Rob Hamilton (Page 2)

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 →

Something is happening at UMCG. It’s sneaky, but it’s real. We’re growing. Not in the way many of us might instinctively measure growth—not by packed pews or standing-room-only worship services—but in the way that reflects how church engagement has changed over time. For those who have been around church for generations, regular church attendance meant nearly every Sunday—48 weeks out of the year, give or take an illness or vacation. By 2010, that expectation had quietly shifted to about 1.9 times a month, or 18 Sundays a year. Then COVID changed everything. Now, regular attendance for many is once a month, or 12 Sundays aRead More →