Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Perhaps you remember the show that aired in the 80's simply titled "Cheers."  A show about ordinary people finding belonging and community at a local pub in Boston.  The theme song to the show summed up the premise of the show: "you want to be where everybody knows your name."  I think we all can identify with that lyrical statement. It is nice go places were people know your name.  Having your name known is the beginning of belonging.  An exchange of names is often the birth place of friendship.

Bill Hybels, pastor, author and founder of Willow Creek Association, unpacks the idea further with this statement, "We all want to know and be known, love and be loved, serve and be served, celebrate and be celebrated."  How true.  What is also true, is that this kind relating simply cannot be achieved in an hour on Sunday.  This is why I'm so passionate about helping people move "from rows to circles."  By that I mean, helping people move from the forward facing rows of the worship service to fellowship and friendship found in small group circles.  Through First Assembly Life Groups, we have the opportunity to introduce people to one another. Three times each year we build new environments where people can meet, exchange names, build and begin friendships.  If you are interested in knowing more about First Assembly Life Groups please email me!

Tips & Tricks for remembering someones name:
1. Have everyone wear a name tag.  Name tags for the first few gatherings may help everyone win the name game.  However, 90% of your interactions will be in places where no one is wearing a "hello my name is" sticker!  So, you might want to keep reading.

2. Don't forget to focus.  I'm amazed at how many times I've asked a person their name and then immediately forgot the name due to lack of focus.  Force yourself to focus!  Your mission is to hear the name, and immediately begin to use their name by asking a question about the person.  Asking them a question, is a way for you to show interest in them as well as learn more about them, but it is also a chance to rehearse their name and make it solid in your mind while they are speaking. Remembering them and greeting them by name the next time you meet will be way more important to them than recalling all of what they shared in response to the personal question.  Bonus points if you can recall both.

3. Draw up some memorable associations.  If they guy in front of you says his name is Berry and he's got beard, you might say in your mind "Berry is quite hairy!"  Berry never has to know that you memorized his name based on his facial hair.

4. Introduce your new friend by name to as many others as you can.  The more you introduce them to others the more solid their name will become in your mind.

Please write and share some of your tricks and tips for remembering names.

P.S. If you are too young to have ever heard the theme song to "Cheers" here are the lyrics.  It could be a good theme song for small groups...

"Where Everybody Knows Your Name"

 written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo and performed by Gary Portnoy

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.