Please Turn to Hymn Number U2...

I remember the days when U2 albums were sold in Christian bookstores. It seems that a few churches have decided to reach out to the Gen X crowd by substituting U2's anthems in place of traditional fare:

Episcopal parishes from California to Maine are holding “U2 Eucharists” in an effort to make their services more attractive to young people interested in rock music and social activism.

At the Grace Episcopal Church in Providence, Rhode Island, the Reverend Robert Brooks welcomed worshippers and then added some unusual advice – he warned them to protect their hearing.

“If the sound’s an issue, we do have earplugs available,” he said.

Ushers handed out complementary ear plugs and fluorescent glow sticks for this communion service punctuated by the Irish band’s rock music.

Multicolour streamers flew over worshippers’ heads at this service. Children danced by the altar. Plasma-screen TVs illuminated the gothic sanctuary. Some people sang and clapped. A few looked puzzled.

.....

A similar U2 Eucharist in November proved popular at All Saints’ Church in Atlanta. Organiser Laurie Haynes Burlington said she and her husband planned on 300 worshippers. About 500 showed up.

“We totally ran out of bulletins,” she said.

I feel so bad for the children's choir that gets booed off the altar so that the headliner will start.