a person's name

I consider myself still new to the church I've been attending since this past summer, which helps me feel better for not knowing the names of all those in the congregation. There is one particular couple that always greets me with a warm smile, and I've asked their name a few times and they've done the same to me, but the following week we both have that blank look like, "I know you, but I can't remember your name". Today it clicked. I said, "Peace to you Fred", and he responded, "and to you Kendra". What Joy! Most would think something so small as a name shouldn't be that important... but it is.

At the beginning of the worship service we "pass the peace", aka "greet each other". I've never been to a church with so long a time for greeting one another. At first it was awkward, but now I love it. I've greeted one of the ministers there a few times, but before today she didn't know my name. When I knelt at the altar today, she said, "The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, Kendra," while placing the bread in my hands. I felt a tingle at the end of my nose, as I often do when experiencing something of the divine - she said my name! Most would think that the divine could not be physically experienced - especially not in one's nose:) - and that there's nothing divine about a name... but that's what sacrament is - "a visible sign of an invisible reality". And I think that part of the reason why the Hebrews never spoke the name of God: "Yahweh" - was because they considered themselves unworthy of such divinity on their lips.

After the Eucharist, the priest paused before continuing with the liturgy and said that he felt the spirit prodding him to say, "The Lord calls you by name." I don't know what today's experiences are to mean for my life. I don't know if my name spoken today was the Lord calling me to anything other than that church fellowship, or to this day's worship. But, it impressed upon me the importance of a name - the name of a person, and how wonderful it is for a person to be known by name.