Rob Hamilton (Page 2)

A couple of weeks ago at Annual Conference, Bishop Schwerin “fixed the appointments.” That is one of those wonderfully odd Methodist phrases that sounds, at first, like something was broken and needed repair. But in this case, “fixed” means set. The bishop sets the pastoral appointments for another year of ministry, and clergy and congregations receive those appointments as part of our shared covenant in The United Methodist Church. So, with gratitude, I am glad to share that this marks my tenth appointment year at The United Methodist Church of Geneva: four years as your associate pastor and now six years as your senior pastor.Read More →

A couple of weeks ago, we stood with the disciples on the lakeshore, staring at five loaves, two fish, and a crowd far larger than anyone could reasonably feed. The math did not work. The need was too great. The offering was too small. And yet Jesus said, “Bring them here to me.” Then Jesus took what was offered, blessed it, broke it open, and gave it back until everyone was fed and there were baskets left over. As I said in the sermon on April 26th, “Every gift matters. Every offering goes into the basket. And Jesus takes what’s in the basket and doesRead More →

I had this thought the other day what if someone strapped a GoPro to a pastor during a capital campaign season? I was inspired by those video where you put a camera on your outdoor pet and watch the footage to see where they’ve been. (You can watch one of these videos here, but it might make you motion sick.) If you put one on me, you wouldn’t just see the public moments you are most used to like on Sunday morning. We’d see the meetings, the conversations, the in-between spaces and a lot of time at the computer. I’m sure it wouldn’t make forRead More →

Every couple of years, I find myself coming back to this question. ‘What Happens on Holy Saturday?’ The day between Good Friday and Easter. At our house, we kind of joke that I’ve turned Holy Saturday into “project day.” I’m out in the yard or fixing something. Maybe I’m changing light fixtures or changing the oil. Whatever it is, I’m mostly keeping busy, distracting myself from the pressure of Easter morning. And this year will barely be different. We’ll be with my extended family and packing to head out of town, getting ready to travel to Mississippi to help a friend with bereavement work nextRead More →

There are weeks that move quickly, and then there is Holy Week. This is the week where the story of Jesus slows down. We’re invited not to rush ahead to Easter morning, but to walk step by step with Jesus. Through the cheers of Palm Sunday, into the tension of the temple, around the table, and ultimately to the cross… and the shock and quiet that follows. Sometimes I think many of us don’t quite know what to do with all of that. We believe this week and its story matters. So, we show up. And still, the weight of this set- apart week canRead More →

I hesitate to write this. Not because it isn’t worth saying, but because I’m still child-rearing in the church myself. And I know the last thing a child-rearing adult wants is uninvited attention on what their kids are doing. So, parents and caregivers, let me be clear from the start: this is written with overflowing gratitude and respect—from your senior pastor and fellow child-rearer. Lately I’ve found myself admiring the church we are growing into. I see it on Sunday mornings. I know that what happens in our classrooms is deeply formational. I see it in the kids who show up week after week. IRead More →