5 Tips for Easing Overwhelm During the Liturgical Year

There are many beautiful blogs, books, and groups with specific tips for celebrating the church year, but they can easily become fertile ground for overwhelm, comparison, and indecision. Take it from me, I’ve been flustered wondering how to curate the best, most robust options for prayers, meals, decor, and all the rest. I quickly realized that all-or-nothing approach would quickly extinguish my initial interest.

As we prepare for the start of a new liturgical year this month, I’ve gathered my five best tips for celebrating the calendar. These are universal morsels of advice I offer to myself and anyone else who might need the reminder. In the spirit of don’t-sweat-the-small-stuff, these five tips form an excellent foundation for your liturgical year. I purposefully did not include any season-specific advice to further emphasize that any celebration or commemoration can be meaningful, no matter if it “looks right” or aligns with popular traditions or not.

Allow your curiosity to lead the way.

The church calendar is a robust cycle full of beautiful symbolism, history, and inspiration. Whether you are new to the liturgical year or an old friend, allow your unique curiosity lead your exploration. This leaves plenty of room for (metaphorical) small bites or great feasts.

• If you are most interested in the witness of the saints, let their stories be your guide.
• If the differences between the celebrations in the northern and southern hemispheres pique your interest, start there.
• If you love art or literature or baking, explore the calendar through those mediums.

There is more than one way to integrate the seasons of the church year into your life. By all means, please resist the temptation to celebrate in comparison with others! By folding in your existing talents, interests, and questions, you’ll be able to engage with the calendar all year round. This will provide the most meaningful celebrations and offer you the most personal path into liturgical living.

Go at your own pace.

As you consider how to commemorate a new season, set a pace that works best for you. I like to think of the calendar as a large banquet table filled with traditions, colors, and tasty plates of food. It’s impossible to devour it all in a single sitting (or a single year). There are many reasons why a modified pace is a good call: young children or caregiving responsibilities, a demanding schedule, chronic illness, etc.

Your celebrations should be modified to accommodate the time, energy, and space you have. You may be able to take on more or less in different seasons of life. I always remind folks the liturgical year is not a checklist or a race. It is a series of cyclical invitations into the story of Christ. Accept what you can and let the rest wait until it circles back round.

Use what you already have at home.

Some of the most beautiful celebrations include the use of things we already have in our homes or worship spaces. It can be tempting to spend a lot of money on decor, special ingredients, or special books or objects. If you’re like me, you like things just right. And sometimes (most times?) it’s just not possible, thanks to your current space or time or the budget.

For me, this is where the calendar becomes the most personalized. Get creative with borrowed or second-hand items. Venture into a DIY project. Or see what nature has to offer. Advent candles can be any color, home or altar decor can include leftover fabric and elements from nature, recipes need not be exact, etc.

When in doubt, make the pancakes.

Pancakes are always an acceptable (and delicious) way to celebrate a feast day. You might have a time-tested family recipe or the craving for something new each time breakfast (or dinner) rolls around. Either way, pancakes are extremely versatile. Here are a few ideas to plug into your search bar:

• Ina Garten’s Banana Sour Cream Pancakes (A personal favorite!)
• German Pancake/Dutch Baby
• Buttermilk Pancakes
• Savory Crepes with a Friend Egg, Cheese, and Spinach
• Sweet Crepes
• Sourdough Pancakes
• Sheetpan Pancakes
• Trader Joe’s or Aldi’s Protein Pancake Mix

Pancakes are also easy to customize for a particular saint or season. Mix in blueberries for Advent or Lent, strawberries for Pentecost, blackberries for Michaelmas, or top with sprinkles for Easter — there are so many possibilities!

Invite a friend to be your companion.

The journey through the church calendar is a pilgrimage. Whether you take it slow or eagerly celebrate each and every day, there is much to learn and reflect on. Though it can be a meaningful journey for solo-travelers, the company of a friend can fortify your experience. It might be one friend, your family, a small group, or a church community. Consider sharing in feast day preparations together or sharing a simple dessert together and discussing the season at hand.

Do you keep any tips for celebrating tucked in your back pocket?

It’s been a few years now since I started observing the church calendar. In their own way, these five tips for celebrating liturgical seasons have been pillars of my experience, supporting my own curiosity and nurturing my connection with others and God. Each year has offered both a fresh perspective and a nostalgic familiarity that carries me through the seasons. I’m hopeful these tips for celebrating fortify and encourage your journey through the Christian year.

What tips or guidance has helped you integrate the liturgical year into your life?