Why Just Us Kids?

I’ve been thinking a lot about why we need church at all in a world so consumed by media. Our kids are surrounded by screens, algorithms, and stories that scroll past faster than they can blink. TikTok trends dictate who to be this week, Marvel heroes reveal who gets to save the day, and headlines remind them of a world on fire—climate crisis, wars, and injustice. With so many voices shouting for their attention, it can feel almost impossible to know what truly grounds them.

That’s why we need church. Not as another noise in the mix, but as a counter-story. A place that is slower, rooted, real. A place where ancient songs and old stories still hold wisdom, where silence can be holy, and where children can hear—maybe for the first time in a week—that they are not consumers or clickbait, but beloved children of God.

Out of that conviction grew our newly branded Sunday School program, “Just Us Kids.” The name itself is a play on words: just us—because kids need a space that’s truly theirs—and justice—because faith without justice is incomplete. In a world that is loud and fast, our children need grounding in stories of courage and compassion, tools for resilience, and a vision of love bold enough to change the world.

Just Us Kids is our way of saying that Sunday mornings aren’t about worksheets or sitting still, but about discovering that they are part of God’s ongoing story of justice and love. It’s where kids learn that God’s love isn’t passive or polite—it’s active and daring. It’s where they practice their “superpowers” of kindness, courage, and imagination, and where youth dive deeper into community, big questions, and justice in action.

And here’s where I get curious: what would it look like if the whole church showed up for this? What if Just Us Kids became not only a ministry for our children, but a welcome mat for families in our neighbourhood who are longing for belonging? That’s what radical hospitality looks like saying to every child and parent who walks through our doors: there is room for you here, just as you are. It means inviting others, telling the story of what God is doing among us, and creating a community where kids know this is their place—a place of love, justice, and joy.

I don’t know about you, but I think the church is at its best when it looks a little bit like a playground—where laughter echoes, imaginations run wild, and joy is allowed to spill into every corner. It’s at its best when it looks a little bit like a classroom—where questions are welcomed, mistakes are part of the lesson, and learning never stops. And it’s at its best when it looks a whole lot like a family; messy, imperfect, sometimes loud, but bound together by love, where everyone has a place at the table and no one is left out.

That’s the vision behind Just Us Kids (and Youth). A playground for joy. A classroom for curiosity. A family where love and justice are lived out in real time.

Blessings Rev. Kim 

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