At All the Household, we love exploring the ways that Lutherans bring the rhythms of the Church Year into their everyday lives. In this new interview series, we’re excited to feature a variety of LCMS members who are actively practicing Lutheran Liturgical Living in their homes. Each one we speak with will share how they centers the Church’s calendar into their daily rhythms, discuss favorite traditions they’ve embraced and learned about on their journey, and pass along any other wisdom gathered along the way.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore the tenets of Lutheran Liturgical Living or have followed the Church Year for years (and, in the case of many of you, many more years than the two of us have observed it ourselves), we hope these conversations inspire and encourage you to root your home in Christ and His gifts.
Today, we’re delighted to feature Jen Koontz, who shares how her changing household has long sought to incorporate liturgical traditions and tried to make the Church Year accessible for even the youngest of Christians. Read more below!
One more quick thing! If you enjoyed this interview, join us for an extended recorded conversation with Jen over on our paid Patreon community. This week we release a bonus interview in which she elaborates on how living liturgically in her home has evolved over the years and offers ideas for some great ways that young children can become involved in various learning opportunities about all things liturgical.
Jen Koontz was born and raised in rural MN and grew up raising sled dogs and helping build log cabins with her family. She was a political science major at Hillsdale College and after that she worked for the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) in Wilmington, Delaware, a conservative educational organization. While there, she met her future husband, Adam, at church. He was the funniest and most interesting person she had ever met and they married and now have nine children. They live in Plum, PA.
Q: How do you aim to center the Church’s Calendar as part of your congregation and household?
A: Our congregation follows the one-year lectionary and as the church’s secretary (my husband is the pastor, and truly the best boss) my kids interact with it more than most. I put the bulletin together, print, and bring it home for the kids to fold with me. There are always questions about the picture on the front and how it relates to the readings. We’ve also had the poster of the Church Year in our home for years, so they (well, my kids old enough to read) understand the seasons of the year.
My second oldest son, now 12, asked for chasubles for his fourth birthday. I couldn’t find anything online at the time and didn’t have the time myself to make them, so I asked one of the retired pws (we had several) in our congregation who was a beautiful seamstress with time on her hands to make him four. And she did! Now his younger brothers continue to wear the white, green, red, and purple one. Other members of the congregation learned he had these and contributed to his altar — candles, paraments, and beautiful items that could be used for him to “play church.” Later, his sisters joined in as the choir and a brother was the vicar (we had one that year). If they were really into it, I’d play the CPH CD of the service, but usually they belted out any hymn they knew by heart, as much of the service as they knew, and I always enjoyed the sermons. It made a mess of the living room, but it was beautiful.
Q: Can you tell us about a favorite Church holy day and/or accompanying tradition that you’ve commemorated with those around you? What did that look like and how did it help further your knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith?
A: We love Epiphany. It’s a day that I did not grow up celebrating (though raised LCMS) unless it landed on a Sunday. My father is not a pastor, though a faithful layman, and I never noticed the seasons of the Church Year until my time in college (Hillsdale). My girls and I make an almond King’s cake (or many) and invite friends from the church over and celebrate. It’s a wonderful and joyful time and something we all look forward to. If there’s a church service that night we celebrate in the afternoon and go together.
Q: What resources have helped shape how you incorporate the Church’s liturgical year into your daily life?
A: I’ve read a number of books, but don’t follow any in particular. I know my closest friends from seminary all have rituals in their homes and I’m always encouraged by them in our mutual desire to raise our children in the faith.
Q: How do you approach liturgical living with children or others in your household?
A: We have always, no matter the ages of the kids or what our schedule is like, gather in the living room at the end of the day for what we simply call Bible stories. It’s praying, sometimes catechetical recitation together, and always reading at least a chapter of the Bible. And I’ve been so impressed with the questions my kids ask my husband. When I had all the kids at home to homeschool, we would start our day the same way and I’d incorporate songs — singing the books of the Bible or the Apostles Creed for the younger ones. I believe children love music and pick up and remember things better if set to music. I know I do!
Q: What encouragement would you give to someone who feels overwhelmed or unsure of how to begin observing the Church year in their home?
A: Sing to them, chat with them, talk to them about why you’re doing what you’re doing. Teach them the Lord’s Prayer, the Table Prayer and they’ll catch on. Teaching done naturally, side by side, is always the best. Pick a special recipe for a special feast and let the kids help you. Tell them why it’s a special day and they’ll remember. Kids can be wonderfully helpful (when old enough), but even reading a board book about the season will help them learn about the Christian faith and season of the year.