Yesterday was truly a BTFL DAY. A glorious early taste of Spring had settled on the Bay area for the past several days.
At our SOS community, we had a very special worship gathering - a U2charist, where more than 200 people of all ages gathered in an 50 year-old church in Palo Alto for a out-of-the-ordinary church experience weaving the music of U2 with a core worship format. In the likeness of Bono, this worship gathering focused on larger world issues, incorporating belief and doubt into tangible expression found in the music of U2. The worship form, which was developed by Catie Greene, is below.
As I walked today, Walk On cycled onto my iPod. The lyrics of the song helped me frame my reflection on this gorgeous gathering
Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress up
All that you scheme...
In the Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum writes about “a lovely, sunny country that seemed to beckon them on to the Emerald City”. The beginning of this gathering beckoned the assembled congregation - there was some space, some quiet, some anticipation, then a slide with a greeting and a familiar song invited, enticed us to leave behind all we break or build or reason or scheme - to set aside some time to be with God, our neighbor & ourselves.
A place that has to be believed to be seen
A building like the one we are in rarely is "taken over" by people under the age of 25 - it rarely has a projection screen front & center - there is rarely dancing or clapping. The place we were beckoned to had to be believed to be seen - it asked each of us to step out, to grab another's outstretched hand, to risk the places that are comfy & well-worn.
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behindThe liturgy was designed to, early on, place U2 on a prophetic level, rather than simply swapping out new wine in old wineskins. When the time came for the sermon, it was like the Gospel story, where Jesus performs his 1st miracle. After running our wine, Jesus turns water into wine, not just any wine, but the best stuff. A buddy of mine, someone I adore & respect profoundly, brought out the best stuff in a sermon that built into a call to action that rivaled any great black preacher.
Home...hard to know what it is if you never had one
Home...I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the heart isWe circled the article to share communion - it was chaotic & messy and totally non-linear, with all of us singing ONE, chanting "help each other" while slides of folks from our congregation who have been working with people impacted by Katrina flickered above us. My whole body sensed - this is home, this is the kingdom of God, this is what the heart is.....
P.S. - mad props to Catie Greene (ever so talented coordinator for this gathering), Ryan McDermott (who materfully directed the music & led the band), the very tight band, Matt McDermott (who preached an astounding sermon) and Amanda Howard (who was the guru image guru).
U2charist
“I Want” and “How Long?” – Hunger and Hope
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
February 12, 2006
Gathering: (stationary slide – text over image - up
before start of service. Background
music playing as people arrive.)
Welcome. We come together to engage our minds, bodies
and souls in the Spirit of God. Drawing
on the spiritual and cultural messages of the music of U2, this worship directs
us towards faith in God to give meaning to our human struggles. Through music, and word, and action we
acknowledge our longing and celebrate our hope.
This U2charist is a
creative work, just as we all are. You
are encouraged to sing, and move, and participate as you feel comfortable. Just join in as you are, and bear with us as
we are, and we will all be changed as we go.
(20 seconds silence/no
music, greeters dim lights, before opening songs and slideshows)
Opening:
(songs and images. Lyrics printed on paper handout.)
“Where the Streets Have No Name” (images of natural disasters)
(music transitions)
“Sunday Bloody Sunday” (images of human disasters)
(slideshow goes to
blank slide at end. Music transitions
from song to just background. After a
few moments, the leader steps out to open with prayer and prayer slide goes
up.)
Prayer:
(leader stands)
(slide)
We gather here in your presence, God,
In our need and bringing with us the needs of the world.
We come with our faith and with our doubts;
We come with our hopes and our hunger.
We come as we are, because you invite us to come
And you have promised never to turn us away.
Open us, God, to experience you here.
All Respond: Amen.
(percussive rhythm
starts, no background music)
Word: (interactive reading – mixture of scripture
and text from “Still haven’t found.” Leader introduces by saying:
Our prayer for tonight is for transformation,
for help in redirecting our world from death into life.
Throughout history,
God has commissioned prophets to point our way towards
transformation
– many and varied
voices speaking words of both warning and promise to us.
On the screen behind me you will see such words displayed,
written by the evangelists, St. Mark and Bono.
I invite you to lend your own prophetic voice to these
words,
speaking the parts assigned to you
– the left side and the right side.
In our speaking and in our listening,
may we begin to discern the way.
Slides are put up one at a time with the congregation reading their parts. Percussion as only background)
(Slide 1)
◄Left Side says
together:
A leper came to
Jesus, begging on his knees,
“If you want to, you
can cleanse me.”
►Right Side say
together:
Deeply moved, Jesus
put out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I want to. Be clean.”
Then and there the
leprosy was gone,
his skin smooth and
healthy.
(Slide 2)
All say together:
I have climbed
highest mountain
I have run through
the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
(Slide 3)
◄ Left Side says
together:
The crowd brought a
paraplegic to Jesus,
Carried by four men.
When they weren’t
able to get in to him,
Because of the crowd,
They removed part of
the roof
And lowered the
paraplegic on his stretcher.
► Right Side say
together:
Impressed by their
bold belief,
Jesus said to the
paraplegic,
“Son, I forgive your
sins.
Get up.
Pick up your
stretcher and go home.”
And the man did it.
(Slide 4)
All say together:
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these
city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
(Slide 5)
◄ Left Side says
together:
They came to Simon and
Andrew’s house
With James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law
was sick in bed,
Burning up with
fever.
They told Jesus.
► Right Side say
together:
He went to her,
Took her hand,
And raised her up.
Then the fever left
her
And she waited on
them.
(Slide 6)
All say together:
I have kissed honey
lips
Felt the healing in
her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
(Slide 7)
◄ Left Side says
together:
In their meeting
place there was a man,
Deeply disturbed and
yelling out
“What business do you
have here with us,
Jesus of Nazareth
I know what you’re up
to!
You’re the Holy One
of God,
And you’ve come to
destroy us!”
► Right Side say
together:
Jesus shut him up:
“Quiet! Get out of him!”
The afflicting spirit
threw the man into spasms,
Protesting loudly,
And got out.
(Slide 8)
All say together:
I have spoke with the
tongue of angels
I have held the hand
of the devil
It was warm in the
night
I was cold as stone
(Slide 9)
◄ Left Side says
together:
Jesus said, “How can
we picture God’s kingdom?
What kind of story
can we use?”
It is like a mustard
seed,
when it lands on the
ground.
► Right Side say
together:
It is the smallest of
all seeds,
Yet once it is
planted it grows
Into a huge plant
with large branches,
So that all the birds
of the sky
Can nest in its
shade.
(Slide 10)
All say together:
I believe in the
kingdom come
Then all the colors
will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well yes I’m still
running
(Slide 11)
◄ Left Side says
together:
James and John,
Zebedee’s sons, came to Jesus.
“Teacher, we have
something we want you to do for us.”
► Right Side say
together:
“What is it? What do you wish for me to do?
◄ Left Side says
together:
“Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be
awarded
The highest places of
honor
In your glory
► Right Side say
together:
One of us on our
right,
◄ Left Side says
together:
The other on your
left.”
►Right Side say
together:
Jesus said, “You have
no idea what you’re asking.
Are you capable of
drinking the cup I drink,
Of being baptized in
the baptism
I’m about to be
plunged into?”
(Slide 12)
All say together:
You broke the bonds
and you
Loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Of my shame
You know I believed
it.
(Slide 13)
All say together:
But I still haven’t
found what I’m looking for.
Reflection: (Matt – 7 mins. Max. Ryan playing chords of “Still” behind speaking, building up to the start of the song immediately following the sermon)
Reflection Song: (candle lighting during song)
Song: “I Still Haven’t found what I’m looking for” (slideshow images of candles and other images of light)
(background music)
Prayers:
(no slide - spoken by
leader)
We light these candles as symbols of God’s light in a dark world,
Symbols of the light within us,
And symbols of hope.
Let us stand and pray,
And sing our response.
(Slide 1)
God, we share with you now all that we hunger for, in our lives, in our faith and in our world.
(You are invited to
share your prayers either silently or aloud)
For all that we name, silently and aloud, fill us with your healing grace.
All Respond Be
our light, be our light on the path.
(Slide 2)
God, we share with you now all that we hope for, in our lives, in our faith, and in our world.
(You are invited to
share your prayers either silently or aloud)
For all that we name, silently and aloud, thank you for your faithful promise.
All Respond Be
our light, be our light on the path.
(Slide 3)
God sometimes we can’t even find the door.
We stumble around in the dark.
We lose our way.
We can’t see even where to put our feet.
Let alone see the end of the journey.
All Respond Be
our light, be our light on the path.
(Slide 4)
We will stop and take a deep breath.
We will open our eyes to the possibilities.
We will pray for light.
Show us the way, God.
Calm our minds and soothe our souls.
Show us the way, and we will go.
All Respond Be
our light, be our light on the path.
(Slide 5)
All Say together: (speak
“And now we say together”)
O God, lead us from
death to life,
From falsehood to
truth.
Lead us from despair to
hope,
From fear to trust.
Lead us from hate to
love,
From war to peace.
Let peace fill our
hearts,
Our world, our
universe.
All Respond Be
our light, be our light on the path.
Please extinguish your
candle.
Invitation:
(stationary blank slide. Silence, no music))
Celebrant says:
This is the table of God.
It is to be made ready
for those who trust in God’s incarnate love
and those who want to know it.
So, come,
You who have much faith
And you who have little
You who have been here often
And you who have not been for a long time,
You who have tried to follow
And you who have failed.
Come,
Not because it is I who invite you: But God.
God desires to meet you here.
During the song please come forward and gather around this table of
thanksgiving.
(Slide) (Music kicks in)
During the song please come
forward and gather around the altar – the table of thanksgiving – in concentric
circles. Please help children and those
in need to stand or sit where they can best participate. Please join in singing
as you feel comfortable.
(Slide)
Song: “40” (Band only)
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
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...
How long...to sing this song
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long...how long...how long...
Thanksgivings: (congregation
is gathered around the altar. No music)
(no slide)
Celebrant:
As we approach sharing communion, let us express our gratitude to God for
what is important to us at this time, whether that be ordinary or special. Please speak your thanksgivings, either
silently or aloud. (people add petitions)
For this time and this place, and those around us. For our freedom to worship and name you,
thank you God
(no slide)
Celebrant continues:
Gratitude,
praise,
Hearts lifted
high,
Voices full and
joyful…
These you deserve
For you gave us
the gift of your son, Jesus.
For us he was
born,
For us he healed,
Preached, taught
And showed the
way to heaven;
For us he was
crucified,
And for us, after
death,
He rose again.
Holy God,
Present with us
now,
For all that you
have done
And all that you have promised,
What have we to
offer?
Our hands are
empty,
Our hearts are
sometimes full of wrong things.
We are not fit to
gather up the crumbs
From under your
table.
But with you is
mercy
And the power to
change us.
Among friends,
gathered around a table,
Jesus took bread,
broke it and said,
“This is my body,
broken for you.”
And later he took
the cup of wine and said,
“This is the new
relationship with God,
Made possible
because of my death.
Take this – all
of you – to remember me.”
So as we do in
this place
What he did in an
upstairs room,
Send down your
Holy spirit
On us
And on these
gifts of bread and wine
That they may
become for us your body,
Healing,
forgiving,
And making us
whole;
And that we may
become,
For you,
Your body,
Loving and caring
in the world
Until your
kingdom comes. Amen.
(fraction)
Jesus Christ, be
known to us in the breaking of the bread and in the sharing of the cup.
These are the
gifts of God
For the people of
God.
Communion:
(commune choir and band first.)
(slide)
All who seek Christ are invited to receive the
blessed bread and wine, which are served at stations in front of the
altar. After receiving communion, or if
you do not wish to receive at this time, please return to your seat for the
conclusion of the service.
Song: “One” (images of mission trip, families, people at
their best. Band only))
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame
You say...
One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's...
Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...
Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...life
One
Concluding Prayer: (said together)
(Slide – when
leader starts)
All say together:
Holy God,
You have put your life into our hands;
Now we put our lives into yours.
Take us,
Renew and remake us.
What we have been is past;
What we shall be through you,
Still awaits us.
Lead us on.
Take us with you. Amen.
Blessing:
Announcements: (ONE movie followed by slide
with offering information)
Song: “Elevation”
(images of the spirit i.e. birds,
bubbles, clouds, mountain tops, sunrises, light rays, fire, waterfalls)
Peace:
(Slide)
Not an easy
peace,
Not an
insignificant peace,
Not a
half-hearted peace,
But the peace of
God
Is with us now.
Let us share it
with each other and go out in peace.
Peace be with
you!
All respond: And also with you!
Blogs are so informative where we get lots of information on any topic. Nice job keep it up!!
Posted by: Mythology Dissertation | Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 02:15 AM
Hey, I've finally gotten around to putting up a U2charist resources page, where there's info about how the U2charist started, a U2charist FAQ, and a growing collection of prayers, playlists, collected wisdom, and other resources for folks interested in hosting a U2charist. Do you have Catie Greene's info? I'd love to include as much as possible of the liturgy from the service y'all held -- and please spread the word about the resources page; I want to include tons of resources from across the full creativity of the church (and with full credit given to the creators, of course!).
Posted by: Sarah Dylan Breuer | Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 05:27 PM
What a beautiful service. I have read about several U2charist services here in Cleveland area and hope to attend one. As chair of Worship Committee in my own church, I really want to pursue this exciting service and the the causes it supports. Any additional info on content of slides, bibliographies, etc. would be very helpful since I am so new at this...
Thanks for your great work and for sharing it.
Posted by: Jim Ebbenga | Sunday, April 29, 2007 at 06:10 AM
I would like a copy on CD if you have it. Thanks and God Bless.
Tim
Ps. 97:9
Posted by: tim adair | Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 01:36 PM
Catie, I really like the wording of the "welcome" address at the beginning of your liturgy. I am working on a U2charist right now with youth in the Diocese of Northern Califiornia and was wondering if we could use that "welcome" language in our service bulletin.
Posted by: Alex | Thursday, November 02, 2006 at 03:09 PM
If the central belief of the Episcopal Church is resurrection, isn't it more ironic to care about death?
Posted by: | Friday, October 27, 2006 at 12:52 PM
Thanks for sharing this! I've been hearing about the U2Charist for a while, and I'm excited to see all of this melded together in this fashion.
Posted by: Gina | Monday, August 14, 2006 at 07:43 AM
Am I missing something? Can I see the images somewhere?
Posted by: Worshipful | Monday, April 24, 2006 at 03:12 PM
Really well done. Sets the bar high for up-to-date music, worship, and experience in church -- a good thing! The scripture readings as antiphonal congregational readings with U2 verses read together was really effective, powerful. Volume could have been a notch lower -- but it wasn't too much (except for little ones).
Posted by: David | Friday, February 17, 2006 at 03:04 PM
i wish i could have experienced this.
Posted by: Nathan | Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 05:48 PM
Man I love that song. It speaks to my hear teverytime I hear it.
Posted by: Russ | Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 03:48 PM
Bob,
Any chance you could get a copy of the sermon?
That would be great...
Posted by: rick | Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 08:49 AM
Bob et al,
Thank you for your comments and your feedback. Sunday night was a great culmination of a wonderfully creative experience. Of course, I have my own criticisms, and I very much welcome feedback, because I will certainly step into this venue again. I love these holy "thin spaces"! One note on the outline of the U2charist - I drew upon several different texts and resources which are not cited on the outline. Much of my inspiration came from materials put together by Wild Goose Publishing, and I will endeavor to put together a proper bibliography for your own edification (and to prevent possible lawsuits).
Posted by: Catie Greene | Monday, February 13, 2006 at 11:23 PM
What a moving experience. The images selected by Amanda and Catie were both personal and global, painful and hopeful. Images that brought tears to my eyes were from Catie's immediate trip to the Gulf Coast after Katrina to offer love and compassion to her friend and pastor of, as well as the community of Long Beach, Missippi, and of recent and tragic terrorism. It reminded me that as bad as it gets, we can't forget to notice the love that abounds during even those awful times. While I've always felt that St. Marks in general, and Catie and Matt in particular have offered a warm, and inclusive welcome, it was even more palpable during the Eucharist. As we 200 familar and strangers)gathered around a small-ish space, as Ryan and co. provided the pulse of music, we were, indeed, all welcomed to feel God's love, and challenged to open our eyes, and live that love. Wow! How cool would it be to be able to worship like that all the time!!!
Posted by: | Monday, February 13, 2006 at 09:50 PM