SPECTACULAR

If you have never attended SPEC or known anyone who has, this is a “must-do” event for Community of Christ teens and their friends. For one week each summer, this formational experience is a safe, Christ-centered community that encourages campers to discover God and their inherent worth, and to cultivate and express their giftedness.

That mission breathes life into every aspect of the SPEC experience—exploratory classes in art, music, literature, spirituality, movies, etc.; team and individual sports; creative activities and devotions; opportunities to meet new friends; and dynamic camper-led worship.

This year we will gather at Graceland University from July 19–26. We will be exploring the theme “Someday Is Now!” in ways that challenge current thoughts and open our eyes to the world around us today.

One of the hallmarks of SPEC in recent years is the focus on the giftedness of our youth and how best to use their leadership skills throughout the week. Most of the worship planning, including morning celebrations and the various evening worship experiences, is done by campers in the worship class each day. Others share their skills on various courts and fields in athletics. The competition is both fierce and friendly, and by beginning each competition with prayer, we remember our focus on community.

There are a number of fine-arts classes, which are open both to those with skill and those who want to try a new art genre in a safe, supportive environment. The art show at the end of the week is an amazing collection of what is created by those who draw, paint, sculpt, rock carve, and throw pottery during the week.

Another venue of artistic expression is the Extravaganza talent show and Broadway-style musical event called “SPEC Presents.” Campers who might not be involved in theater at their own school can find out what it’s like to be in a show or on the tech crew in the encouraging environment of SPECTACULAR.

SPEC can be described in all its parts but this event is, without a doubt, greater than the sum of its parts. It is difficult to fully describe the unbelievably beautiful ways in which the Spirit moves through campers and staff to form a unique community each summer. Here’s what some of our campers have to say about SPEC.

Jennifer Williams:
What to say about SPEC? For starters it has been, hands down, the best experience of my pre-collegiate life. I met so many new people, made so many lasting friendships, learned so many things, and did all that while getting to do one of my favorite things: sing. I participated in the morning celebration class each year that I attended SPEC and had an absolute blast. Sure, I was extremely sleep deprived because we had to stay up later and get up earlier than everyone else, but it was worth it.

The morning celebration class was led by an amazing group (Delanne Carlson, Scott Giles, Jamie Varvaro, and Lisa Williams—my mother) who truly cared about every class member and used their talents to teach, encourage, and guide us. And because of the “spectacular” nature of the morning celebration class and its leaders, the class became a tightly knit family by the end of the week. If it wasn’t for my SPEC experience, I would surely not be the person I am today.

Michael Sharon:
One night at SPEC a few years ago, a couple of friends and I were goofing off with crutches and I accidently hit my friend Allison on the head. We all felt really bad and for some reason we thought our singing might make her feel better (we have terrible voices). As we were singing, my friend Jonathan piped up and said we should do this for donations to help the Outreach project, which was still about $1,000 short of the goal. We headed out into the Quad and started to sing all the praise hymns we knew. Toward the end of the evening, our little ensemble had grown from a measly seven or eight to about sixteen, with a flute and trumpet, a place for donations from people passing by, and two guys from Africa. It was amazing how they sang so loudly, when they could barely speak English. They had a very uplifting presence.

We stopped singing around 10 or 11 p.m. and said good-bye to our new friends. We went to our delegation devotions that night and counted the donations we had collected. It was almost $180! When our leaders heard our story, they decided right there to match our donation, and we were able to give about $350 to the community project. It really is amazing how such little things can snowball into something that makes a big difference.

Samantha Fugate:
My experience at SPEC is something that will live with me forever. I learned so much there about the church and myself. Before that week, I wasn’t the most open person. I was kind of shy, but then I took the campfire class. I originally took the class because I knew the teacher, but I got so much more out of it than I thought I would. That week, I helped lead campfire for 1,200 people. That is something I would never have done before SPEC. I am glad that I have been able to go the past two years, and I will be spending part of my last summer before college at SPEC this year.

For more information about SPECTACULAR, visit www.CofChrist.org/spec/.

Daily Themes

Someday Is Now!…So Walk Humbly
Someday Is Now!…So Be Just
Someday Is Now!…So Create Peace
Someday Is Now!…So Heal the Planet
Someday Is Now!…So Love Courageously
Someday Is Now!…So Live Generously
Someday Is Now!…Go Build Community

Encourage the high school sophomores through seniors in your life to join us this summer—July 19–26! Don’t Wait—Someday Is Now!

—April 2008 Herald