July 28, 2015

Let it be, Eleanor Rigby

There’s tradition, Episcopal style, and then there’s rock royalty. A congregation in the heart of Kentucky decided to marry the two for a good cause.

When the local food pantry needed help, the folks at St. John’s, Versailles, got creative. They held a Beatles-themed Eucharist, with the offering earmarked for the pantry. Instead of hymns, the congregation sang Beatles songs, some of which were tweaked slightly to be more faith-focused.

Before we move too far, let me offer an important caveat: I’m not a fan of gimmicky worship. Our tradition is rich and broad, and I don’t think we need to “spruce it up” with the latest and greatest. But for me, there are some important exceptions. I still get goose bumps when I think of my first U2charist. The merging of my tradition with some of U2’s soul-stirring songs moved me deeply. When Michael Curry, then a priest and now presiding-bishop elect of The Episcopal Church, took to the pulpit, my heart was laid open, primed by music that had fed a searching teen.

I wouldn’t want a U2charist every Sunday but on the rare occasion, I’ve found the service to be a wonderful companion in my faith journey. I suspect the same would be true of a Beatles Eucharist. 

For me, the takeaway is not so much how talented people could elevate and incorporate the Beatles’ music into worship but rather how we should be actively seeking creative ways to serve. This transcends using pop music with communion. (Indeed, I think those should be rare occasions). 

How can we respond when we see need? How can we be a witness to our community, not just by opening our wallets (though that’s important too) but by opening our hearts, our churches, our lives so that others can see that meeting needs is really about meeting Jesus? 

The church raised a few thousand dollars for the food pantry, which will help many families over the course of the year. But their creativity also garnered the attention of local media, so the witness was not just to the people who attended the service but to anyone who opened the newspaper, saw the video on social media, or watched the local news. The willingness to try something new became an opportunity to witness and share the love of Jesus. 

As the Beatles said long ago, “When the broken-hearted people living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be…”

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