For many Orthodox Christian families, weekends are no longer quiet times of rest and worship. Instead, they are filled with sports tournaments, music recitals, birthday parties, travel-team commitments, and endless invitations. Parents often feel torn—wanting their children to succeed in school and extracurricular activities but also knowing deep down that the most important commitment is to Christ and His Church.
This struggle isn’t new, but it feels more intense today, as many activities now require us to be present on Sundays. How do we juggle it all without losing sight of what truly matters?
The Challenges We Face
1. Time Pressures
The modern family calendar can feel like a marathon. Between soccer practice, piano lessons, debate club, and school projects, weekends that once served as a time for rest and worship are now some of the busiest days of the week. Parents often find themselves driving from one event to another, juggling schedules like professional managers.
In this whirlwind, Sunday morning Divine Liturgy can seem like just “one more thing” on the list—something that can be postponed or skipped if necessary. The truth is that Liturgy doesn’t compete with sports or other activities—it nourishes us for everything else. However, the constant demands on our time make it difficult to recognize this. If we’re not careful, what should be the focus of our week turns into a “leftover,” squeezed in if there’s nothing else. The subtle danger is that—little by little—the rhythm of the Church is replaced by the rhythm of the world.
- Cultural Expectations
Our society values achievement. From a young age, children are encouraged to build résumés, excel in sports, participate in the arts, take advanced classes, and join as many activities as possible. Parents often feel pressure to give their children “every opportunity” to succeed, fearing they will fall behind if they don’t keep up.
In this environment, church attendance and spiritual growth can seem less urgent or even optional. A game-winning goal or a high test score is celebrated, while quiet spiritual progress often goes unnoticed. Yet the saints remind us that true success is measured not by medals or diplomas but by holiness.
St. Paisios the Athonite once said:
“The goal of parents is not to raise successful children, but saints.”
This doesn’t mean children shouldn’t pursue talents or dreams. It means those pursuits must not overshadow their identity as Orthodox Christians. When cultural expectations cause us to focus more on worldly achievements than worship, our children pick up the message that God comes second.
- Guilt and Discouragement
Parents genuinely want to provide their children with strong faith and opportunities for growth. However, when Sundays are missed or prayers are neglected, guilt can set in. It’s common to think, “We’re failing as Orthodox parents.” At the same time, modern life’s demands can be so draining that families feel overwhelmed and powerless to make changes.
The greater danger occurs when guilt turns into resignation. Missing one Liturgy becomes two, then three, until it feels normal. Parents may think, “This is just the season we’re in; church will have to wait.” Over time, the family’s connection to the Church weakens, not through rebellion but through quiet neglect.
This is exactly why Christ says: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
The Church isn’t just another burden on a busy schedule; it’s the place where burdens are lifted. When families feel stretched thin, they need the Eucharist more than ever.
The Solutions We Need
- Anchor the Week with Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy is more than just another Sunday activity—it is the core of Christian life. In it, we receive Christ Himself in the Eucharist, the “medicine of immortality” (St. Ignatius of Antioch). Everything else—sports, school, work—derives its meaning and purpose from this central act of worship.
When families prioritize Liturgy, they are not just fulfilling a duty; they are showing through their actions, “Christ is the foundation of our family life.” This witness influences children more than any lecture ever could.
“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1)
Even if it means skipping a tournament or leaving a party early, children learn the unspoken truth: God comes first.
- Communicate Your Priorities
Many parents hesitate to tell coaches or teachers that Sundays are reserved for worship. Yet, gentle honesty often opens doors. By respectfully saying, “Our family attends church on Sunday mornings so that we won’t be available until after noon,” you teach your children not to be ashamed of their faith.
St. Basil the Great once said: “The Christian ought not to be known by name only, but by his way of life.”
Coaches and leaders might not always change schedules, but your example plants seeds. More importantly, it demonstrates to your children that faith isn’t hidden or compromised but lived openly and with integrity.
- Involve Children in the Church’s Life
When children are given a role in the parish—such as serving at the altar, singing in the choir, reading during services, or participating in youth activities—they start to see the Church as their home, not just a responsibility of their parents.
St. John Chrysostom emphasizes: “When we teach our children to be good, to be gentle, to be forgiving… we plant virtue in their souls and reveal to them the image of God.”
Participation gives them joy and a sense of belonging that no trophy shelf can match. The friendships they build in the Church can support their faith when the pressures of the world increase.
- Make Faith Part of Daily Life
The home is often called the “little church.” Even on busy weekends, faith can be part of everyday life through prayers before meals, evening Scripture readings, and talks about saints or feast days. These small acts remind us that Orthodoxy isn’t just for Sundays but a way of living.
As Deuteronomy teaches: “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise.”(Deuteronomy 6:7)
These simple rhythms remind children that God’s presence is with them everywhere—from the soccer field to the classroom.
- Celebrate with the Church
Birthdays, holidays, and milestones are meaningful, but they should never overshadow the celebrations the Church gives us through its feasts and fasts. When families celebrate Pascha, Nativity, Theophany, and the saints’ days with joy and preparation, they teach children that the greatest joys in life come from Christ.
St. Seraphim of Sarov said: “The true goal of our Christian life is to acquire the Holy Spirit of God.”
When we base our celebrations on the life of the Church, we help our children experience joy that lasts well beyond the fleeting happiness of parties or events.
A Final Word of Encouragement
None of these solutions demand perfection—they require faithfulness. There will be weekends when schedules clash, exhaustion overtakes, or commitments feel too overwhelming. But what matters most is the steady direction of the family’s heart. If the compass always points to Christ, even imperfect steps will lead toward Him.
St. Theophan the Recluse reminds us:
“The family is a little Church. If it is preserved in faith and virtue, it will bring forth fruits for the whole world.”
Our children will remember the example we set more than the words we say. If they see us sacrifice Liturgy for sports, they learn where our true loyalty lies. But if they see us happily put Christ first—even when it is inconvenient—they will carry that lesson into their own lives.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
Let us, as Orthodox families, strive to gain Christ—and through Him, everything else will fall into its proper place.