What is in a name? Do you like your own name? I have always found my name to be a mixed blessing. I love that ‘Cecilia Eggleston’ is a very uncommon name. If I ever meet another Cecilia, we are both generally very excited about it, because it is so rare to find another one. On the other hand, I spend a lot of time having to spell my name out loud and find myself correcting the spelling or mispronunciation. Calling me ‘Celia’ is, by and large, a kneecapping offense. (joke everyone). Then of course, there is the irritation of a new cover of the Simon and Garfunkel classic track being made and a whole new generation of individuals singing to me, like I have never heard it before. For me, my name is important, therefore I try and pay attention to the names of others and what they mean to them. Some in our congregation have chosen a new name beyond the one they were given. I think this must such an exciting moment – to find just the right name for the person that you are. It is always a joy to celebrate naming ceremonies for these individuals and for children, as well as the more traditional baptism service, where a child’s name is formally given.
As well as our formal name, we may be called a different name by family members, friends, work colleagues. We may have nicknames given in jest, or sadly sometimes rather cruelly. Our worship theme this month – ‘Moments of Truth’ explores the many aspects or names of Jesus. We often use different names for God the Creator and the Holy Spirit in our worship too. We experience the Divine in so many different ways. It is not surprising that we, and those who wrote the scriptures, have so many names for God.
I love the image that we are using for ‘Moments of Truth’ because it suggests that ‘glimpsing’ that we have of God, Jesus, Spirit, just as we can glimpse the sun through the tree branches in the photo. We don’t always experience all of the Sacred, just a hint of what is there. The image also sets the experience of the Divine in a place. Often when people are telling me about a significant spiritual moment, they will say ‘I know exactly where I was’ or ‘I can picture it now’. A tradition within the Old Testament is to name places when there has been an encounter with God. For example, Jacob names the place where he has wrestled with God, or an angel. He calls it ‘Peniel’, meaning’ face of God’ (Genesis 32:22 – 31). Perhaps we could try our own naming of places, just as our faith ancestors did. What would be the significant places in your faith journey and what name would you give them?
God bless
Cecilia
As well as our formal name, we may be called a different name by family members, friends, work colleagues. We may have nicknames given in jest, or sadly sometimes rather cruelly. Our worship theme this month – ‘Moments of Truth’ explores the many aspects or names of Jesus. We often use different names for God the Creator and the Holy Spirit in our worship too. We experience the Divine in so many different ways. It is not surprising that we, and those who wrote the scriptures, have so many names for God.
I love the image that we are using for ‘Moments of Truth’ because it suggests that ‘glimpsing’ that we have of God, Jesus, Spirit, just as we can glimpse the sun through the tree branches in the photo. We don’t always experience all of the Sacred, just a hint of what is there. The image also sets the experience of the Divine in a place. Often when people are telling me about a significant spiritual moment, they will say ‘I know exactly where I was’ or ‘I can picture it now’. A tradition within the Old Testament is to name places when there has been an encounter with God. For example, Jacob names the place where he has wrestled with God, or an angel. He calls it ‘Peniel’, meaning’ face of God’ (Genesis 32:22 – 31). Perhaps we could try our own naming of places, just as our faith ancestors did. What would be the significant places in your faith journey and what name would you give them?
God bless
Cecilia
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