A high-tech Mass with laughs, too

It wasn't a particularly large audience at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Naperville for Christmas Day Mass. Yet, the Rev. Mark Borgetti wasn't going to let even that fool him.

Borgetti knows that in a typical week, his church sees about 1,500 visitors. Through seven Christmas worship services the past two days, the church saw about 3,000 visitors.

"Some of you kids may have been dragged here unwillingly," Borgetti joked to the numerous toddlers in the pews. "I feel your pain."

Indeed, acknowledgment of the Christmas religious blitz was in full effect as a high-tech Mass provided entertainment as well as spirituality Tuesday.

Borgetti used a projection screen on the wall at the front of the church and a flat-screen television hung on the wall in the rear to reach out to the audience.

The screens fed the audience the words to fuel a session of in-church caroling. "Joy to the World," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and "The First Noel" were among several traditional Christmas songs sung.

But in a twist, the screens also showed a music-video version of the saga of the Immaculate Conception of Jesus Christ and his birth as the lights dimmed over the pews.

The screens also functioned as comedic prompters for Borgetti's homily. It began with a multiple-choice Christmas quiz for the audience to take. Questions included what the gift is on the 10th of the 12 Days of Christmas (10 Lords-a-Leaping), and who helps Santa make the toys (Nintendo -- which is now run by Santa's elves).

Humor aside, Borgetti encouraged the audience to learn who Jesus is first by learning his names. Those include "Wonderful Counselor," "Prince of Peace" and "Emmanuel," which Borgetti said means "God is with us."

"When life gets really messy, just remember that last one," Borgetti said.