How do you stay present in the holidays while still serving faithfully? During the rush of the holiday season, those of us serving in ministry often find ourselves carrying a unique paradox: leading others into a season of joy, peace, and hope, while navigating demanding schedules and busy calendars. During November and December, we’ll be hearing from women who have been there and who can offer encouraging, practical, and honest insights on holding the tension between the work of serving and the true meaning of the season. We pray that this series will bring fresh joy to your heart as you celebrate the birth of our savior.
By Krisie Brown
Looking out my window, it’s mid-October and I have to admit the autumn colors have passed their peak. I don’t mind it so much since I love this time of year! The cooling temps, the golden slant of the lowered sun, and the crunchy leaves underfoot signal my favorite season in New England.
Beside all the external reminders there are the internal ones: the tightening of my chest, the whirling thoughts and the endless lists being produced as we decide to not only host Christmas dinner but also Thanksgiving this year. The holiday season is on my front path and is quickly working its way to my front step.
How do I begin to jump into all the menu planning, gift- giving decisions, event scheduling, and tradition keeping while maintaining a sense of gratitude and wonder?
I certainly don’t have all the answers, and there is much to be said for spontaneous joy surprising us along the way. I’d like to suggest that a little planning can go a long way.
First, let’s dream a little. Take some time to dream about what you want the holiday season to look and feel like.? What are some past experiences or traditions you’d like to see repeated? What little moments made you feel most connected to the season in the past?
Write down all the descriptive words, fragrances, memories, activities, books, movies, foods, treats, people, places, decorations, and fun you can think of.
If you want to include the whole family, have a time of reminiscing over dinner to find out everyone’s favorite holiday food, tradition, or happening.
Now that you are on a reminiscing high or feel completely overwhelmed, depending on how you perceive the things you’ve documented, take time to circle the 3-5 most important aspects that without them, it just wouldn’t feel like the holidays.
Depending on how you like to schedule your time, take out your favorite calendar, planner, or phone app to schedule those important activities, or block off time to put out the invitation, plan the menu, shop, and prepare for the event.
For some, this kind of dreaming brings feelings of loss and grief flooding in, threatening to swallow them up. If this is you, I am so sorry and I want you to know Jesus is holding you right now. Take time to sit with the loss, name it, shout at it, cry it through, and then curl up in the lap of your Savior Jesus so He can hold and comfort you. When you are ready, ask Jesus to help you reimagine, recreate, and renew hope in a different dream of the holidays. Our God is a God of power — life-creating, renewing power. Allow His love to fill you, heal you, and move you into making all things new.
Second, think about those spiritual practices that ground you in these joyous seasons of gratitude and wonder. You may enjoy curling up with a special drink to journal. Maybe you walk to feel the seasonal changes of nature from fall to winter. Or you sit before a perfectly lit Christmas tree, early or late, to ponder the joy of Emmanuel with us. You might listen to seasonal worship music in the car. Possibly you serve others in your church, helping them with seasonal chores, or buy extra groceries for the needy. Whatever your preference or interest in trying something new, the key is to schedule it. Make a commitment of time in your calendar to practice God’s loving presence and to grow in relationship with Him. Intentionally blocking off time helps you create the space to slow down and savor the season.
Make a commitment of time in your calendar to practice God’s loving presence and to grow in relationship with Him.
Third, let’s turn to the must-do planning. The dinner you are expected to host, the gifts that are anticipated that need to be purchased, and the parties that you are eagerly or not so eagerly hoping to attend. Taking time to schedule each of these things allows your brain to rest, knowing that you intend to get to that detail at a future specified time. This allows you to focus more fully on what needs to happen now, so that when you are keeping that appointment of spiritual practice you can be fully present with God and not be bombarded with tasks yet to be planned, prepped, and executed.
Taking time to dream, plan, and schedule those things that are most important to you and your family for the holiday season can help you build in margin to slow down, notice the changing seasons, and appreciate the stillness of God’s presence in gratitude and wonder.
Krisie Brown has been involved in both the Women’s and Children’s Ministries at First Congregational Church of Hamilton for close to 30 years. She and her husband live in Ipswich, MA with their three children (Morgan, Calvin, and Sydney). Currently, she is on the board of By Design Ministries and the teaching team for the Women’s Bible Study at her church. Krisie loves to be involved at church and in her children’s schools, building community.