Rob Hamilton

A few weeks ago, I found myself in a full-blown mission impossible trying to secure Ella’s birthday gift. It was one of those high-stakes missions that, while ridiculous in scale, somehow takes on mythic importance when your daughter’s big day is involved. UPS attempted delivery while I was out—missed them by nine minutes. Not a huge deal, except the package required a signature. They’d try again, the Post-it note said. We had time for a second attempt but not a third. So, I cleared the schedule, only for the driver to arrive two hours early. I missed it again. Cue the frantic scramble. Maybe you’veRead More →

Earlier this month many of you stopped by the Pepper Valley parsonage for an open house. It wasn’t a housewarming party or a peek into your pastor’s home life — it was a celebration of faithful work. Our Board of Trustees has been working hard on that property, and they were proud (as they should be!) to show the results of their care and stewardship before the next clergy family moves in. That family is the Connors — Rev. Heather Connor, their partner Adam, and their three children — who will be arriving in just a few weeks to begin full-time ministry with us. We’reRead More →

Memorial Day is in 10 days — a time when we remember and honor those who gave their lives in military service. It’s a solemn and important observance, one that calls us to reflect on the cost of war and the weight of sacrifice. We honor all who have served with courage and integrity, especially those who laid down their lives in pursuit of peace, justice, and freedom. And perhaps it’s for that very reason — the cost of war — that my heart was heavy this week. Because while preparing for worship and catching up on the news, I read a headline that struckRead More →

What if death isn’t the end? We know that’s the heart of the Easter story—and now, it’s showing up in an unlikely place: deep space. A recent study from researchers at the University of Sheffield suggests that black holes—those mysterious regions of space known for swallowing everything, even time—may not be the final, inescapable void we once thought. Instead, they may become white holes, cosmic phenomena that eject matter, energy, and even time itself back into the universe. Let that sink in: What we assumed was an ending might actually be a beginning. For decades, scientists believed that a black hole marked the absolute endRead More →

Good Friday is somber. Easter Sunday is joyful. But what about Saturday? Holy Saturday—the day between Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection—rarely gets the spotlight. There’s no big service, no grand tradition. Which sometimes makes it just another spring Saturday, but it’s supposed to be a quiet day. An awkward day. A day full of waiting. And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly the point. The Gospels don’t say much about that Saturday. After Jesus dies on Friday, we’re told his body is placed in the tomb, and then… silence. Luke 23:56 gives us one simple note: “On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” That’s it.Read More →

Preaching on the ‘big Sundays’—Christmas and Easter—can feel a lot like performing in front of an audience with high expectations. You see, when I first started preaching those Sundays over ten years ago, I got caught up in the pressure to deliver a sermon that would be unforgettable. I wanted to make sure the message resonated deeply with everyone, no matter how often they came to church. But let me tell you, that pressure can be a bit overwhelming. The tricky part about preaching on these special days is understanding the diversity of the congregation. It’s not just the regular folks who come every Sunday.Read More →

Last Sunday, my family and I did something that doesn’t happen often—we took the day off. A rare and much-needed sabbath for our household. We spent it in Chicago with dear family friends visiting from out of town, soaking in some of the city’s best: Lou Malnati’s deep-dish pizza (which never disappoints) and the Museum of Science and Industry. Now, even when I’m not preaching or leading worship, I can’t seem to turn off the part of my brain that’s always thinking about faith, theology, and the church. And wouldn’t you know it—this “day off” turned into a day of sacred discovery. Two exhibits atRead More →