When the Rev. Jim Quigley, Christ Episcopal Church associate rector, saw a U2-charist at the Episcopal Church’s general convention, he immediately wanted to bring one here.

So he did.

A collaboration between Broadway United Methodist and Christ Episcopal churches and youth arts initiative Kaleidoscope is bringing the fusion of rock and religion to Christ Episcopal on Sunday. The end result – the U2 Eucharist, or U2-charist for short.

&#8220A Eucharist is our communion service,” Quigley said. &#8220So we’re doing a traditional service with U2’s lyrics, so it’s fresh and relevant to people.”

Starting with a slide show projected on two walls, a drum line plays as tie-dyed signs with slogans like &#8220Make Poverty History” and &#8220Righteous Peace” are posted at the four corners of the stage.

Singing, rapping and stepping to U2’s music, more than 25 youth – grades six through 12th – will participate in the service, Quigley said.

&#8220Some turned in the art pieces as homework, and one child got extra credit for a poem he wrote on poverty,” Quigley said. &#8220This is an interesting collaboration. We have kids that have hung out and created art and a synergy that normally wouldn’t have happened if they didn’t come together here.

&#8220And you can see the energy in the room. This is going to be an interesting service.”

Those involved said that other than the minor glitches that come along with a first run, Sunday’s service will be solid.

&#8220I’m having fun, but it’s not just about that. It’s about having fun and being focused,” said Warren High School junior Marcus Pratter, 17. &#8220We’re trying to come one step closer to a better tomorrow, and it seems like every one here is psyched to do this.”

Western Kentucky University political science major Jennifer Willis, a 19-year-old Cynthiana native, said she had heard of U2’s lead singer Bono’s One Campaign – to end global poverty and AIDS – but not a U2-charist.

&#8220It’s definitely different than the normal Sunday service,” said Willis, who will play drums on one of the songs. &#8220It’s for a good cause, and it’ll be really good if everything comes together like it’s supposed to.”

U2 Eucharists were started by the Rev. Paige Blair, an Episcopal priest in York Harbor, Maine, in 2005. Since then, Episcopal churches across the country have been using the Irish rock band’s music to get across a message of eradicating radical poverty by 2015 – a priority of the Episcopal Church’s general convention.

&#8220At the national church’s general convention in 2006, meeting the Millennium Development Goals was made a budget priority,” Quigley said. &#8220The national church committed to give 0.7 percent of its total budget toward eradicating poverty. And the rock band U2 are big supporters of the millennium goals.”

The eight goals are: protecting the environment; improving maternal health; reducing child mortality; improving child education; promoting gender equality; creating global partnerships; eradicating global poverty; and combating HIV/AIDS.

&#8220This service is about both raising awareness on ending poverty and raising as much money as we can,” Quigley said.

All proceeds collected Sunday, along with that collected from the weekend’s silent art auction, will go to the Hunger Project, a global, strategic organization committed to the sustainable end of world hunger.

Quigley said he is enraged by the fact that every three seconds, a child dies from extreme poverty.

&#8220We’re not just trying to make people aware there is poverty,” he said. &#8220We’re saying this is a problem that can be fixed, and God has called us to do so.”

Ultimately, Quigley said, he hopes the service will inspire people to join the One Campaign.

&#8220If every adult is inspired Sunday to give 0.7 percent every year, that would be more important to me than a sermon,” he said.

A silent auction of works by regional artists is from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Christ Episcopal Church, with an artist reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. that day and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the gathering area.

The U2 Eucharist is at 6 p.m. in the church’s parish hall.