4/3/12 Lent 2

Theme: Name calling

Bible Reading

Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16

Preparation

Have a book of names and their meanings.

Introduction

Ask for two volunteers to come up and find out what their name means. Look it up, show the meaning to the child and ask them to mime the meaning to the assembly. See if other children can guess the meaning. Ask the child if they think the meaning of their name suits them.
Do any of the children know why their parents chose their given names - after someone else in the family, after a famous person…?

In some countries, babies aren't given their names publicly until the christening or naming ceremony. This gives parents the chance to think carefully about the right name for the child's character.

Can we think of any people who've changed their names? Some children will have changed their surnames after their parents have remarried (be sensitive here)..

Pop stars and actors often give themselves a 'stage name', usually because it sounds better than their real name. Do you know any examples of this?

Message

Names were very important in Biblical times. When we read Bible stories, we see that often the characters' names were chosen very carefully. The name often described something that had happened, or some characteristic that the person had. Names were precious. To let someone know your name meant that you allowed them to know something about you, and so have a bit of power over you.

Abram had known his name for 99 years. You would think, by the time you'd got to 99 that things wouldn't change any more. Time for a rest - why, if you lived now, you'd be almost eligible for a telegram from the Queen!

But Abram didn't get a rest! God called him to move - not just down the road, but hundreds of miles into a new land. God promised Abram many blessings. And most amazingly, even though he and his wife were so old, God promised him the thing Abram wanted most - a child.

Imagine, someone as old as your great grandfather says he's moving - not into an old people's home, but away from his old friends and into a new country. Everyone would think he was mad - and probably try to put him into a home. And if he then said ' and God's promised me a baby!' - wow, a complete lunatic!

God simply asked Abram to trust him, and as a sign of God's promise and Abram's trust, he changed Abram's name to Abraham. God even changed Abraham's wife's name - to Sarah.

I wonder if his neighbours thought he was more mad to move home, or to change his name.

Abraham and Sarah accepted their new names because they were a sign of the promise or covenant that God had made with them. They showed that, even though what God was telling them seemed completely mad, they would follow, because they trusted God's promises

God knows each of us by name, and loves each of us. If you have been baptised, whatever name your parents gave you became your 'Christian' name. This means that it is a sign of the promise made on your behalf, between you and God. Sometimes people add an extra baptismal name to their other names at this point. Having a 'Christian' name is a sign to other people that we trust God's promises, as Abraham did, and follow where God leads. He might not want us to get up and move to a strange country - but he does want us to show kindness and love to people as he does. He wants us talk to him by praying - just like we talk to our friends. And he wants us to love and trust him as Abraham did.

Prayer

May God's joy be in your heart
and God's love surround your living.
Each day and night
and wherever you roam.
May you know God's presence.
In growing and learning,
in joy and sorrow,
in friendship,
in solitude,
in beginnings and endings
may God keep you and bless you
all the days of your life.

(from The Blessing of Children in 'The Pattern of our Days' ed. Kathy Galloway)

Also this week hear some more stories of Abraham and how his life changed along with his change of name.