually ends by 11:15. Many people hang around after worship for our fellowship time.
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Manitou is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA). At the heart of our faith is the life and teaching of Jesus Christ who calls us to love God and love our neighbors. Our faith is expressed not only in worship, but in service, compassion, and community.
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Come as you are, wearing whatever feels most comfortable. Some people will dress up (though you won't see many ties) while others arrive in jeans and a t-shirt. Once you come, you'll realized that attire really is one of the least important things for us.
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Children are always welcome at Manitou. Everyone starts worship in the sanctuary. Infant cries and shuffling paper are welcome sounds to the opening time of worship.
About halfway through the service children come forward for a blessing and then the older kids (4-12) are invited to Sunday School while those younger go to our nursery. Some families keep their kids with them in worship.
However your family participates, know that children are part of our community and always belong here.
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While we’re always glad to welcome new people, we won’t ask you to stand up or introduce yourself during the service. You’re free to participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable.
If you’d like to connect with someone, introduce yourself after the service or reach out through our contact page. We’d love to get to know you, but there’s no pressure.
That being said, we are a small congregation and your presence will be noticed. Like Cheers, we are a place where everybody knows your name, and that, if you so choose to share it with us, will include yours.
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Not at all. People from many different faith backgrounds, including those exploring faith, are welcome to come, listen, ask questions, and participate at whatever pace and whatever way feels right.
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For more than a century, Manitou has been deeply connected to the South Tacoma neighborhood. We serve our community through programs like our food and clothing bank, neighborhood partnerships, summer arts camp and events that bring people together.
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Yes. We believe God’s love is for everyone. People of every background, race, orientation, gender identity, ability, age, and life experience are welcome here. Whether you’ve been part of church your whole life or are simply curious about faith, you’ll be welcomed by our community.
