When I was young in ministry and I had young kids, I wanted to build holiday traditions for my family. As a pastor, your calendar fills up quickly during the holiday season. As a young family, we realized that our holidays were going to look very different than how they looked when I was growing up. But desiring to have more time with my family on Christmas Eve, we started a new rhythm that went like this every single year: Following our Christmas Eve services, we would have a family meal together before opening some presents. Then, on Christmas Day, we would enjoy seeing what was in our stockings first thing in the morning, along with giving each other the rest of the gifts. Then, every year, we would make our way to my extended family in Indiana. As a family, we would take turns reading the Christmas story in Luke, remembering the greatest gift of all. We would feast all day on those special foods that only come out on the holidays, and after this beautiful and long celebration day, we would head back home to Ohio and eat at the same restaurant (because it was the only restaurant open) every year.
When I ask my kids about Christmas Day, these are the stories they remember. To this day, even after 20 years, our kids still ask to be the one to read the story from Luke and like to tease me about that one year when our one regular restaurant was closed and their dad was, well, a little lost. Hopefully, even if they cannot express it in so many words, what they remember is that I showed up for the family.
As pastors, we can sometimes get lost in what feels like a chaotic holiday season. And it may be easy to miss out on family traditions and holy moments during this time. But don’t lose hope. In order to create rhythms for holy moments during the holidays, we have
to be intentional. And showing up can take some planning. As pastors, it’s important that we find ways to focus on the reason for the holiday as part of the day-to-day happenings and be present for our family, even during the busiest season.
I love the story of the shepherds in the Bible. They were just hanging out one night, doing their job, and the angels chose them. They didn’t choose someone of renown. No one in that field was seen as all-important. And yet, they were chosen to tell about the birth of Christ. After the angels’ announcement, the shepherds set out to find the child in the manger. They told Mary and Joseph all that had happened. It says in Luke 2:19 that “Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”
Yes, she thought about the angels’ words often. They left an impression. It was something she likely remembered for the rest of her life.
Think about it. Mary was foretold that she would give birth to Jesus in a manger. It was just her, Joseph, and some animals. It had to be overwhelming and perhaps frightening for a young virgin girl.
But then the shepherds showed up.
They showed up, shared all that God had told them and stood amazed with Mary and Joseph, at the birth of Jesus. It’s almost like God was letting Mary and Joseph know that they weren’t alone.
I think God wants us to show up in this same way during the busy holiday season—to stand in amazement together at what God has done and be present with our families.
How can we do this?
Showing up is the best place to start—but showing up on purpose, intentionally, year after year, will take it to the next level and establish habits and traditions. Think of the things that are important to you, especially during the holiday season. As a pastor, I am expected to serve on the holidays. But I also want to serve my family and others during my busy holiday schedule, so we created a way to plan for family time and traditions. What are some plans you can make now to show up and hold space for holy moments and traditions in your holiday schedule?
- Creating Rhythms for Holy Moments with Your Family During the Holidays - October 14, 2025