Now is a time of great decision
Are we to stay or up and quit?
There's no avoiding this decision
Our town is turning into sh*t
Posted on 01/28/2007 8:57:58 PM PST by Mount Athos
John Lennon once enraged Christians by claiming that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus. The Church of England is now recognising the pulling power of rock stars by recruiting Bono, the singer and lyricist of U2, in its bid to boost congregations.
A Church of England bishop is to preside at this country's first "U2-charist", an adapted Holy Communion service that uses the Irish supergroup's best-selling songs in place of hymns.
US worshippers, Hymns replaced by Bono lyrics US worshippers at a U2 Eucharist sing along to lyrics of Bono
In what is more rock concert than Book of Common Prayer, a live band will belt out U2 classics such as Mysterious Ways and Beautiful Day as worshippers sing along with the lyrics, which will appear on screens. The atmosphere will be further enhanced by a sophisticated lighting system that will pulse with the beat, and striking visual images of poverty and drought.
Despite his rock star antics, including swearing on live television, Bono is regarded as a Christian icon by many who point to the spiritual content of his music.
His high-profile anti-poverty campaigns with fellow Irish musician Bob Geldof have elevated him to saintly status in some circles.
But while Bono is open about his Christian influences, he has also clashed with Church leaders over issues such as Aids.
Traditionalists who fear the Church is diluting its message to attract the young will be dismayed at its willingness to embrace Bono.
Such doubts are not shared by the Bishop of Grantham, the Rt Rev Timothy Ellis, who is organising the U2-charist in St Swithin's church in Lincoln in May.
"Bono and Bob Geldof are very human, but they have demonstrated that they believe there is sanctity to life that has to be protected," he said. "If that makes them saints, then I would go along with that."
Bishop Ellis said that the eve-of-Pentecost service in the city centre church would be a traditional one, but stripped down to basics.
"We are hoping the service will be a fresh way to look at worship, less formal, and less rigid," he said.
"People will be able to express themselves in any way they wish.
"This is not designed to replace traditional services but to enhance the worship provision of the Church.
"We need to try new expressions. If we don't try to update and refresh our thinking we will die."
Seating will be moved so that the 500-strong congregation can dance or wave their arms.
The bishop, who will be chief celebrant, said he had yet to decide whether to swap vestments for jeans.
The Lincoln U2-charist is adapted from an American phenomenon that has swept across the US and even reached Hong Kong.
It will be recorded by the BBC for a programme to be broadcast later in the year, and the bishop hopes it will be replicated across Britain.
The service will focus on the Millennium Development Goals to reduce world poverty, a cause close to Bono's heart.
The Bishop said that he did not expect the Irish singer to attend the U2-charist in person, though he was hoping he might send a message. The £10,000 cost of equipment will be partly funded by the diocese of Lincoln, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will also be kept informed.
The idea was devised by the Rev Paige Blair, an American Episcopal priest in York Harbor, Maine, who held the first service in 2005. Since then, she has advised about 150 churches on U2 Eucharists in 15 states and seven countries.
"Bach and Handel were the popular music of their day, and they had trouble getting played in church," she has said.
"The Methodist hymn writers once wrote contemporary music. Are we worshipping Bono? Absolutely not. No more so than we worship Martin Luther when we sing A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."
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Extracted lyrics of songs used in American U2-charists, compiled by the Rev Paige Blair in York Harbor, Maine
When Love Comes To Town I was there when they crucified my Lord, I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword, I threw the dice when they pierced his side, But I've seen love conquer the great divide
Mysterious Ways It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, She moves in mysterious ways, It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, We move through miracle days, Spirit moves in mysterious ways
Elevation Explain all these controls, Can't sing but I've got soul, The goal is elevation, A mole, Digging in a hole, Digging up my soul now, Going down, excavation
Only God knows what is Bono's heart, and that is as it should be. The issue is not about Bono personally, it is about the use of his music in church.
The risk in using such music is that the focus is too easily shifted from the Message (which is Christ) to the messenger, which is Bono.
If churches want 'rock' music, here is all the rock they need:
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in Thee;
let the water and the blood,
from Thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see Thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in Thee."
It only makes sense that U2's music is played for church services; after all, at the U2 concerts I've been to, he preached to the crowd. Note to "Ego" (AKA Bono): Confine preaching to churches and U2 music to places other than churches.
Bach and Handel wrote church music. They never had any problems getting their music played in church. Mozart, now...
The world.....slowly sinking like the Titanic.
And then there is Gloria
"Gloria"
I try to sing this song
I...I try to stand up
But I can't find my feet
I try, I try to speak up
But only in you I'm complete
Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Gloria...Gloria
Oh Lord, loosen my lips
I try to sing this song
I...I try to get in
But I can't find the door
The door is open
You're standing there
You let me in
Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Oh Lord, if I had anything
Anything at all
I'd give it to you
I'd give it to you
Gloria...Gloria...
At the risk of sounding like an "old fogey" (whatever that is), I do think maintaining traditions is very important in church. I see nothing wrong with inserting modern music that has a religious message in a service on occasion - although I remember when they started doing it at my church back in the seventies - I was a teenager at the time & it turned me off, seemed out of place.
I love hearing the old music, it sets me in a reverent mood when I still hear it today (which is rarely), I loved it when I was younger too. I could imagine all the people that had listened to that music before me & it was comforting, knowing that the church was a rock I could depend on & would never change, even as I would go through my life & changes myself. I knew I could go to church and get grounded again.
The message of Christ never changes, it is as relevant today as it was from the beginning. That's what "Rock of Ages" means to me. I fear that young people today don't have that foundation of tradition & security. They see a world that is constantly changing (eggs were bad for you yesterday, but good for you today). They hear conflicting messages at home, school, television, popular music and movies. Church should be the one place that stays solid and comforting - not desperately seeking acceptance.
I remember the old church of my youth fondly, but I stopped going to it after I grew up and went out on my own - by that time it had gone "modern". Sitting in the pew, before the services, watching them setting up - with electric guitars, drums, etc - I felt I was in band class. Then, my classmates would get up & perform (many of them badly) in their hippie outfits & hairstyles and it just felt cheap to me even then. Cheap & sad - I imagined Christ having to change with the times - and even then I realized it was a ploy to attract the "youth". Society has been coddling to the youth ever since & I can't say we have been uplifted for it. Not at all.
I'm with you, it won't work - what will the bored youth demand from their churches next to keep their attention?
And now ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Father Henny - "Take my wafer......please. It's good for you. For a whole host of reasons."
We've gone from JS Bach to Bono. Sigh...
The reason to use a hymnal is that there is a process for governance. Songs that are theologically flawed or simply non-biblical are screened out and one can rely on the hymns that make the cut to compliment and not contradict the liturgy and the teaching of the church. The 1940 US Episcopal (Anglican) hymnal is a model of how this should work.
Even much of the "praise music" that is out there is narcissistic and theologically flawed. The use of U2's music simply takes problem further by a degree.
Bono is broadly a leftist, but I believe that he is generally sincere and that his heart is at least inclined in the right direction. However, a Eucharistic service based on his music is simply wrong.
The mainline churches, including the Roman Catholic have made a mistake in pandering to populist sentimentality in their music. This sentimentality has leached out into the ad hoc theology practiced (at least at a local level) in most of these churches and denominations. The evangelical churches, fully bible based in their teaching, are equally at risk by this phenomenom, and would benefit from a reintroduction of traditional music.
The church must instruct, and not simply absorb the secular. Solid theology, supported by reverent music, performed competently, will attract and keep people in church.
I'm with you. When I was singing in a praise and worship team at church, we actually (gasp) sang the words of "Amazing Grace" to the tune of the Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling."
I like it much better with that tune because,frankly, though I love the words of AG, I hate the tune. I have just OD'd on it. What can I say? When you sing a lot of the same songs over and over, some can get stale.
And while I'm on my pedestal, let me say that probably 75 percent of songs in any of those old hymnals are horrible. Just because it's being sung about God and Jesus doesn't make the music good. As Martin Luther once said, "why should the devil have all the good music?"
What's next - a Madonna-thon?
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Good grief! Don't give them any ideas!!
So will they also replace the traditional symbols of Christ's body and blood, bread and wine, with milk and honey so they can get in touch with their femininity?
Every time I pass by an Episcopal church anymore, I shudder.
When this idiot went into political propagandizing, I boycotted anything from the group (I used to love listening to them).
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Ditto -- on both counts.
Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.
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Since I have tried it am I entitled to knock it? It's annoying and most definitely not uplifting, IMO. I love to dance and always will, but I don't do it as a form of worship.
Society has been coddling to the youth ever since & I can't say we have been uplifted for it. Not at all.
**
Well said!
Free acid and reduced price T-shirts too?
Warning: Don't take the brown Eucharist!
Bo no!
Does wearing sunglasses all the time count?
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