In 1987, Calvin Christian High School designated the week of April 27th through May 1st as the first Spiritual Emphasis Week. Since then, every school year (with only 1 exception) we have had a week so designated. The intention of having a week set aside is to provide an opportunity for a speaker or various speakers to develop a given topic in depth over a week's time in a way that is impossible in semiweekly 20-minute chapels. Time is also made available for students to discuss topics, internalize them, and apply them.
Ideally, Spiritual Emphasis Week provides time to focus on ideas that unite our community and add strength and depth to what we already know. The week makes available to students the opportunity to discuss spiritual matters with each other, to pray together and for each other, and to encourage each other in faith. It demonstrates that service is an integral part of the Christian life, not just an add-on. In recent years the schedule includes a time for students to have the opportunity for a personal time of prayer each day.
In February, 1997, during our 10th Spiritual Emphasis Week, this application took the form of an entire day devoted to service projects in and around the community. That tradition continues to today. This week, our students participated in community service projects at Lincoln Elementary School, Grace Lutheran School, Kit Carson Park, Green Oaks Ranch, Palomar Christian Conference Center, North County Interfaith, Escondido Children’s Museum, Canine Companions for Independence, California Center for the Arts and Talking Bibles.
Spiritual Emphasis Week will continue to provide a unique opportunity for our students to come together to study and learn about God, His world, and their role in it and to provide an opportunity to strengthen the school community through getting to know one another and serving together.
