Photo: Musicians from Faith Mennonite Church, Newton, Kansas, played worship songs as part of a special community gathering on Aug. 12. Photo by Gordon Houser. 

On the second Saturday of each month at 7 p.m., Faith Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas, hosts Popcorn in the Pit, a time to gather, play games and chat. These events are open to the public, though it’s mostly Faith Church members who come.

On Aug. 12, the church hosted a special Popcorn in the Pit to reach out to the family and friends of 24-year-old Alyssa Runyon and her 4-year-old daughter, Zaylynn Paz, who were found murdered on Aug. 8 at their home, which is only a few blocks from the church.

Runyon’s family held a candlelight vigil on Aug. 11. Faith’s gathering the next evening provided a quiet space for reflection and an outdoor space to play games, listen to music and visit.

Ken Janzen of Newton, a member of the church, said the event was also an opportunity to raise money for the family. He and Gary Gaeddert chatted in the pit, a recessed area on the church property just outside a walk-in basement that includes a fellowship hall, which can be used when it’s too cold to be outside.

Meanwhile, a music group played worship songs, and adults and children played in the grassy area in the pit. Inside, people gathered in the church’s sanctuary to pray and grieve together.

Channel 12, a CBS affiliate in Wichita, Kansas, sent a videographer, Trevor Macy, to film some of the event. He said that when there’s a murder in a small town, “it affects everybody.” This gathering, he said, was “a good example of community support.”