What's in a name? How did you get your name? Were you named after someone who your parents thought was important in their lives? Where does your name come from? What does it mean? Have you ever noticed how it makes you feel when some calls you by name? They remember meeting you and can recall your name. You aren't lost in the crowd if someone knows your name. Or as the TV show Cheers advertised for years they were the "place where everybody knows your name". Having someone special call you "honey" or a particular nickname that you have with that special person can be music to your ears. Many of us when we were baptized or confirmed were given a "religious" name after someone in the Bible like Mary or the name of the relative who was our Godparent. Remember those days at school when you hadn't done your homework or didn't know the answer to the question-you hoped-you prayed that the teach wouldn't call your name. Or how about hearing your middle named used -"Mary Elizabeth come here!" You knew you were in big trouble. And then there were the names some us have been called that degrade or harass us. Names that were heard on the playground such as "four-eyes" or much, much worse words that pierced our hearts when we heard them. Words that when spoken today will cause pain and anger to well up in us. What's in a name?

Today in the scripture reading the writer tells us that the God who created -the God who redeemed us has called us by name and we belong to God. God not only knows our name - has knowledge of us - but, God calls us by name. How many times when we were going through something that we thought was so horrible - that no one else had ever experienced - we just wanted God to know we were here and needed help. The writer of Isaiah says:

"Do not fear - when you pass through the waters - I will be with you.

Do not fear - the rivers will not overwhelm you.

Do not fear - when you walk through the fire - you will not be burned.

Do not fear - the flame shall not consume you."

Why? Because "you are precious in my sight (God's sight), and honored, and I love you."

God calls us by name - God knows when we feel like the waters of life will overwhelm us. God knows when we feel like we're drowning and no one's throwing a life preserver. God knows when the fires of life get so hot that we feel like we'll be consumed - destroyed. God calls us by name - why? Because we belong to God. God has created us for God's glory. Even when a father or mother, brother or sister, friend might desert us God cannot- God will not. God knows your name. Your name is written on God's heart. God indeed knows the number of hairs on your head. God knows what we need. God has a purpose for each of our lives and God calls us together. The writer of Isaiah says: And not only that I will bring together all of the offspring, the people from the east and the west, from the north and the south, who are called by my name. I'll bring them together the people who I created for my glory - whom I formed and made."

We are called together in community - in this time and place-on this holy ground- for God has a purpose for our life together. We indeed have come from the east and west, the north and south. Some of have been here a long time, others have just arrived. God is forming us into the spiritual community called the Metropolitan Community Church of Pittsburgh in the year of our Lord 2004. You are not here by accident, you didn't just wander in. You are here because God has called you by name. Out of isolation, out of the closets, out of a-lone-ness, into a community that bears God's name. Each of us with our nicks and bruises, each of us with our God given gifts, each of us with our mistakes, each of us with our inherent beauty. God has called us by name, because we belong to God and are created to give God glory.

So tonight know without a shadow of a doubt God knows your name. You are loved. You are God's beloved son or daughter. God has created you just as you are to give God glory. Your life is a light that gives glory to God. No matter where you go, who you are with, what you are doing - you are called to give glory to God. As you go about your week carry the light of God's glory with you into the dark places of our world. Bring your light into the lives of others who are searching for meaning and purpose. You may be the only light they see. So let your light shine. Thank God that you have been called to be a part of the Metropolitan Community Church of Pittsburgh. God indeed has a purpose for us. For we do stand as a beacon, a light house in our world offering words of life. Giving hope to those who are still alone. Opening the doors of peace to all people. What's in a name? Maybe everything when you bear God's name.