Eldred, Beulah, Albertina, Conrad, Cornelia, Bertrand, Ernestine, Wilber...these are a few of the names I came across in the small cemetery I walked through each morning while on vacation in Colorado. As I mentioned in my sermon a few weeks back, each morning I would walk/run to start my day. While I walked, I prayed. My prayers were for my families; those at St. Nicholas and the family I was born into. I also prayed for those who were laid to rest in this cemetery, especially the children taken far too early in life. I looked at the markers and these names struck a chord with me. Why so? Well, because we really don't hear these names much anymore, do we? These particular names are really names from our past; they are "rural names" given to children brought up on farms and country settings. Not to say city parents never gave these or other such names to their children. Yet, it seems that these names are more closely associated with the past and with areas far outside our major cities. Today we hear names such as Tiffany, Amber, Jordan, Riley and Brandy, (the last two names used equally for girls and boys). Yes, there are still those traditional names of Joseph, Mary, Thomas, Patrick, Kathleen recorded daily. Some things, including names, are timeless. Today's most popular name according to a recent university study . . . Atticus. Yes, Atticus. This is an ancient Roman name meaning 'from Attica' which refers to someone from the region near the city of Athens, Greece. The name was made popular in the classic, American novel, To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee in 1960. Incidentally, one of my favorite books and movies, too.

So I ask, just what's in a name? Shakespeare penned just such a phrase in his love story, Romeo and Juliet. Poor Juliet Capulet speaks out to her beloved Romeo Montague: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." What Juliet is saying to Romeo is that a name is really nothing more than a pointless 'thing' society requires. She loves him; the person who is named Montague. She does not love the name nor the Montague family.

However, our names identify who we are, though our names do not represent who we are. Each name has a meaning; it has an origin, a source. As I mentioned earlier, the name Atticus comes from ancient Rome. I looked up the name Manuel and this is what I found: "the name Manuel is a Hebrew name. In Hebrew the meaning of the name is 'God is with us; God is among us.'" (sheknows.com website) Manuel was my maternal grandfather's name, too.   I never met him as he passed away well before my parents had even met and married. However, my Mom regaled me with stories of how I am like him in so many ways. She said he had such a great love for Jesus and tried to live his life according to what God would have wanted of him. How humbling to know that my faith certainly was passed on to me from someone who possessed such a love and devotion to the Almighty and His Son. I wish I had met him. I wish I had met my paternal grandfather, too. And, I would like to think that God truly "is with us," for this is what my faith is all about and on which I put all my trust: that God never abandons nor neglects us; that God is always and forever with us, for us and by us. Truth be told, my dear ones, I have always believed God is with us and has never left us . . . ever.  Even in my darkest of times, I knew I'd gain my strength and surety through the Creator's intervention and God's benevolent love and care.

We call ourselves Christians:  this name, this title, represents our desire to follow Jesus the Christ. We identify ourselves as Christians.  As such we are looked upon to live our lives according to this title and what it represents: that we worship Jesus in a communal setting.  We share our time, talent and treasure with a place of worship we call our own. We visit with those who are sick and in need. We pray and we pray some more. That the things we say and the things we do give honor to the title Christian.

We call ourselves Episcopalians. This name, this title identifies us with a very particular form of Christianity that is as diverse as its members the world over and as old and storied as time itself. We trace our lineage to the apostles who proclaimed Christ's teaching starting from those dusty roads of Jerusalem to our present day asphalt jungles, country communities, rural and urban centers throughout the world.  There has been no break in that line; it has continued from Jesus' time to this 21st Century July day here, in the western hemisphere, in North America, the upper Midwest. God is with us; God is among us. Let us rejoice and be glad.  

I guess there is much to be said for what is in a name. You who are reading this; take time to research your own name and see where it comes from and what it means. Is that who you are? Does your name fit your character? Then, consider Christianity and how we do well by this title and what we might be overlooking. Lastly, think Episcopalian and how we have etched our place in this beautiful community of faith. Do all these names fit who we are and what we believe? Now then, enjoy and discover perhaps something about ourselves we may not have known before. And may all our discoveries be pleasant and pleasing.

Amen. 

-Manny  

For all our St. Nicholas community members who are under the weather and in need of healing and prayers:  may they find peace and be blessed with sound and better health:  Holly, Karen, Sharon, Jill, Vernon, Connie Nicholson, Marcia Kizior, Joanne Mangiaracina, Fran Baylor, Kesha, Mary Gans, Eunice Dohra, K.C., Emily & Dick Day, Dale Rickey,  Stanko Begonja, Phil Cooper, Tim Laughlin, Jackie, Chris, Cathy Walters, Carrie, Tim, Pat, Lenny, Perry, Kathy J. and any one else in need of our continued prayers and well wishes.