Fans have worshipped the singer in the past, but not like this. In a trend that is sweeping the United States, U2 lyrics are now being used in church sermons, and U2 songs are replacing traditional chants.

Entire religious services are being dedicated to the message of U2. They call them U2charists.

It's estimated that there are up to 40 Episcopal churches in the States now using U2 as part of the liturgy. The movement has been spontaneous and uncoordinated. Indeed, it is only in recent months that individual churches have discovered that other parishes have adopted the same idea as themselves.

To many, it may seem an unlikely path for any church to take, but according to Reverend Michael A Smith of Christ the King Episcopal Church in Arizona, it's just been waiting to happen. He's known about U2's religious connotations since the last century.

"It was back in 2000 when I heard the album All That You Can't Leave Behind, he said.

"Then I realised that many of the lyrics were unambiguously theological. So I started looking for God in other U2 lyrics.

Soon after that, I began using U2 songs at youth retreats."

However, it was only last year that Smith came up with the idea of using the band's songs in official church sermons. "We were having a discussion in the parish about what we could do to bridge the gap for people who had no experience of the church, and we had the idea to start using U2, " he said.

August last year saw the first U2charist taking place in Christ the King Church. Smith employed a full band to perform the songs . . . a drummer, two guitarists, a keyboard player, and two singers. "If you're going to sing U2, you at least have to do it justice, so we had to have the full complement of musicians, " he said.

To the reverend's gratification, the parish embraced the concept with open arms.

"Obviously, it's not for everyone, " Smith said. "Some people found it too loud. But I have one 83-year-old parishioner who absolutely loves the service, and there are a lot of teenagers who wouldn't be that familiar with U2, but are still finding it easier to relate to than other services."

Buoyed on the tide of success, Smith began trawling through every one of U2's songs, and categorising them according to their theological significance. They are now in a binder in his office, listed under themes such as hope, beauty, death and love.

Some songs which he believes have a deeply religious context are 'Grace', 'Forty', 'One', 'Kite', and 'Beautiful Day'.

"I think Bono is a prophetic voice, " he said. "He gives people who are not familiar with the church a way to begin a conversation with God. Our U2 sermons have led to many first-timers coming to the services. It really has been a great success. We're hoping to soon be able to extend it to a weekly service, because of the demand."

In recent months, Smith became aware that his was not the only Episopal church using U2 as part of the service, although, as he points out, his is the only parish that currently offers live performances of the songs.

In fact, according to Raewynne Whiteley, author of Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog, the practice of seeking God in U2 is not even confined to the Episcopal church. "It's spread to pretty much every denomination, including Roman Catholics, " she said. "It really is an exciting way to get people thinking about faith."

But despite the growing popularity of U2charists, Smith says that many sceptics remain. "I remember once hearing on the radio that a theological college in Vermont was offering a course on the lyrics of U2, and one of my colleagues scoffed at the thought of it. But I just chuckled at her ignorance. I was surprised that she had no idea that there was a deep religious context in U2's lyrics. It couldn't be more explicit."

GRACE

She takes the blame She covers the shame Removes the stain It could be her name Grace: It's a name for a girl It's also a thought that Changed the world And when she walks on the street You can hear the strings Grace "nds goodness In everything Grace: She's got the walk Not on a wrapper on chalk She's got the time to talk She travels outside Of karma, karma She travels outside of karma When she goes to work You can hear the strings Grace "nds beauty in everything She carries a world on her hips No champagne "ute for her lips No twirls or skips Between her "ngertips She carries a pearl In perfect condition What once was hers What once was friction What left a mark no longer stains Because grace makes beauty Out of ugly things Grace "nds beauty in everything