Family liturgies

The family is God’s primary spiritual formation plan. It is in our households that we are taught what is most and least important and we begin to understand how we fit in this world that God has made. Parents, do you know the book Habits of the Household, by Justin Whitmel Earley? Earley is convinced that ordinary routines are extraordinary opportunities to live out the love of God in profound ways. He encourages families to reimagine and establish new habits and intentional rhythms (i.e. liturgies) around everyday routines in the daily chaos of raising kids. 

I was introduced to Earley’s ideas in The Common Rule, on developing holy rhythms of life that help us live more deeply rooted in God’s lifegiving Kingdom. We show what we love and value by our daily habits and we can place ourselves in a position to be transformed when we intentionally practice habits in our friendship with Jesus, individually and with others. Habits of the Household roots these ideas in the heart of the family. 

Can you think of our families as little “schools of love,” places where we have one vocation, one calling: to form all who live here into lovers of God and neighbor? In the many habits of a household, including waking, mealtimes, screentime, work, play, bedtime and conversation, we have the opportunity to “live liturgically” and practice the story of God over and over again. Deeply formed lives start in the family. We all need spiritual companions to help us to implement our desire to see our kids come to know, follow and love Jesus. Check out Habits of the Household.

Grace and peace,

Anita Sorenson

Pastor for Spiritual Formation