What’s in a name?

It’s not quite a boy named Sue, but it’s close. It’s a song named Chester. My wife and I walked to the church to attend the Smiley Gregg concert celebrating American music. The choir celebrated and sang “From Sea to Shining Sea” and “What a Wondrous Love is This,” and between, a song named “Chester” among others. I learned songs, at one time, were given names which might be more American than titles. It’s certainly more Southern. Chester is a good name if you’re naming songs. Names keep seeping into consciousness this week. I am presently reading the novel “Trophy” by Michael Griffith. I am not a fiction reader, but Michael and I were reared in the big O, Orangeburg, South Carolina, so I read and connect, remembering our shared past from reference to reference.

As I was reading on page 55, the name Shot appeared. Without Trophy’s short chapters, Shot may have remained buried in my frontal lobe. Every town has its characters and Shot belonged to Orangeburg. Shot was crippled before the terms handicapped and physically challenged evolved. The gang just knew he limped on a shoe with a 6-inch sole, or so the image remains. What’s in a name? My friend Michael writes, “we find roles, or they find us, and we fill them, gratefully or crankily, until at last the role is full enough all on its own, thank you, and then we can retreat inside ourselves and be our small and secret selves and no one will know or care because it’s not our selves they notice, but our roles.”

There is truth in this passage leading me to a bigger question. What’s in a faith? Time renders us to the fate of our small decisions. We wake, then pursue and hoard our dreams and possessions until our role is filled. As we play it safe, being too satisfied or dissatisfied, we inure ourselves to inevitability. But what is faith but possibility? And how is anything possible until we act on faith?

Faith is much, and our God is the God who agitates our satisfaction and dissatisfaction. He agitates those small decisions even as we move toward or away from him. In the name called faith, God loves us enough to never leave us alone until we love neighbor as self and God with all of self. This is love. This is faith. This is more.

The years have expressed our predictability. We fill our roles with pride, self-will and feigned piety or just some good old self-pity. And when we retreat to our secret self, God is there. When all is said and done, how should we respond? Chester says it best.

“What grateful offering shall we bring? What shall we render to the Lord? Loud hallelujahs let us sing, and praise his name on every chord.”

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Pope Francis visits the Church St. Peter Claver in Cartagena, Colombia. Pope Francis arrived in Cartagena to honor St. Peter Claver, a 17th-century Jesuit who ministered to the tens of thousands of African slaves who arrived in the port to be sold.

Adairsville Church of God, 297 Old Dixie Highway, Adairsville, hosts Adairsville Church of God Kidz every Sunday morning at 11 a.m.

Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 1818 Kingston Highway, will celebrate its 25th church anniversary Sunday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Bryan Keith Smith of Redwine United Methodist Church, Gainesville, will deliver the message.

The Church of the Living God, 19 Hillindale Road, will hold services at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Donald Lindsey will bring the message. For details call Pastor James Abercrombie at 770-769-4338.

Dry Creek Baptist Church, 150 Dry Creek Road, Adairsville, will hold a foot washing and communion service Sunday at 6 p.m. The church will hold revival Monday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Billy Chambers will be preaching.

East Rome Baptist Church, 601 Cedar Ave., will hold revival Monday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Danny Tucker will preach Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Eddy Hughes will preach Tuesday and Thursday.

First Baptist Church of Rome, 100 E. Fourth Ave., will hold Bible study Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Worship will be held at 11 a.m. with special music by the Children’s Choir. The sermon will come from Exodus 14:19-31.

First Christian Church, 209 E. Second Ave., will hold worship (casual/ business casual dress) Sunday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Horace Stewart will bring the message. Sunday School is at 10 a.m. Morning coffee is each Thursday from 7-9 a.m. For more information contact the church office at romedisciples@gmail.com.

Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 445 E. 14th St., will have Choir Day on Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. The church will celebrate its 135th anniversary Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. The Rev. Keith Lambert, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, Centre, Alabama, will be the guest preacher. Dinner will be served after morning service. Fall revival has been rescheduled for Oct. 16-19 at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Cedric Williams, pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Cedar Bluff, Alabama, will be the guest preacher for the week. For more information call 706-234-2091 or 706-234-5047.

Greater Mount Tabor Baptist Church, 259 Herring Road, Armuchee, will celebrate their annual Youth Day on Sunday at 2 p.m. Pastor Khyri Rogers and St. Luke Baptist Church, Cedartown, will be the guests.

Lovejoy Baptist Church, 426 Branham Ave., will open its soup kitchen Saturday from 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. in the Joy Life Center.

Lyerly United Methodist Church, 105 Oak Hill Road, Lyerly, will celebrate homecoming Sunday at 10 a.m. The One Touch Quartet of Chattanooga will be singing. A covered-dish dinner will follow the service. The church will hold revival Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Robin Lindsey will be guest preacher, and there will be musical guests each night. An ice cream social will be held following the Wednesday service. For more information or directions call Pastor Marshal Bryan at 706409-0329.

New Canaan Baptist Church, 3 Excelsior St., will celebrate homecoming Sept. 24 at 10:30 a.m. Special singing by Heartfelt. Pastor Corey Wright will bring the message. Lunch will be served following the service. The church will have Old Fashioned Day on Oct. 8 at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served. The church will hold revival Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. and Oct. 9-12 at 7 p.m.

New Hope Cathedral Church of God, 200 Nixon Ave., will celebrate First Lady Mother Gladys Allen’s Day on Sunday at 3 p.m. Bishop Billy Harris of Omega Ministries, Adairsville, along with other churches and choirs, will be the guests. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m. For more information call Embry Roberts or Sherion Quinn at 706-266-6265 or 770-547-8369.

New Victory Ministries CME Church, 615 Cleveland Ave., will celebrate Family and Friends Day on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Robert Carson and New Zion Baptist Church will be the guests. For more information call the Rev. Derrick McDaniel at 706-936-6254.

North Broad Baptist Church, 1309 N. Broad St., will celebrate its 150th anniversary on Oct. 22 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a banquet at noon. RSVP for the banquet by Oct. 1. Call 706-295-2100 or email shanda_douglas@bellsouth. net for more information.

NorthPointe Church, 30 Orchard Road, Adairsville, hosts Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered recovery program, every Monday night. Cross Talk Cafe at 6 p.m., large group worship at 7 p.m. and open share groups at 8 p.m. Visit www.northpointechurch.com or contact Kitty at 404-642-3605 for more information.

Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church, 735 Old Summerville Road, holds a praise & worship service Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall with music by Ben Thornton and the Praise Band. A blended service is held at the same time in the sanctuary.

Rome First United Methodist Church, 202 E. Third Ave., holds contemporary worship Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Garnett M. Wilder Center and traditional worship at 11 a.m. in the historic sanctuary. Sunday school and small groups for every age meet at 10 a.m. Visit www. romefirst.org for more information.

Rush Chapel United Methodist Church, 1225 Rush Chapel Road, will celebrate homecoming Sunday at 10:55 a.m. Rush Chapel member Vincent Moreno will be the guest speaker. A covered-dish lunch will follow morning worship.

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, 42 Ash St., meets Sundays at 9:30 a.m. for Holy Communion. For more information call 706-506-1241.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 911 N. Broad St., offers Saturday vigil Masses at 5:30 p.m. in English and at 7 p.m. in Spanish; Sunday Masses are 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in English and at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Spanish. In honor of Catechist Sunday, the annual Blessing of the Catechists will take place at each of the Masses this weekend. St. Mary’s Catholic School, 401 E. Seventh St., will hold their annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. featuring games, inflatables, food and vendor sales. The Hispanic community of St. Mary’s Catholic Church will host a Patriotic Festival on Sunday at Ridge Ferry Park from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. featuring Latino foods, folkloric dancing, games and live music. For additional information on any church activities or programs contact the church office at 706-290-9000 or at DeaconNeslin@smcrome.org.

St. Paul Baptist Church, 428 Pleasant Valley Road, Silver Creek, will celebrate the eighth pastoral anniversary of the Rev. Deshannon Davis and First Lady Judy Davis on Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. with Minister Angiekita Sims. Pastor B.J. Sims Jr. and Friendship Baptist Church, L’Osservatore Romano / pool photo via AP Cedartown, will be the guests for the 3 p.m. service. The church’s youth ministry will sponsor a barbecue fundraiser on Saturday at 11 a.m. at 103 E. 12th St. The menu includes ribs, chicken or sandwich plates with baked beans, potato salad and pound cake.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 101 E. Fourth Ave., offers services of Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel and 10 a.m. in the church each Sunday. A service of Holy Eucharist in Spanish is offered Sundays at 5 p.m. in the chapel. Midweek Eucharist services are held on Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel. Nursery is offered during the 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist. Children’s Chapel is also available for children ages pre-K through third grade during the 10 a.m. service. Christian formation and Sunday School are offered for children, youth and adults beginning at 11:15 a.m. on Sundays. The church will hold an antiques and collectibles market from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and from noon-3:30 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds will benefit the church youth group’s pilgrimage to Italy. For more information call 706-2919111 or visit www.stpetersrome.org.

Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, 6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, will hold worship on Sunday at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall after the service. The church continues to collect toiletries to be given to the YMCA for distribution to those in need and pet food and supplies for PAWS. For more information contact Janet Farr at 706-346-7268.

State Line Baptist Church, 8536 Black’s Bluff Road, Cave Spring, will celebrate homecoming on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Mike Garrett will be speaker. There will be singing by Fireproof and plenty of food.

Summer Hill AME Church, 1981 Kingston Road, will have their Women’s Day program Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The Rev. Terri Mayes of Greater Refuge Ministry will be the guest speaker. Lunch will be served at 2 p.m. For more information call 706-235-7113.

Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 304 Coker Drive, will celebrate Holy Eucharist Sunday at 11 a.m. Tuesday Travelers will meet at IHOP, 35 Riverbend Drive, on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Al-Anon will meet in the parish hall at noon and there will be a public service of healing with Eucharist at 6 p.m. On Thursday, an Alcoholics Anonymous women’s meeting will be held at 6 p.m.

Unity Baptist Church, 2261 Pleasant Valley Road, Silver Creek, will host Brotherhood and Sisterhood on Monday at 7 p.m. Michael Goss from Amazing Grace Baptist Church will be preaching. Angela Hilburn from Amazing Grace Baptist Church will be the Lady Speaker. Supper will be served. For more information call Betty Proctor at 706-844-8628.

West Rome United Methodist Church, 1003 Shorter Ave., will hold services at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The sermon, “Legion: Freedom from Demons,” will come from Luke 8:26-39. For more information visit www.westromeumc. org, call 706-234-6214 or email wrumc@bellsouth.net.

Woodlawn Baptist Church, 1649 Cartersville Highway, will celebrate homecoming Oct. 1 at 10:30 a.m. Hymns will be presented by past and present Woodlawn members and guests. Praise and worship music will be led by Bailey Lawson from Berry College. Chaplain Mike Ellis from the Renaissance Marquis will bring the message. A covered-dish lunch will follow.