By Tiffany Mills, Angela Rotello and Ryder Mills

We’ve all had it happen. As we head back to school, somehow the family calendar gets more full than we intended, and we are scrambling to get it all done. Unintentionally, we may not prioritize things in a way that aligns with what we believe as Christ-followers. This can lead to our faith taking second or third place, or even getting sidelined altogether. 

In the new routines that the school year brings, we have an opportunity to come together with our families and give our first fruits to the Lord. It’s similar to placing the big rocks in a jar before adding the smaller rocks. If we want to help our other activities and tasks stay “right sized,” we add them second, so they can settle like small pebbles and sand around the “rocks” we have intentionally placed.

In Deuteronomy 6, God’s people are instructed to discuss our faith with our families as we walk, talk, sit, lay down and rise up. That may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are three simple steps toward making your faith a priority this fall. 

1. Find a time to sit with your family and talk about ideas that will help you keep Christ in the center of all you do.

That includes how you handle challenges and the words and actions that overflow from your heart. The goal is to join together as a family in rhythms and routines that allow you to walk more closely with Jesus.

These ideas may help you get started:

  • Focus on memorizing and discussing a verse each week.
  • Commit as a family to participating in worship at least three weeks of each month.
  • Be intentional about giving thanks to God by writing your gratitude on slips of paper, then using them to fill a mason jar or vase so you can see them grow.
  • Encourage your family to pray and pay attention to where you can be the hands and feet of Jesus to someone in your home, school, church or community.
  • Write names of people needing prayer on sticky notes and post them near the dinner table or in a space where you can pray for them before bedtime.

Begin the day with Morning Prayer for Families from the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. 

2. Once you’ve thought of some routines that could be helpful in facilitating your life with God, take a look at your whole calendar as a family.

List your work commitments, activities and sports schedules, church calendars, etc. Rather than dividing your life into the categories of “spiritual” and “everything else,” consider how you can integrate those categories. Pray and discuss as a household what faithful living would look like in each of the various contexts you’ll find yourself this fall.

You may want to ask yourselves these questions:

  • How do we want to be involved in each of the different commitments and communities we have this fall? How do we want to “show up” relationally and spiritually in this season?  
  • How will we be generous with our time, money and other resources to bless and serve those outside our family this season? 
  • When will we rest? How will we connect with God and reconnect with one another regularly? 
  • Is there anything important to our family that isn’t represented in our calendar this fall? What might we need to say “no” to in order to make space for that?

3. Enlist the help of trusted resources.

In his book, Habits of the Household, Justin Whitmel Earley shows how a few simple practices can change the dynamic of each day. Justin gives practical ideas for ways to turn your ordinary moments and daily rhythms like bedtime, mealtime and leaving the house into powerful opportunities for spiritual formation. 

Another great resource beloved in the Anglican tradition is the Family Prayer in the Morning from the Daily Office Lectionary.  Families can do this simple prayer time in five minutes as a meaningful way to shape each day.  

Whether it’s back-to-school or any other season we face, it is never too late to prioritize your family’s faith. In our modern lives, the abundance of resources and opportunities often feel like “pressure” to do everything. Take a deep breath, and release yourself from unrealistic expectations. We encourage you to reflect on the suggestions we named above and start small, with just a few intentional practices that work for your family rhythms. 

Most importantly, begin with prayer. The Holy Spirit delights in helping us, so ask for the desire and joy to begin new habits—and for meaningful family conversations to grow! 

Learn more about NextGen ministry in C4SO.

 

Tiffany Mills is C4SO’s Co-Director of the Family and Children’s Ministry Network, as well as Family Life Director at Christ Church in Overland Park, KS. Contact her.

 

 

 

Angela Rotello is C4SO’s Co-Director of the Family and Children’s Ministry Network, as well as NextGen Minister at Restoration Anglican Church in Richardson, TX. Contact her.

 

 

 

Ryder Mills is C4SO’s NextGen Coordinator, as well as Director of Outreach at Christ Church in Overland Park, KS. Contact him.