U2Charist

My roommates and I were invited out to a U2Charist here in Chicago. 3 of us were able to attend. I have never listened to a lot of U2 music, but I knew the general premise of the service and could definitely get on board with the idea. For those that are unaware about 5 years ago an Episcopalian woman (congrats Jordan) decided to create a worship service using the songs of the rock band U2 to create a theme of social justice. U2 has been gracious enough to allow these type of worship services to continue as long as all the money donated goes to an organization that is furthering the UN Millennium Development Goals. (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/) I was lucky enough to be invited to a service with a live tribute band. I had a really great time, now granted I know it would've been even better if I really knew the songs, but even so just the general atmosphere was fantastic. Also this was a way I could honor the memory of 9/11/2001 while still recognizing all of the terror this day and our country has caused worldwide.

Several thoughts occurred to me as I was participating in this goal. One in particular still sticks with me. The church we were worshiping was Fourth Presbyterian right across from the John Hancock Center down on Michigan Ave. As my roommate Bret put it, it was a "serious sanctuary." The sanctuary was beautiful. A very regal place. http://www.fourthchurch.org/worship2.html That's a picture of the sanctuary. As I listened to the lyrics of a modern day rock band in "God's house" and stared up at the stained glass window of Jesus with his arms outstretched I felt a true sense of awe that the church, the community, Christ could be open in a way that really allows us to reach people where they are. Now a U2Charist is not going to appeal to everyone, but I was so impressed by these opportunities that the Christian community has created to reach out and really speak to the message of the Gospel.

Speaking of the Gospel the short message given this quote sticks with me, "If you think the Gospel is about anything but changing the world then you're mistaken." Another important quote from the evening was given during the benediction, "Go out and remember who you are, remember who God is, know who God is calling you to be."

As we left I saw two young individuals and who appeared to be a mother with her two children (probably around the ages of 8 and 6) sitting around a bench outside the church, on the bench was the remnants of a McDonald's dinner. As I walked outside I over heard the young man talking to the woman about who Christ was. He was saying, "yeah, that's what we're trying to do, love people because he loved people. He tells us that's how we're supposed to live, just loving each other." The other young woman was talking to the boy just about his life. I was reminded so wholly of the way that Christ reaches out to us and how Christ reaches out to others through us. I think this is something I've been forgetting lately.

This is a song we turned into our prayer. Let it be your prayer to: