The congregation of St. Francis Episcopal Church has a reputation to maintain.
"In Grayling, we're known for lending a helping hand," said their pastor, Rev. Elizabeth Chace.
Even though Sunday services normally include about 37 worshippers, the congregation doesn't hesitate to extend its outreach to the community and beyond. Locally, the church provides space for Grace Center, a community counseling agency. The congregation also maintains a supply of clothing and household goods for those in need.
Chace says that the church doesn't have a lot of money, but that doesn't stop the small congregation from wanting to make an impact on the world.
In response to the national Episcopal Church's Make Poverty History initiative, St. Francis plans to offer a special U2 Eucharist, featuring music by the Irish Rock band U2, at 4:30 p.m. March 8 at the church, 6441 M-72 West.
The special U2 Eucharists, or communion services, were first held in Baltimore in 2004, and the format quickly spread over the Internet.
Whether using recorded music, like St. Francis plans to do, or using performances by live bands, the Eucharists have gained international attention for their innovative use of the band's biblical lyrics and social justice messages intended to get parishioners up off their knees and doing something for their fellow man.
U2 has permitted the Episcopal Church and others to use its music provided it's for worship services with offerings earmarked for fighting the band's cause of reducing poverty and fighting AIDS.
Chace says proceeds from the March 8 Eucharist will benefit Episcopal Relief and Development, which is engaged in realizing Millennium Development Goals to fight world poverty that were established during the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000.
Suggested worship formats that are available on the Web offer U2's songs "Alleluia, and "Pride (In the Name of Love)" as preludes to worship and the song "Mysterious Ways" for an opening hymn. Other U2 songs considered appropriate for the special worship are "Elevation," "Yahweh" and "Beautiful Day." Chace says that even though the focus is local, each Episcopal congregation is encouraged to participate at a world-wide level.
"Our parish wants to be part of the mission to partner with folks to overcome poverty both here in Crawford County and around the world." She said that the congregation may be small in number, but many of the members already work all week at jobs such as teachers, counselors and court advocates -- jobs that have a positive impact on the county's population.
"Because we're a part of this (Episcopal) body, giving money would be the easiest thing to do, but our Lenten study is on what it means to be helping like this -- taking an active role," she said. "We may not have a lot of money to give, but we're using their hearts and hands all week long, and we're touching many lives."
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