It’s debatable how much of Bono’s persona can be attributed to rock star vanity or just a straight-up god complex, but the First United Methodist Church of Pensacola, FL is likely to give a boost to both of Mr. Vox’s flamboyant tendencies. In addition to their regular Sunday church services, the First United is offering two worship services featuring U2’s music and lyrics, and wait till you hear the name: the U2charist.
Pensacola News Journal’s Rebecca Ross reports the U2charist will include “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “With or Without You,” “One,” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Also, “Beautiful Day” is slated to be the opening number for each worship service.
“U2’s music is so deeply spiritual that I think the corporate worship setting is the perfect place for it,” Rev. Geoffrey Lentz told the PNJ, adding later, “It’s exciting for the oldest Protestant church in Pensacola to have a cutting edge worship service.”
The combination of Holy Communion, sermons, and U2’s stadium anthems has already caught the public’s attention, not to mention a bit of celebrity worship/rubbernecking: “I thought Bono was playing here,” said a new church member.
I know it’s a bit presumptuous, but it seems to me that this is exactly the kind of thing Bono is looking for. Either way, Larry would have none of this crap.