St. Augustine Loves Kids

Mark 10:14 Let the little children come to me do not stop them for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.

Summary: Our life together is fuller and more faithful when we truly welcome children as whole members of the Body of Christ.

Dear Faithful Ones,

Each Sunday, I begin with a simple reminder. St Augustine Loves Kids. Please embrace how they worship with their wiggles and giggles. They are also members and belong here.

I say it because it matters. I say it because it shapes who we are becoming.

When children move, whisper, laugh, or even cry, they are not interrupting worship. They are participating in it. Their presence is not something we tolerate. It is something we receive as a gift. Jesus was very clear about this. He did not say children should wait until they understood everything. He said the kingdom of God already belongs to them.

That means something profound for us. It means church is not a place where we train children to become future members. It is a place where we recognize they already are. Right now. Fully.

Their wonder teaches us something about faith. Their honesty reminds us to be real before God. Their energy calls us out of our desire for quiet control and into a living, breathing community. Sometimes that feels messy. But the gospel is not neat and tidy. It is alive.

So when I say St Augustine Loves Kids, I am naming a value. We are a church where every person belongs, not because they fit a mold, but because they are beloved by God. That includes the smallest among us.

This week, I invite you to notice the children. Smile at them. Encourage their parents. Give thanks for their presence. And if a little noise disrupts your concentration, let it become a prayer. A reminder that life is here. God is here. The kingdom is unfolding right in front of us.

Warmly, Pastor Anny+

Prayer Loving God, open our hearts to receive children as gifts and teachers among us. Help us to become a community where every person knows they belong. Amen.