April 27, 2019

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dear Aspen Chapel Families,
     What perfect advice for this Spring season. Yesterday was an example of the fickleness of Spring and such an appropriate metaphor for our lives when we're trying to bring about more peace and happiness in our experience. We set goals for ourselves and hope our children will grow and thrive according to external expectations. But sometimes the good we're hoping for doesn't always happen on our timeline, and it's easy to feel discouraged.
     We know warmer days are ahead. We've experienced enough seasons to know that the earth will experience abundance and color again. When we set goals or pay attention to the benchmarks children should hit, it's easy to get discouraged by the roller coaster of hopes and setbacks. But it's unnecessary because the universe does know our desires, and our good unfurls in divine order.
    Nicholas will be discussing patience this Sunday, and children will also explore this theme through Spring literature in Sunday School. If we can instill a better sense of patience in this next generation of young people, perhaps they will experience less anxiety or depression in the future. I encourage you to observe your surroundings and the weather with them and try to relate its cycles to their lives.
    I will not send a newsletter next weekend, for I'll be out of town, but back on Sunday the 5th! I hope to see your children then!

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

In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Department

April 19, 2019

"As a child welcomes the dawn with a heart filled with expectation and hope, let us welcome Easter, this symbol of light." ~May Rowland
 

Dear Aspen Chapel Families,

      As we welcome Easter weekend along with celebrating our beautiful Earth, which is exploding with Spring flowers and smells, we can reflect on what the Easter story means for us and how we can impart that to our children. In many ways, the Easter story holds elements of our own lives. Once we recognize that, then the rituals we take part in take on a whole new meaning.
    We have all experienced deaths in our lives in the form of losing someone very close to us, or losing a job or experiencing illness and hardship. We've all felt like the world was against us and as if we've been abandoned or betrayed. In times like these we almost feel crucified.
     When Jesus was crucified on the cross, people scattered and feared for their lives. They were filled with grief and confusion. There is a darkness that can engulf us in the same way, when we're met with tragedy, hopelessness, loss, or loneliness. Being in that dark space is similar to Jesus being in the dark, stone tomb. It's hard to imagine things improving when we're feeling this way.
     The Easter story really illustrates how the sun does rise again. When the women discovered that Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb, they weren't sure immediately what that meant. Just like we don't always know the reasons for our suffering, yet people people say to us, "there's always a silver lining," or "this too shall pass." We don't always recognize the good that comes into our lives after a painful event, and sometimes we don't know when or how we've left the tomb.
      But there usually comes a day where we notice life has gotten better! Maybe we laugh or we feel more energy or confidence. We start to see light again. The Easter story reminds us that good can come from the most difficult circumstances. Perhaps we develop more compassion, or an unexpected door opens after another was slammed, or we develop the wisdom necessary for our next chapter in the journey.
     As we say goodbye to the dark and cold days of winter, and welcome the sunshine and color of Spring, we can celebrate not only the man who taught about peace, love, forgiveness, and faith, but also the resurrection that we as humans experience throughout our lives.
    This Sunday, children of all ages are welcome to join us in the Aspen Chapel Sanctuary for a short Easter message by Nicholas Vesey, then join us downstairs for lighthearted crafts and an egg hunt that celebrate Easter and Earth Day. We hope to see you Sunday at 11:00am.

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

In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator

April 13, 2019

The birth and rebirth of all nature, The passing of winter and spring, We share with the life universal, Rejoice in the magical ring."

Dear Aspen Chapel Families,

     When I reflect on my own childhood and remember Easter and the days leading up to Easter, I can recall certain images and activities, but I don't remember learning the purpose behind what we did as a family. I remember hoping that the dissolved Paas tablets would make a vibrant color on the eggs, and being disappointed when they came out pale and splotchy. I remember decorating our Easter tree with adorable wooden rabbits and ornate wooden eggs, and finding new ones hanging from my basket each year. My fondest memory is finding Cadbury eggs and little presents in my basket...it was like a smaller version of Christmas, but more pastel. I'd usually have to wear some starchy dress that my mom made and then cringe from embarrassment as my mom belted out Hallelujah with her Easter hat at some church with my grandparents. The only thing that got me through it was stifling laughter with my brother in the pews and knowing we'd be able to eat deviled eggs and more chocolate soon.
     It wasn't until I was in the throes of motherhood that Easter meant something more than arranging a "perfect" basket for my children with natural jellybeans and Jan Brett Easter books. Like with a lot of people, the struggles in our life as parents opened us to the spiritual lessons offered in the holidays we celebrate, behind the ritual and traditions and outfits and meals. And maybe by slowing down and helping our children understand the origins and meanings behind what we do for these holidays, they'll see beyond the "getting" and "consuming", and will see them as an opportunity to evolve as human beings with the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth that our planet experiences.
    So back to Paas tablets...why do so many of us engage in this tradition? What is the significance of eggs and rabbits in Easter, and what do they have to do with Jesus and the cross? What is Palm Sunday and Holy week and why hot cross buns? Obviously there's a broad spectrum of beliefs within our community and beyond. There are literal interpretations of the Easter story, metaphysical interpretations, and no interpretations at all except preparing a ham and egg casserole. But giving our children a context for how we do or don't do holidays can anchor them and provide meaning for them, which can bring comfort as they confront their own struggles.
     Tomorrow in Sunday School, we'll briefly discuss how the eggs and rabbits represented fertility and rebirth in nature in the Pagan observations of Spring,  preceding Christianity. We'll discover how baskets of treats evolved from Western Europeans bringing the tradition of making nests for rabbits and eggs. And how eggs were forbidden during Lent, so people painted them and waited to eat them for the Easter feast! We'll read a Christian version of the Easter story and discuss the significance of the palm for Palm Sunday. Of course we'll discuss these ideas while we create tangible crafts to bring home.
     As we go through the week in our own families, perhaps we can pick and choose what rituals to do with our kids and bring more meaning and purpose to them versus going through the motions. Maybe hot cross buns symbolize crossing out beliefs or behaviors that no longer serve us. Maybe coloring eggs are a way to remember and honor the cycles we go through as people (darkness into light, negative thinking into positive thinking, protecting our hearts into opening our hearts), just as nature goes through the same cycles, like a magical ring. I hope to see you and your children tomorrow as we begin this special week.

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

In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator

April 6, 2019

"The beautiful spring came, and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also." ~ Harriet Ann Jacobs
 

Dear Aspen Chapel Families,

      As Spring lets us know it's here with the singing of morning birds, the receding snow on the golf course in Aspen, the cyclists in the lower valley, and the tips of daffodils in neighbor's yards, we begin to set ritual and tradition in motion, whether we're aware of it or not. Perhaps we purge forgotten items from our cluttered closets, begin thinking about our flower boxes and clearing sleds and old leaves off the porch, or buy white eggs in anticipation of dipping them in colorful dye. Whatever we do to welcome Spring, it can become richer if we slow down and recognize the power in ritual and see the connection between cleaning our homes and planting seeds, and clearing out negative thinking and planting seeds of gratitude in our hearts.
     When children are involved in the rites and rituals throughout the year, I believe it gives them a sense of identity, purpose, and meaning. Most religions recognize the patterns of seasons and the regeneration of life during Spring. So whether we're preparing for a large Passover gathering, dyeing Easter Eggs (which has roots in Pagan traditions), praising Buddha for Ohigan, or chanting and dancing in the Native American traditions, it's a time to involve our children so they may recognize the power of renewal within after enduring the long winter months.
     Tomorrow at the Chapel, children are invited to witness a Baptism upstairs. We will then move downstairs to plant seeds and draw the connection between caring for a plant and caring for our selves. We'll discuss the ways we care for our natural environment, how we care for our bodies for vitality, and how we can care for our hearts. We hope to see you all.

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

In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator

March 30, 2019

Dear Aspen Chapel Families,

     We are now in the season of Lent, which begins 40 days before Easter. Traditionally this is a period in which people are asked to abstain from luxuries, activities, substances and foods in order to replicate Jesus Christ's self discipline, sacrifice, and withdrawal into the desert in order to prepare for his ministry. The number 40 is significant in Jewish-Christian scripture. In Genesis, the flood that destroyed the world lasted 40 days and 40 nights; the Hebrews spent 40 days in the wilderness before reaching the land God promised them; and Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the 10 Commandments. The word LENT comes from the old English word meaning "lengthen", which represents the longer days in Spring. 
      It's now 23 days before Easter, and as a mother of elementary-aged children who are on Spring Break and as an educator who is recovering from two weeks of physically exhausting travel, I haven't abstained from anything except proper sleep! It can be difficult to adhere to these traditional religious practices in today's world. But if we look deeper into the spiritual meanings of rituals like this, we can integrate concepts that bring us closer to our divine nature not just in Spring, but year-round. 
     Last fall I enjoyed two months of unemployment and children in school. There was a lot of time to attend yoga classes, hike alone, and meditate both cross-legged and in cleaning my house, undisturbed. And it was in those two months that I enjoyed clarity of thought, inner peace, and deep self-reflection. It's unfortunate that Easter wasn't in October, because I was ready for the Resurrection! I haven't found ten minutes of alone time in the past three weeks to do anything but drink coffee in order to keep up with demands. And if I place too much weight on the "40 days", I'll feel guilty and ashamed and forget the whole thing. 
    So what does this season of Lent mean for us and our children? Is it about abstaining from alcohol, sugar, television and social media? Or is it really about becoming more conscious of the thoughts and actions that prevent us from living our best life? Jesus said, "When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face..." Metaphysically, oil stands for a consciousness of love, and washing one's face represents clarity. Maybe this is a time for us to notice what serves us and and what doesn't. For some that means abstaining from certain foods; for others perhaps it's carving out more time for nature or silence. And in order to really know HOW to live our best life, we abstain from thoughts and activities that dampen our awareness. 
    Tomorrow in Sunday School, we'll briefly discuss the history of Lent. Then we'll do an activity that encourages deep observation in order to increase awareness around how we feel, how we affect others, and what we need to feel good (God). We'll create a project that reflects behaviors that support us in living our highest good and listen to a story that's congruent with this season of Lent. I am so excited to be back with your children at the Aspen Chapel and to explore these ideas with them. I hope to see everyone tomorrow! 

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

In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator

      

March 9, 2019

"All religions, arts, and sciences are branches of the same tree" Albert Einstein   Dear Aspen Chapel Families,        Tomorrow we spring forward! Don't forget to change your clocks! Hopefully we'll all be motivated to get an early start now that the sun is finally shining!        In Sunday school we are continuing our inquiry into World Religions. Obviously as our children get older and take Social Studies classes, they'll learn the history behind so many religions, what the roots were that religions around the world were born from, the cultural and political implications of various religions, the geographic origins of religions, and all the varieties of religions that have branched off into smaller belief systems.       The goal at this young age is to instill a sense of tolerance and respect for people who believe differently. When we share answers to questions or our thoughts, just in our little circle of young people at the Aspen Chapel, the diversity of thought is evident. When we create a safe place to question, wonder, share, make mistakes, speculate, and disagree, this sets children up for an open-minded approach to life as they meet new ideas, people, and experiences. The goal is not to have them memorize religions, symbols, or rituals. It's merely to open them up to the fact that we share our our planet with millions of people, and despite our different religions, we share many similarities.      Tomorrow the Sunday School children will continue discussing the idea of different beliefs, then they will draw images that represent what they believe, getting them used to the idea that they may have different images/beliefs than their neighbor, friend, or sibling! We'll then have story time and conclude with a guided meditation.      Speaking of World Religions, I will not be at the Aspen Chapel for the next two weeks (17th and 24th). I will be leading a student trip to Mumbai and a remote village called Chinchoti. In Mumbai we'll visit the Gandhi museum, visit a Jain temple, and work with Hindus and Muslims in a community center in the slums. My host family in Chinchoti wakes in the very early morning to honor Hindu Gods with marigolds, candles and incense. I'll be excited to share pictures and stories with the Sunday School children upon return. We are honored to have Drew Sorenson, our former Sunday School teacher, and Perrin Elisha, a parent and congregation member, teach Sunday School.      Also, due to an illness, we are postponing our rehearsals with Dan Sheridan until I return. He was unable to rehearse our song with the Sunday School last Sunday, the 3rd, so they're not ready to perform tomorrow. We will set a new date and I will keep you informed about the students singing for the congregation!!    Have a wonderful weekend and we hope to see you all tomorrow!  If you ever have any questions regarding our services or your children's needs, please email me at michelle@aspenchapel.org In Peace and Blessings, Michelle Skagen Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator

March 2, 2019

"If we take the world's enduring religions at their best, we discover the distilled wisdom of the human race" ~Huston Smith
 

Dear Aspen Chapel Families,

      In a time when tensions around the world are mounting, nationalist movements are growing in resistance to human migration, and as our own nation becomes more polarized, we must find a way to instill tolerance and respect among our children. Identification with religion can be a root cause of conflict and misunderstanding among people, but as Huston Smith suggests, we are more similar than we are different if we examine the basic elements of each belief system.
     As a person who grew up in a progressive, new age Christian church, I like to believe that I am very open-minded to all religions. But when I honestly examine my assumptions and stereotypes of different beliefs and practices, I can see I have a lot to learn in order to avoid generalizing and setting groups of people apart. This requires an effort not only to identify what the symbols and traditions are, but to understand the true wisdom behind each religion. If we are to move into a more tolerant and united civilization, I think we have an obligation to expose our children to the best aspects of all religions and cultures, helping them see how much we have in common with people all around the world.
     This Sunday we will begin an inquiry into world religions. The kids will have an opportunity to share what religion means to them and their prior knowledge of different religions. We'll discuss some of the very basic beliefs and traditions of well-known religions, and do a project called "Pieces of the Pie", which shows visually how all these different religions make up a whole. The differences are seen in the outer edge of the pie, with symbols, traditions, foods, dress, etc. The similarities are found in the middle, which is where the underlying wisdom resides. If we have time, we'll read God's Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
     Sunday School students are invited to perform a song with Dan Sheridan on March 10th at the Sunday service. He will be joining us toward the end of our session tomorrow to practice the song, "To Love, Serve, and Remember" by John Astin, which can be pulled up on YouTube. It would be great if kids could practice this over the next week. I look forward to seeing you and your children tomorrow!

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

In Peace and Blessings,
Michelle Skagen
Aspen Chapel Youth Coordinator