Between Sundays: Love. Hope. Jesus.
As September begins, Calvary is stepping into a new season of ministry. Children are returning to classrooms, backpacks are being blessed, and our building is filling with life and energy once again. Fall brings a natural rhythm of beginnings—new schedules, new routines, new opportunities to grow together in faith.
This Sunday we also begin a new worship series, Love. Hope. Jesus. In this series, we will ground ourselves in the words of Jesus—the most important words ever spoken, and let them shape our lives as disciples.
We begin with Jesus’ bold proclamation: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:14–15). In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that “the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20–21), and in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, He teaches: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). These words remind us that God’s reign is not far away or reserved for another time, it is already breaking in, here and now. Our task as disciples is to seek it, notice it, and join in the work of love, hope, and healing that is unfolding all around us.
When we look at our ministries through this lens, everything becomes an opportunity to encounter the nearness of God’s kingdom. Sunday School classes are not just lessons for our children; they are glimpses of the kingdom planted in young hearts. Youth group is not simply a time of games and fellowship, it is where teenagers learn to lead, to belong, and to step into their faith. Adult classes are not just discussions; they are places where we sharpen one another and align our lives more closely with God’s vision for the world. Even our New Member Classes, which meet on September 14 and October 12 following worship, are not just informational sessions, they are doorways into belonging, invitations to weave your life into the life of the church.
This fall we will also share in a Pastor’s Bible Study on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m., where we’ll dive into Adam Hamilton’s newest book, The Message of Jesus: The Most Important Words Ever Spoken. This book will guide our worship series and deepen our study as we consider together the words that continue to challenge, guide, and inspire us. If you would like to follow along, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book, it’s a wonderful companion for both study and prayer.
So, whether you are returning after summer travels, brand new to Calvary, or somewhere in between, I invite you to step into this new season with us. Come worship. Bring a friend. Join a class. Lean into ministry. This is the time to seek first the kingdom of God, to recognize how near it is, and to discover the hope and joy of following Jesus together.
Until Sunday, and all the days between,
Dr. Hutton