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Collectivus Church hosted a large, outdoor worship service, titled “Easter at the Stadium,” on Sunday April 20 at the Calera High School football field. (Contributed)

By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

CALERA – Hundreds of residents and visitors flocked to Calera High School’s football field for a special Easter service as Collectivus Church hosted the inaugural Easter at the Stadium on Sunday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m.

“It was amazing,” said Ben Nelson, lead pastor at Collectivus Church. “Easter at the Stadium, and just the whole Easter weekend in general, was just really incredible.”

Nelson said organizing such a significant event was an undertaking for the small church which is located on Calera Main Street—but the payoff was well worth it.

“It’s scary sometimes to take bigger risks and do some things and not know if it’ll pay off for the community and for what you’re trying to achieve,” Nelson said. “But it was far beyond anything we could have expected to be honest.”

Collectivus Church saw approximately 600 people attend its first Easter at the Stadium event and more than 1,000 during its services throughout the Easter weekend.

“All the feedback that we’ve gotten so far—not to say this all of it—but it’s just been incredible,” Nelson said.

Easter at the Stadium offered a live worship service alongside an Easter message with family-friendly activities and an appearance from the Kona Ice Truck. Worship guides were distributed to visitors and goodie bags were given to children in attendance.

The event was intended to bring people together and to offer a welcoming atmosphere for individuals who may not regularly attend church—a goal that was successful as several approached Nelson to share their experiences.

One attendee was an individual with stage four cancer and was searching for somewhere to attend services for Easter when they spotted the service.

“He came there and found friends and community and found some hope even in the tragedies of life,” Nelson said.

Nelson also shared that several families with special needs children attended the event and shared their appreciation for the event’s atmosphere.

Prior to the Easter at the Stadium event, Collectivus Church held a Good Friday service and a Saturday night service for those traveling out of town. Throughout Holy Week, Collectivus Church also hosted “Stations in the Street” which was an art display on the back wall of the Church on Main Street that provided an contemplative depiction of Jesus’ last days made by artist Scott Erickson. At 6 a.m. on Sunday, the church also held a sunrise service which saw more than 100 people in attendance.

“We prayed over the city together, and it was a beautiful time,” Nelson said.

Nelson reflected on the importance of the Easter holiday and highlighted how its message can have an impact on others.

“It’s a powerful time and is just a reminder of the life Jesus lived, the death he died and the life he offers us as well,” Nelson said. “It’s a good message of hope for anyone looking for something to come alive in their life and in their faith as well.”

Nelson shared that, with the success of this year’s Easter at the Stadium, the church is considering making the service an annual event.

“We do think with the response from the community, there’s a good chance this will become a yearly event that we continue and hopefully grow,” Nelson said.

The Collectivus Church is located on Calera Main Street at 8271 Highway 31.

“We want to be a church for our community and in our community,” Nelson said. “We want to be a part of what’s happening all around us.”

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