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Open Letter to the Church in Staunton, Virginia:
Dear Third Presbyterian Church,
Since the move, we are slowly getting settled into our new lives in Kentucky. Most of the boxes are unpacked. We still have a few left. Rob is getting used to the routine of writing a sermon every week. We are learning more and more about small, friendly, cozy community called Canada. I am becoming comfortable with this new role: an itinerant teacher. A lot of driving, I must say. But I love the kids I’m working with.
As the season of thanksgiving is coming upon us, we would like to take the time to thank you for all you have done for us for the past six years. Without your loving open hand and guidance, we would not be where we are today. As Jack said in his sermon on the last Sunday we were there, you opened your hands and hearts, not knowing what the journey would be like and not knowing all the answers. You did it anyway. You gave us a home for us to go through the ups and downs of our journey. You gave us opportunities to use our talents to do ministry, especially for Rob as an elder. You gave us a place for us to get married and supported us in the early years of marriage. You put up with Rob’s tenor in the choir and Rob’s long hair. You picked on us and made sure that we are being taken care of. Most of all, you were family.
There are pictures of Rob’s ordination posted on here. You can also read about it, too. Feel free to read other entries. We plan to update it as often as we can.
May God Bless,
Love, Beth and Rob
This picture is a little crooked, and this was taken at the time of our wedding. We didn’t own a digital camera then. When we come back and visit, we’ll take a better one. Or someone can email us with a better picture.
Here are the pictures from two important events of this summer: examination and ordination. Examination was when the presbytery examined Rob to see if he’s ready to be a pastor. This took place in Stanton, Kentucky on July 15th. After Rob was examined, they called me to get on stage with him and have him introduce me to the presbytery. One of the questions was “How long have you two been married?” While Rob was taking his time doing mental calculations, I quietly put my hand up as “5″. Then he looked at me to check on the number. Then, the whole presbytery laughed.
Rob is answering one of the questions during the examination.
Rob and Beth Hamilton with Rev. Tom Farmer, the chair of Committee on Ministry
Here is the picture of the commission to ordain Rob as a Minister of Word and Sacrament. Ordination service took place on August 17th at Highland Presbyterian Church. In this picture, Rob is wearing the stole of “Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors”. His father also played the bagpipes in the service.
The Commission for Ordination at Highland Presbyterian Church
L to R: Robert Hamilton, elder of Christ Presbyterian Church and bagpiper; Rev. Jack Wilkers, pastor of Third Presbyterian Church; Rev. Robert Hamilton, pastor of Highland Presbyterian Church; Johnny Hiers, elder of Highland Presbyterian Church; Jane Bond, liaison and elder of the presbytery; Rev. Bill VanZant, former pastor of Highland Presbyterian Church; Rev. Dr. Richard T. Smith, general presbyter of the presbytery; Rev. Justin Marple of Peter Creek and Shepard Memorial Presbyterian Churches.
Rob and his father, Bob
On Tuesday, Rob preached a sermon to the half of the presbytery. Then he was examined. The examination was a defense of one’s beliefs. The committee asked two questions based upon his statement of faith. Then the floor was open to any member to ask questions. Two members asked difficult questions. He showed confidence and assurance of what he was saying in his defense. After the meeting, people approached him and made nice compliments on his answers. I wish y’all could have seen it.
Based on the actions of the presbytery, Rob is officially called to be Minister of Word and Sacrament to Canada Highland Presbyterian Church. He finally jumped through all the hoops to become a pastor. This was a very long and difficult journey for him (and me as well). We both had to put up with all the frustrations and barriers that occurred along the way. I am very proud of him for staying on the track and for pursuing his call. Many people would have quit or tried a different route, but he didn’t.
He will be ordained and installed as Minister of Word and Sacrament on August 17th at the church. I will post the pictures of this event on the blog.
This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! — Psalm 118:24
Yes, we made another trip in the age of high gas prices, but it’s for a good reason. Rob preached the first sermon at the church for the congregational vote. Rob got another positive vote. The congregation and Rob had really hit it off. They like him, and we do, too.
He preached on Matthew 10:40-42, which is about welcoming others and while welcoming others, we welcome God into our lives. This sermon is fitting for today, because this church from the beginning has always been welcome to both of us. They are generous and open. We can see that they truly love the community and want to serve God using their gifts.
Rob will be preaching again later in July in front of the presbytery. The presbytery will have the final vote on his call. Then he will have two services: ordination and installation. Since this is Rob’s first call, he will be ordained as a minister of Word and Sacrament. Soon, we will move to a new manse.
Rob worked so hard for this call. He graduated from seminary back in 2002. Since then, he had many hurdles and hoops to jump over and through. Ordination exams, meetings, papers, and more. Finally in last May, he was offered an interest on a call. We talked about it and prayed about it. We knew about the challenges of finding a job for me. We knew about the challenges of living in a new area and doing the ministry in a small church. We made that decision together and agreed to go forward with this call.
This trip took us to Lexington, Kentucky. We didn’t have time to see the horses, but one day we will. Rob had two meetings with two different committees that oversee his calling. While he was out at the meeting, I decided to make a trip to Danville, the home of Kentucky School for the Deaf. It was about an hour away.
The lady at KSD took me on a detailed, two-hour tour about the school. She is deaf and is a KSD alumni. I am thoroughly impressed with the outreach program. KSD is the state wide resource center on deafness, which should be in the first place and makes total sense. I am aware that Texas does this, too. I wish more states do this. The campus is split into two campuses with a main road going through it. Middle school and high school are on one side of the campus while elementary school is on the other side. It’s a beautiful campus. She also showed me Jacobs Hall, the oldest building on campus. Let me say this and I don’t use this word often. Wow! There are three floors of different exhibits including the dorm rooms, classrooms, portrait gallery, chapel, cafeteria, and technology room. The volunteers worked many, many hours to make it look like the way it is, and still isn’t finished. After the tour, it was time for me to go back to Lexington.
As I got into the car to pick up Rob, he paged me to tell me the good news. He got positive votes for his call at a church. I was relieved and happy and nervous. It is really going to happen. This is a major change for both of us.
While we were there, we learned that we actually knew two people in the area from college. Not only that, Rob also learned that his seminary classmate also lives in the area. What a small world!
I don’t want to make any stereotypes about Kentucky, but my writings are based on my experiences with the people I have met. I am truly impressed and blessed with their “bluegrass” hospitality, which reminds me a little of Midwestern and Southern hospitality. They are “down to earth”. Pecan pies and trifles at the church luncheon are the best! They know how to make people feel welcome. They really bend over backwards to help me and Rob. They also are accommodating and understanding about my deafness. They made sure that I understood them, and when I didn’t, we used pen and paper without a complaint. They used appropriate eye contact and didn’t even exaggerate their speech, which surprised me. All of this happened on the first visit, and this usually doesn’t happen when I first meet people.
When we came to visit the church in Kentucky for the first time, we were driving through West Virginia. I have been in West Virginia many, many times, but I have never been in this area of the state. As we got closer to the Kentucky border, the very first thing that came to my mind is this:
“Trees, trees everywhere, not a farm in sight.”
Trees, Trees, and Trees. Mountains became steeper and taller. As we cross the border, these beautiful Cumberland mountains were so clustered together that there weren’t much room for roads between the mountains to go around. So, the government built the new highway by “cutting-through” the mountains. Because of the “cut-through”, there are beautiful rock layers on both sides of the highway, which one day will be covered with plants and trees. Need I say more trees? In the midst of these trees, there is civilization. What is civilization? One word. Wal-Mart
Rob has accepted a calling to become a pastor of a Presbyterian church in rural Kentucky. He worked so hard for this calling for the past six plus years, and it’s his turn. I’m looking for a teaching or social service job, and I’m staying positive. Buffy and Diana, our dog and cat, are anxious and excited to get out of the townhouse apartment with very little yard and move into a nice double-wide manse and a nice yard. Hopefully, we will be settled by the end of summer.
New place, new people, new job, new house, new state… What a major change!
The purpose of this blog is to chronicle our lives as we move, as we settle, as we learn about the people, and as we travel on this journey. We hope you will enjoy reading our narratives and seeing photos of our lives.
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