'May the divine force be with you'

A protestant church in Berlin's Mitte district drew parallels between the nature of good and evil in the blockbuster series "Star Wars" and Christianity in a special service aimed at attracting young people.

The Sunday service drew around 500 people, many of who brandished toy lightsabers and dressed up as characters from the science fiction series, including Chewbacca.

"We were very happy to see so many people in the church today," said pastor-in-training Lucas Ludewig, according to DPA news agency.

"It's great that there are subjects that people are interested in. They trust us to make them part of the church service without making it too Christian or too 'Star Wars,' but to find a good compromise," Ludewig added after the service.

The service was reportedly based on the Bible passage Romans 12:21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

"'Star Wars' picks up religious images, including Christian images and maybe some from other religions," the 30-year-old pastor noted.

"In doing so, it shows that the Bible and the church are part of our culture that keeps being reworked and reinterpreted," said Ludewig.

The service came at a time when churches in Germany are struggling to sustain attendance, membership and donations.

"Stars Wars: The Force Awakens" - the latest installment in the series - was released in theaters across the globe last week, and is set to break box-office records.

ls/jlw (AP, AFP, dpa)