Dear Calvary Family,
As we move deeper into Advent, a season of waiting, watching, and trusting God’s unfolding, we also find ourselves in the final days of our congregational voting process. I want to offer a clear update about what the next week will look like and invite us into a spirit of grace as we approach the end of this long season of discernment.
Final Week to Vote
Voting will conclude this Sunday immediately following worship.
If you are unable to be present on Sunday, you may still cast your ballot this week by:
- Calling the church office (301-662-1464) during the week, or
- Stopping by the office in person between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., through Friday.
Our goal is to ensure that every eligible professing member and preparatory member has the opportunity to participate.
When Results Will Be Shared
All ballots will be counted after Christmas. This is intentional. The Advent and Christmas seasons are invitations into joy, hope, peace, and the gift of God-with-us. We all need space to celebrate without carrying the weight of results or next steps. The Sunday after Christmas, I will share the results of the vote during worship, followed by a wider announcement to the congregation.
A Call to Grace in These Final Days
As with any family system, we are a diverse people with varied experiences, convictions, and histories. And yet, we are one Calvary family. That will not change. Because of this, it is especially important in these final days that we allow God to guide the process. We have done the work, held multiple listening sessions, offered teaching, answered questions, and created space for conversation and clarity. We are now in the season of prayerful waiting, not persuasion.
A Pastoral Word
As always, my door is open. If you would like to talk or pray, if you have lingering questions, or if you simply need a calm space to breathe, please reach out. But in these next few weeks, I invite all of us to release this process into God’s hands. We have done our work faithfully. Now we trust God to do what only God can do. No matter the outcome, we will step into the new year as a family, committed to the ministry and mission Christ has placed before us. We will continue to worship, serve, love, and grow… together.
Until Sunday and all the days between,
Dr. Hutton