Hi everyone. I’m Matthew Porter. I recently started out as the new Bishop of Bolton.

I was on the way home from Manchester Airport recently, having spent the morning with the chaplains who do a great work behind the scenes supporting staff and all sorts of people who need assistance.

I was passing by the Trafford Centre so stopped into Starbucks for a coffee and sandwich. I stood waiting for a couple of minutes at the end of the checkout as things were prepared, and then a smiling barista called out ‘Matthew, flat white.’ I paused a moment, to see if anyone else was coming forward as I’d not been asked my name. But no one approached, so I assumed it was for me.

But I was a little confused. How did she know my name? I wanted to ask, but everyone was busy serving other customers, so I let it go and found a seat. But I was left wondering: how did she know my name?

I like the fact that many coffee houses ask for your name. I know it’s to ensure the right people get the right drinks, but I appreciate the personal nature of it. It reminds me that I am a person and not just a customer, for my name identifies me as a human. An individual. Someone of value and worth. We all know this, feeling good when someone we don’t expect remembers our name. It feels like we matter.

We do matter. Every one. That’s why, when I baptise and confirm new followers of Jesus (which I do most weekends), each person is called out and prayed for by name saying ‘Ben’ or ‘Emily’ or whatever their name is, ‘God has called you by name.’ I like that. It speaks of their inherent value and worth.

When I got home from Starbucks, I spoke to my son David about the name thing. ‘Dad’ he said, ‘did you use an app to buy your coffee?’ ‘Yes’ I replied. ‘Did you consider that you name might have popped up on the screen in front of the cashier?’

‘No’ I replied. That explained it. It wasn’t the barrista’s prophetic gift, or something else deep and meaningful that had generated my name, but technology! Oh well. But as I reflected, that seems like a good use of technology to me. Because our name says who we are, and who we are is important.