The debut U2charist in Pensacola took place August 23rd at First Methodist. The U.S. Episcopal Church first developed the U2charist in 2003, and the service was first conducted in in April 2004. The celebration of U2’s music has since since spread worldwide, arriving in Pensacola last weekend. “It’s definitely something different,” First United’s Rev. Geoffrey Lentz told the Pensacola News Journal. “But U2’s music is so deeply spiritual that I think the corporate worship setting is the perfect place for it. It’s exciting for the oldest Protestant church in Pensacola to have a cutting edge worship service.” Lentz added that the U2charist appeals to a younger audience, and an average of 200 people attend the Sunday service.
Churches who hold the U2charist do not have to pay licensing fees for using U2’s music on the condition that the church donates any money raised by the service to charities benefiting the Millennium Development Goals, to which Bono is an ambassador. After completing the European leg of their 360° Tour, U2 will take inspirational songs and the church of “the spaceship” overseas for a North American tour that kicks off September 12th in Chicago.
Books
This revised version of Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 picks up where the first edition left off—amid the cathartic atmosphere of the post-9/11 Elevation tour that ushered in the aggressive spirituality of 2005’s Vertigo tour. It explores the controversy surrounding the deep-rooted religious themes of the band’s music and the outspokenness of their lead singer, Bono. Moreover, it is a spiritual companion to their albums, exposing the real meaning behind many of their songs and performances.
Lyrics -
"The heart is a bloom/shoots up through the stony ground" -- Isaiah 52:3: "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground." (submitted by Andrew)
"See the bird with the leaf in her mouth" -- Genesis 8:10-11: "[Noah] waited seven days more and again sent the dove out from the ark. In the evening the dove came back to him, and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf! So Noah knew that the waters had lessened on the earth."
"After the flood all the colours came out" -- Genesis 9:12-13: "God added: 'This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.'"
"I am not afraid of anything in this world -- Luke 12:4: "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more."
"A place that has to be believed to be seen" -- John 11:40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (submitted by Rev. Beth)
"Home - I can't say where it is, but I know I'm going" -- John 14: 4-6 Jesus said, "You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way." (submitted by Rev. Beth)
"In a little while, I won't be blown by every breeze..." -- Ephesians 4:14 Then, we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of doctrine. (submitted by Rev. Beth)
"You were my shelter and my shade" -- Isaiah 25:4 "You have been... a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat." (submitted by Rev. Beth)
"She carries a pearl in perfect condition" -- Matt 13:45-46 "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." (submitted by Rev. Beth)
"What left a mark no longer stains" -- Not a quote, but a pretty clear allusion to Isaiah 1:18 "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." (submitted by Rev. Beth)
U2 has hidden an incredibly cryptic reference to a biblical passage on the cover of their album, "All That You Can't Leave Behind". What you need to do to view the message is look at the cover. On the cover, there's the four members of U2 standing around. In the background, on the left, on the ceiling of the place they are standing is a sign saying "J33-3". U2 altered the photo to say this. What it is is a coded reference to the book of Jeremiah, Chapter 33, verse 3. The passage reads, "'Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things which you have not known.'