What’s in a name?

CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER - 9 May 2024

Photo by Austin Kirk on Unsplash

Friends in Christ, it’s hard to get to know someone if you don’t have their name. 

Genesis 2 reports that the Lord God brought all the animals he’d made to the man he’d created, to see what Adam would name them.

“So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals” (Gen 2:20).

A little later there was special delight in recognition of his human equal, partner and complement, Eve:

“The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman”, for she was taken out of man’.” (Gen 2:23).

Likewise a reluctant Moses was not satisfied to know about God in general. He wanted to know his actual name! Exodus 3:13-15 reports:

13 Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” Then what shall I tell them?’
14 God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I am has sent me to you.”’
15 God also said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is my name for ever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation." (emphasis added)

So this is where we get the transliterated personal name of God as "Yahweh" (mistakenly written "Jehovah" in former centuries), which means something like "I am who I am"!

Of course, there’s more to knowing a person than knowing their name. For example, you are interested in their character too. Proverbs 22:1 says: “A good name is more desirable than great riches.” 

Nevertheless, learning names is a small but significant step in making people feel welcome in a community. 

That’s why we encourage you to consider wearing nametags. 

The newcomer is trying to learn dozens of names. But even regulars can sometimes have trouble recalling a name to a face they know. 

I confess that after 2.5 years here there are many regulars whose names I do not know, despite some effort. Because I am up front, most regulars learn my name and feel they get to know me a bit. 

But some regulars have not actually introduced themselves to me. 

I respect that some people at the Cathedral value a certain anonymity - especially if they’re returning to church after a bad experience. 

Others have said their name once or twice early on, or even a few times, and I am still struggling, with the hundreds of visitors we also get each week. 

So name tags are a great help!

Another tip is to repeat a name you’ve just learnt immediately in the conversation with them, which helps lock it away in your memory. 

Some very godly people I know jot down the names of people they’ve met on a Sunday and use that to pray for them the next week. But it obviously also helps remind you of their names. 

More broadly, most of us struggle in conversations with people we don’t really know at times, so don’t feel you’ve got to do it all alone. Why not introduce them to another friend at church? And if another church member introduces someone to you, please, if possible, go beyond a polite handshake, before moving on to someone else.  

At 8:30am and 5:00pm, first name labels are available by print on demand from our welcomer with the tablets at the main entry. 

At 10:30am, with larger numbers and more doors, we are offering attenders the chance to order a magnetic Cathedral nametag for $2. Please fill out the connect QR code form, or send the office an email. 

It’s entirely voluntary and optional. But names are important, so please consider!

On a related topic, we ought also be concerned for those who are away, especially if sick, or in some other need that keeps them home. 

So if you know someone is sick, please consider phoning or messaging them yourself, or maybe even visiting. In Matthew 25:39, the disciples ask of Jesus, “When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” In v40, it says, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” 

So if we esteem Jesus, then visiting the sick ought to be every Christian’s job.

However the pastoral staff are also willing to phone or visit. 

But we cannot read minds! 

James 5:14 says,

“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him…” 

So please feel free to request a visit for yourself. It would be a privilege for us to get in touch. 

Or you could refer to the pastoral team someone else you know at church, who may not be able to ask for themselves. 

Warmly in Christ,

Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney