Calgary Community of Christ
  • Welcome
    • Welcoming & Affirming Journey
  • About
    • Give
    • History
    • Programs
    • What to Expect
    • Youth Activities
  • Calendar
  • Blog
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Photo Gallery
    • Building Transition
    • Forms & Documents
  • Contact
    • Get Involved
    • Social

Calgary Spark

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.

Re-blog: A SPECTACULAR Place

11/29/2016

0 Comments

 

Author

Jamie Varvaro, SPEC Director
Columbia, Missouri, USA

This blog originally appeared on MOSAIC, the Community of Christ Oklahoma Mission Center Blog. Click here to view the original post.


Leader – noun; one that leads or guides.  Leadership – noun; the capacity or ability to lead. Our world today calls for leaders—good leaders with strength of character and integrity. For almost 50 years SPECTACULAR has guided youth, developing their leadership potential and encouraging them as they are called to serve with character and integrity. ​
Picture
The mission of SPECTACULAR is to create a safe, Christ-centered community that encourages young women and men to discover God, their inherent worth, and cultivate and express their giftedness. SPECTACULAR has grown from that first relatively small gathering in the late 1960s on The Campus in Independence, Missouri to over 1,200 campers and leaders at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, every summer.  It is the largest annual gathering of youth in the Community of Christ.  SPECTACULAR affords opportunities for campers to develop skills of leadership and discipleship, and ways to express themselves artistically, musically, and athletically.
 
A star high school athlete and friend of the church expressed that before attending SPECTACULAR she had never played on a team or been involved in a tournament where you felt good about yourself and truly enjoyed the competition of the game regardless of whether you won or lost.  She also said that even though she did not belong to this church, she felt at home and was comfortable with the ideals and principles shared.  

Through gathering informal demographic information, it is estimated that nearly forty percent of campers are friends of the Community of Christ.  Many delegation and program staff are also friends of the church.  SPEC strives to follow its mission to create a safe, Christ-centered community where exploration of many ideas are encouraged to happen and in that, campers are comfortable inviting their friends to join them in this week of learning, fellowship and fun.  

The theme for this year’s SPECTACULAR, July 23-30, is “Connect.” It offers a challenge to SPECTACULAR participants to explore ways within ourselves to better connect with each other and the world around us; keeping in mind that in doing so, we better connect with God. “…God is revealing divine nature through sacred communities of love, oneness and equality…” (2013 Words of Counsel).

Leadership (SPEC TODAY) classes at SPECTACULAR will provide an overview and exploration of our theme.  Discipleship, music, and art classes will allow for in-depth exploration of specific sub-topics.  For example, there might be a leadership session exploring the idea of authenticity.  More in-depth exploration might occur through classes regarding meditation, scripture study, personal spirituality, individual arts, or music. 

“Connect” will be a prominent part of every aspect of SPECTACULAR: the volleyball courts, the Extravaganza stage production, soccer fields, delegation devotions, afternoon activities on the Quad, individual and group discussions, as well as personal meditation and community worship.  The athletic tournaments uphold the following statement, “Willful Christian interaction is the norm for all facets of SPECTACULAR.  The sports program will function with that objective as the guiding principle for the actions of all participants, officials, coaches, and spectators.  While we may not always agree with one another we will always appreciate and honor each other.”

We know lives are challenged and changed by this unique week, whether the change is apparent immediately or twenty years from now, we know SPEC is influencing thousands and thousands of lives. Through the diversity of individuals and cultures from across North America, SPECTACULAR finds the common denominator of connection through Jesus Christ.  Youth finishing 9th through 12th grades are invited to enjoy SPECTACULAR as part of a delegation.  SPECTACULAR 2016 is July 23-30.  
 
More information and registration forms are available through your delegation or at www.CofChrist.org/spec or e-mail spec@cofchrist.org.  You can join us on Facebook too! www.facebook.com/SPEC.CofChrist/ 

0 Comments

    Authors

    Calgary Spark is a collection of stories told by members and friends of the church alike. Each person's story is helping to shape our community in new ways.

    Back to the blog

    Archives

    January 2021
    June 2020
    April 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    Abolish Poverty
    Authenticity
    Camp
    Christmas
    Christms
    Community
    Confirmation
    Develop Disciples To Serve
    Education
    End Suffering
    Enduring Principles
    Equality
    Experience
    Experience Congregations In Mission
    Family
    Food
    Generation Now
    Generosity
    Graceland University
    Haiti
    History
    Homeless
    John Hamer
    Latter Day Seekers
    Latter-day Seekers
    LDS
    Leadership
    LGBTQIA+
    Love
    Magic
    Membership
    Millenials
    Mindfulness
    Mission
    Mission Conference
    MOM Project
    Music
    Politics
    Priesthood
    Relocation
    Remembrance Day
    Restoration Movement
    Retreat
    Sacrament
    Sacredness Of Creation
    Sacrifice
    Self Care
    Seminary
    Sermon
    Social Media
    SPECTACULAR
    Temple
    Testimony
    Thanksgiving
    Transformation
    Unity
    Unity In Diversity
    Veterans
    World Conference
    Worth Of All Persons
    Young Adults
    Youth

    RSS Feed

Home
About
Contact

Canada West Mission Centre
World Church
Picture
© 2017-2021 Calgary Community of Christ
Special thanks to Wayne Rowe for his beautiful photography.
  • Welcome
    • Welcoming & Affirming Journey
  • About
    • Give
    • History
    • Programs
    • What to Expect
    • Youth Activities
  • Calendar
  • Blog
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Photo Gallery
    • Building Transition
    • Forms & Documents
  • Contact
    • Get Involved
    • Social