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The Reverend preaches: “It’s not easy for Americans to slow down their consumption. No, it ain’t! We’ve got to help each other out. Give each other the power. Yes we do! To back away from the product. To turn. To escape the big box. The hypnosis of corporate greed! Amen, hallelujah.”

And the choir sings: “Eartha-lu, Eartha-lu, Eartha-lu-jah! Eartha-lu, Eartha-lu, Eartha-lu-jah!”

“This force is inside each of us,” the Reverend continues. “It’s in the air. It’s coming through the floorboards. Earthalujah. Yeah, yes, amen. Give us the power today to. Stop! Shopping!”

This is Sunday evening in Reverend Billy Talen’s Church of Earthalujah, a “neo-pagan gospel experiment,” a “radical Earth worship show” that’s developed from the performance artist’s anti-consumerism crusade known as the Church of Life After Shopping. Adopting the persona of an evangelical preacher, and surrounded by a lively green-robed choir 35 voices strong, Reverend Billy blends religion, comedy, music, and politics every week at Theatre 80 in New York City’s East Village.

After her first visit on a recent Sunday, Linda Novenski, a childcare provider in her 60s, was inspired to action. “When I went to the performance-slash-service, it just connected with everything I’ve been focused on for so long,” she said. “It’s like finding a home, a like-minded bunch of people.”