Click on this image to go to a slide show of the U2charist - click on any image there to viewIf you happened to walk by the Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh, on Sunday, November 4 you would have heard more than 300 people singing out "One man betrayed with a kiss, in the name of Love", or "I waited patiently for the Lord, He inclined and heard my cry, He brought me up out of the pit, out of the miry clay" or maybe "We're beaten and blown by the wind." Were these lyrics from some long forgotten hymn or Psalm? No, the songs being sung, by the standing room only crowd, were from one of the biggest rock bands in the world, U2.

Good Shepherd was hosting its first U2charist. The U2charist combines the music of U2 and an Episcopal Eucharist to create a high-energy service to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The U2charist is the brainchild of the Rev. Paige Blair of St. George's of New Harbor, Maine and has become an increasingly popular service. According to the St George website they estimate that more than 14,000 people have attended U2Charists and raised more than $232,000.

Why U2? Since their inception in 1978, U2 have always been advocates for human rights and supported environmental causes. In 1985 U2 played at Live Aid, a worldwide concert to raise awareness and money for the starving people of Africa. While they have never come right out and said it, U2 is a Christian rock band. The lyrics, written by vocalist Bono, are littered with Biblical references and double meanings, where many times "Love" refers to Jesus Christ, the Lord, or God.

During an extremely moving and emotional sermon by Bishop Curry, in which he asked us all to be witnesses, he also spoke about his experience at an orphanage during his recent trip to Botswana. Good Shepherd raised just over $3000 and gave it to Bishop Curry to be passed on to Botswana to support our newly-formed relationship.

Attendees were able to sing along to recorded U2 songs by following a slide show with lyrics that included art and photos that reflected the ongoing struggles in Africa or that related to the lyrics. Two videos from their most recent tour were featured around the Gospel lessons, one with the flags of African nations scrolling behind the band as they sang one of their most popular songs "Where the Streets Have No Name."

One attendee said "I have been singing my heart out to U2 since the 1980s, but I never realized how religious the lyrics were. I will come back for the next U2charist!" Based on the success and enthusiasm following the service, Good Shepherd has scheduled another U2charist on March 2, 2008 at 5pm. Visit the Good Shepherd web site for updates.

See coverage of the service by local station NBC17 on their web site. Other web sites of interest are listed on the links page.

David Haygood
The Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh