More and more, churches are turning to gimmicks to draw worshippers. Since popular culture sometimes seems to have a larger following than Christianity these days, the gods of pop culture are pressed into service to entertain Christians bored with Christ. You may have heard, for example, of a Protestant church that organized a "Harry Potter service." Harry Potter may yet make a comeback when the new book is released on July 16, but, in the meantime, behold the "Star Wars service":
"A long time ago in a church, far, far away, [an Anglican] vicar and his flock sang their final hymn to the theme tune of the Star Wars saga. Well, not that long ago, or far away, really. Last week, in fact, in West Yorkshire, a parish church held a special service to mark the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
"It seems that in an increasingly secular Britain, vicars are turning to the Force to keep church attendance figures high, and to attract that crucial youth market.
"Reverend Paul Walker explained that the service was inspired by the children of the Parish, who explored the ideas in the film in their catechism class, The BBC reports.
"Walker said that the service covered the ideas of good and evil, resisting the temptation of the ‘dark side’, and what it means to have the force of God in your life. ‘We wanted a special service to bring these themes together and celebrate the victory of good over evil,’ he added."
Please note the Reverend Walker’s comment, "We wanted a special service to bring these themes together and celebrate the victory of good over evil." Uh huh. Because the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ fails so miserably at accomplishing that, you know. After all, when a feature-length film was made in the United States last year that depicted the last twelve hours of Christ’s life, did anyone bother to go see it?
Well, it’s better than a clown mass.
Here’s another report on the Star Wars service:
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1067112
Jesus is the force!
The vicar also says:
“I’ve done two or three or more of these services – the gospel according to Shrek for instance, to show that beauty is only skin deep, and on the Simpsons.”
Priest
“May the force be with you.”
Parish
“And also with you.”
Last Christmas eve we attended Mass at my mother’s service and got an entire homily devoted to SpongeBob Square Pants….*sigh*
+J.M.J+
>>>A long time ago in a church, far, far away, [an Anglican] vicar and his flock sang their final hymn to the theme tune of the Star Wars saga
Oh no. Tell me he didn’t do that. 😛
This brings two things to mind. First, Bill Murray’s smarmy lounge-singer character on classic SNL, singing a cheesy song to the tune of _Star Wars_. Second, a scene at the end of the equally cheesy Star Wars Christmas Special from 1978, where Princess Leia (played by Carrie Fischer) sang a song to the same tune, which also came off pretty hokey.
The moral of the story: Don’t put words to the Star Wars theme!
In Jesu et Maria,
+J.M.J+
Wow, the internet is really something. I found an MP3 of Bill Murray’s “Star Wars” song:
http://www.blueharvest.net/sound/songs/snl-bill_murray.mp3
And the words to Princess Leia’s cheesy song in the Christmas Special:
We celebrate a day of peace. A day of harmony. A day of joy we can all share together joyously. A day that takes us through the darkness. A day that leads us into might. A day that makes us want to celebrate the light. A day that brings the promise that one day, we’ll be free to live, to laugh, to dream, to grow, to trust, to love, to be.
(From http://www.starwarsholidayspecial.com/text/swhs-transcript.txt)
Come to think of it, the latter is so bad it sounds a lot like a typical OCP/Marty Haugen church tune. Hmmm, I wonder if the vicar used this one…?
In Jesu et Maria,
Yeah… they act like all that stuff ISNT in the bible and in the faith… that we need some sort of man-made mythology to connect to. I think it’s because we can make the man-made mythology work FOR us. The christian template asks us to do something FOR the christian the faith… something TO come to understanding, something TO come closer and connect to God, and to change ourselves to fit God’s existing image of us, instead of changing God to fit our image of God (knights with light swords versus on your knees with beeds in your hand).
“…the ideas of good and evil, resisting the temptation of the ‘dark side’…celebrate the victory of good over evil,’ he added.”
I’m surprised someone at the Anglican church would say this. Don’t they realise that choosing the dark side is just as valid a lifestyle choice as any other? After all, “many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view.” Aren’t they being descriminatory and oppressing those with a sith-orientation? I think I might protest this by standing in church wearing a black hooded cloak and by having glowing yellow eyes.
Rosemarie-
Thanks for the link to the legendary Bill Murray sketch… every bit as cheesy (and still as funny)as I remembered.