The Message, May 31, 2026, Children's Sunday: "Let Them Shine!", Matthew 19:13-15; 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:22

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
June 02, 2026

 

“Let Them Shine!”
A Children's Sunday Reflection by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Matthew 19:13-15; 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:22

            Back in the olden days, when I was in seminary, there were two parallel tracks that students had to follow: one for the school, and one for the denomination in which one sought ordination. I was attending Andover Newton Theological School and was pursuing ordination with the American Baptist Churches, USA. For the completion of my degree and to satisfy the requirements for ordination, I had to do a year of Field Education … what others might refer to as an internship.

            We were given a list of participating churches, or organizations, at which we could complete our Field Education requirement. Naturally, every church or organization had different opportunities for the students to participate in. Every student worked with a Teaching Parish Committee to define their roles and responsibilities with that particular church family. I was blessed to learn from a church that is quite similar to this church.

            Of course, because Field Education was also a degree requirement, the seminary had to figure out a way that we could get a grade for our learning experience. As such, the Field Education students were divided into cohorts, small groups of eight to ten people. We met every other week (I think) to discuss our learning sites and our experiences, then had to generate a written document at the conclusion so that there was something that the school could put in a filing cabinet somewhere. I am sure that the Teaching Parish Committee also had to provide some documentation as well.

            When I met with my cohort, most of my student colleagues complained that in their learning sites they were “stuck working with the kids.” ALL of them aspired to be Senior Pastor this, or Solo Pastor that. They all saw ministry with the children and youth as a “necessary step” in order to achieve THEIR goal.

            As I pause to polish my halo and maybe even add a jewel or two to my crown … I can say that I had a very different perspective. It was NOT an unpleasant or “necessary” burden to minister with the youth. Rather, it was my privilege to minister with the children and youth. I should also add that my learning site, First Baptist Church in Beverly, Massachusetts, afforded me a broad educational experience. They gave me many opportunities that the other students in my cohort did not enjoy.

            But I was blessed to have the opportunity to share in my ministry with the children and the youth, as well as with the church’s dedicated and faithful volunteers. However, I have to say that I was very nervous at first. Even though I helped teach the Kindergarten Sunday school class when I was in high school, and helped with the Middle School Youth Fellowship, I was still not sure how to really relate to the youngest children. As I said, they made me nervous … and I think that made them nervous.

            Until that one day when everything changed.

            The children were at the church for their Children’s Choir rehearsal. A little girl named Alexandra was at the office talking to me, but I was having a little trouble understanding her. She was only four years old and sometimes she mixed up her ‘k’s’ and her ‘t’s.’ In order to hear her, and understand her better, I got down on my knees so that I could see her face to face.
I got down on my knees, and everything clicked. (Not my knees … although they do click now.) Meeting Alexandra where she was changed the dynamic. That day changed me and changed my ministry.

            Getting back to my seminary cohort …

            Their view of ministry with children and youth saddened me, still saddens me … but it does not surprise me. There are far too many churches that wring their hands because there are no young families and no children in the congregation, but then when children and youth are there, they push them into the corner to be seen, not heard.

            On Friday, I received an email from Sally (Pratt) in response to my Weekly Update about our Pentecost balloon festival. She told me that she grew up in a church where she was AFRAID! “Sit still. Don’t talk. Don’t ask. Don’t do this. Don’t do that. Don’t … Don’t … Don’t!”

            I have been there. I served as an Associate Pastor in three different churches before I got to sit in the big chair. In one of those previous churches, the Senior Pastor came to me one day and said, “Scott … when you do the Children’s Message, just read them a story and send them to class. Don’t encourage them to talk because it can get out of control.”

            Don’t encourage them to talk?!?! Really??!!

            There was another instance that occurred at a previous church. A young family was visiting the church with their three children. Their son was autistic, and one Sunday someone (to this day I do not know who) turned around and said to that family, “Can’t you keep that kid quiet?!” I visited the family in their home … but they never came back.

            What we do here with our children and youth is important. It matters.

            Looking them face to face matters. (Even if our knees or our backs crack or creak.)
            Meeting children and youth where they are matters.
            Embracing them and welcoming them matters.
            Giving them room and encouragement to grow matters.
            Letting kids be kids matters.
            Supporting their parents matters.

            A couple verses after the passage that Ava just read, Paul tells Timothy that he has a gift. “Do not neglect the gift that is in you …” (1 Timothy 12:14)

            I can say the same thing to you, and I can say the same thing about our precious children and youth, “Do not neglect the gift that is within them. Do not neglect the gift that they ARE.”

            Will it be messy sometimes? Of course. Will it get ‘out of control’? Probably. Will it be noisy? Most definitely. But let us not be the cinder block that gets placed around their necks. Let us not be those who hinder them. For it is to THESE that the Kin-dom of Heaven belongs.

            Our call, our role is to give them a safe place to explore and grow. Our call is to encourage them and support them. Our call is to help nurture that gift that is within each of them. Our role is to let them shine!

            Amen.

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