December 22, 2018

Dear Aspen Chapel Families,

     I hope you all had a wonderful Winter Solstice yesterday. And I hope it marks the beginning of renewal, letting go of habits that don't serve you anymore, and welcoming new opportunities as more light shines on our winter days.
      If your experience this holiday season is anything like ours, perhaps Christmas has come too fast and you're not feeling prepared. There's so much more to do and not enough time. As I compose this, I'm taking long, deep breaths, trying not to panic. Trying to feel peace versus dread. Christmas can be everyday if we quiet our minds and breathe. The holiday festivities are opportunities to celebrate this idea of peace with friends and family. We can still feel peace if all the "shoulds" don't come together: a dusted mantle, clean bathrooms, packages with creative flair attached to the ribbons because there was time to do that! But if we don't feel peace despite the perfect display and having an abundance of time, then it doesn't matter. I am trying to remember this as my heart races with the running list in my head. Peace comes from within, not from outer conditions and circumstances. 
    On that note, tomorrow at Sunday School we'll be lighting our fourth Advent candle for Peace. We'll discuss these ideas, and try to get the children to see that peace is something they can access anytime, despite the hurricane that might be spinning around them. We'll do a meditation as we gaze at our four candles. And then we'll play a fun game to music and hopefully leave time for fun, light-hearted carols. 
    As most of you know, we're hosting an event at 2:00 for children and parents. We'll be reading stories that get to the Heart of Christmas (I hope I don't cry while reading them), then we'll make ornaments that go along with some of the stories. We hope you can join us! 
    I especially hope you can all join us for one of the Christmas Eve services on Monday evening. At 4:00 we'll be doing a children's service.
    Please be safe and try to enjoy the magic this season offers us. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Holiday Storytime & Ornaments
December 23rd from 2-4

Christmas Eve Service for Children
December 24th at 4

Parents' Night Out 
December 27th from 5:30-8:30

If you ever have questions concerning
our services
or your children's needs, please email
me at michelle@aspenchapel.org

In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator