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Dear St. John's Families,
"It was a beautiful day...don't let it get away."
Attached please find a few photos from our recent "U2charist" here at St. John's and a excerpts from an email Paige Blair just sent out today regarding an upcoming article in People magazine.
Many thanks to all who helped with this event, especially to Rob Ginn who created all of the programs and was tech support, to Keating Willcox for the sound system loan, Brookwood School for the loan of projectors and screens, George and the confirmation class for all of their help, Alyse Gause for taking photos during the service, to Annie Pates who gracefully read a difficult old testament scripture, to all of the prayer readers at the service and to Tad and Ann for their enthusiasm and support. And we are so grateful to Paige Blair for returning to St. John's and sharing her service with all of us, and for the help of all who came from St. George's with her to assist. And thank you to all of the folks who came to St. John's, young and old, parishioners and non-parishioners, U2 fans and those who had never heard of U2 before the service.
Together that evening, around 250 people came together to worship and learn about how One person can help eradicate extreme global poverty. In One evening the congregation gave over $3500 to Episcopal Relief and Development to help with that effort.
Thank you all for your support!
Kelly Zaval
Church School Coordinator
St. John's Episcopal Church
>From Paige Blair:
This week the U2 Eucharist will feature in People Magazine. It will be the People with Sandra Bullock on the cover (for which we can be grateful... ) and seems to be on grocery store shelves today, and convenience store shelves on Tuesday.
The journalist, Bethany Lye, spent the entire Sunday morning at St. George's, starting at 7:30, to get the full picture of our church and faith community, and came down with us to bring the service to St. John's in Beverly Farms. I've not seen the article yet, but have hopes that she (and her editors!) got the story right: that this is about spreading the Good News of Christ, and his call to us in the Millennium Development Goals-- and I gave Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation more than one name check-- fingers crossed that the editor didn't get too stingy with words.
The article may have our very first quote from Bono on our collective efforts in this service. I saw the quote on Bethany's Palm Pilot. What he said was something along the lines of, "Really? They're using our songs in church! Well that's great, so long as they hold onto the message."
And holding onto the Message, while passing the Message on-- it's what we're all about.
Our latest U2charist data (adding in the last couple of weeks), brings attendance around the world to over 9000, the offering close to $67 000. And, amazingly, our U2charist friends --churches who have contacted me for information--total more than 500!
Thank you to all of you for this ministry as members of the Body of Christ for whom Joy is a Eucharist with a dance floor!
Love and Peace,
Paige+
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has."
--Margaret Mead
Visit www.one.org and www.millenniumcampaign.org to learn what you can do to Make Poverty History.
www.e4gr.org Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation: Feel the Power of "What One Can Do."
www.NEIDEEP.blogspot.com Bringing Awareness of Extreme Poverty & the Millennium Development Goals to New Englanders
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