MOVIES : HOLLYWOOD HYMNAL : It’s Getting Hard to Draw the Line Between Church and Entertainment

Forget the hymnal. They’re singing songs from “Sister Act” in church--and it’s no act, sister.

The Walt Disney Co. has received requests from church choirs for the music to the movie’s reworked ‘60s songs--in which “My Guy” becomes “My God” and “I Will Follow Him” means Jesus. Last Sunday, the Hollywood United Methodist Church choir belted out the songs to a “rousing” reception from the congregation, said Pastor Ignacio Castuera.

“The difference is that in our case, it was worship, not entertainment,” he said. Even so, Castuera said there’ll be encore presentations in the near future. “Church doesn’t have to be boring. We want it to be exciting.”

Disney’s also received hundreds of unsolicited notes from nuns thanking it for making “Sister Act,” the PG-rated comedy that stars Whoopi Goldberg as a lounge singer who escapes from the mob by hiding out in a convent, where she takes over as choirmistress. The movie has grossed $67 million in five weeks.

The studio held special screenings for nuns here and in New York prior to the film’s opening and, as it turns out, it couldn’t have asked for a better network. Imagine a parent hearing a recommendation for a movie from someone in the holy orders. Or millions of Catholic school kids being told by their most reverend teachers they shouldn’t miss “Sister Act.”

Some excerpts from the spiritual thank-you’s:

* “It was a tremendous thing to do on your part, because we ‘penguins’ go on from day to day, trying our best, but hardly ever even receiving a whispered ‘thank you.’ . . . Someday when you meet St. Peter at the ‘big door’ and if he says anything to you, just say, ‘I’m the one who made a whole lot of your “penguins” happy that night in May in 1992.’ ”

--St. George Academy, Manhattan

* “For such an achievement today when bashing Catholics, the Church, sisters, priests and bishops is so prevalent, it’s refreshing to see a film like ‘Sister Act.’ It also proves that a film can be funny, very entertaining and teach a moral lesson without resorting to humankind’s basest instincts.”

--Marymount School, Manhattan

“We all had a good laugh and believe me the free popcorn and soda was a surprise. . . . May the good Lord bless you and your dear ones (all of you) with health and happiness and grant you success in all your endeavors.”

--Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Manhattan

* “What a delight--super cast, warmhearted story, funny dialogue and hand-clapping music! Many thanks for a most enjoyable evening, which I hope to repeat, at least on video if not sooner. Good luck at the box office!”

--Unidentified Los Angeles convent

* “We all hope (“Sister Act”) will be a huge financial success (and are spreading the word!) so that other movies of acceptable standards will be produced. God bless you!”

--Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet, Los Angeles