What's in a Name?

"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

Names are important. They can tell stories, link us to our roots, or explain elements of our identity. Do you know the story of your name? My kids’ middle names were all selected from their great grandparents’ names. Recently, my girls changed their last names as a testament to leaving one family and creating another through marriage.

A name alone, however, falls flat without the connection to the person. There is an intimacy in knowing someone’s name and using it. This is probably why generations of mothers have pulled out all the names when scolding a child. She knows your full name; she gave it to you; and she isn’t afraid to use it when disciplining you.

The words of the Lord in Isaiah 43 offer tremendous comfort and peace. Here God is speaking to His people, Israel, at the end of the exile. “I have called you by name, you are mine.” After wrestling with Jacob in Genesis 32, God gives Jacob a new name, “Israel.” Here God reminds His people that He knows them intimately and will fulfill His covenant promise to them. That same reminder is for us as well. God knows your name; you are His.

Lord willing, in the very near future, we will have a new Senior Pastor at St. Peter’s, and he will be eager to learn the names of all of us. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could work together to help him with this task? Let’s build a photo directory for him… and for all of us. During the weekends of April 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27, we will offer photo stations after each worship service. You can use these stations to take family photos, but we will also ask to take a profile picture of you to include in your Realm profile. 

If you're interested in helping with a photo booth we'd love to help you make a big impact with a low commitment volunteer opportunity. Take a look at the sign-up genius below or reach out for questions and I'm happy to help.