Last Sunday several hundred Christians prayed their way into the City Centre for a massive Hope08 Pentecost celebration. The sun was blazing, coloured flags were flying and many voices were rising in the grounds of St Philips Cathedral. Reminiscent of the first Pentecost described in Acts 2, it was inspiring to see that Christians in Birmingham from such a variety of church traditions and ethnic backgrounds had ‘gathered together in one place’, raising their voices to God in worship and prayer. I chatted with some sisters from the community of Saint Francis. One observed: “What’s important about today here is Christians coming together from all over Birmingham and all sorts of traditions worshipping together.”
We were reminded by one woman who gave her testimony that Jesus speaks Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. The Jesus who changes lives is for all nations, all tribes, all tongues. And this wasn’t just an event happening in Birmingham – many other Christians around the world got together on the same day as part of a Global Day of Prayer. Throughout the afternoon, we worshipped God through song, heard stories of hope and prayed for the City. Speakers included Bishop David Urquhart and Archbishop Vincent Nichols and we were treated to the great singing and musical talent of Just Related, Academy Gospel Music (Choir), and the New Jerusalem Band.
I asked Bishop David Urquhart what the event was all about and what his hope was for Birmingham:
“Today was about celebrating the Holy Spirit and the people of Birmingham who believe in Jesus coming from all parts of the City – some of them walking, some by canal boat, some by bus, some by car, so that we can be in St Phillips cathedral gardens in order to worship God but also to acknowledge that we need his help for our own lives and … moving in the City.”
“My hope is that everyone across Birmingham and the region will encounter Jesus and make up their minds for themselves about him. That encounter will happen in a thousand different ways - it might be a word but more often it’s the actions of Christians - signs of love – whether it’s helping a neighbour, speaking out at a public meeting, just doing something unexpected to help someone and they’ll enquire ‘why are you doing this?’ and people will answer ‘It’s because I love Jesus and Jesus loves you’.”
Vincent Nicholls spoke to the crowd about the Holy Spirit. He gave us an analogy – the Holy Spirit is like rain – it falls on potato fields and produces potatoes, it falls in the rose garden and produces roses, it falls in the wheat field and produces wheat. In the same way, the Holy Spirit falls on us and we each respond in our own way – we are not all of the same kind of crop, but together we make a harvest for the Lord. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in this City and throughout the world.
The event closed with the Hope08 Declaration:
With God’s help:
I affirm that in 2008, I intend to bring:
Harmony in place of discord
Opportunities out of challenges
Praise instead of criticism
Encouragement to replace despair.
We affirm that in our Church, 2008 will be a year of:
Holiness and wholeness
One purpose for many people
Prayer that leads to action
Everyone finding a place to belong.
We pray that for our community, 2008 will be a
year of:
Healing for those who are broken
Order where there is chaos
Protection for the vulnerable
Enterprise for all.
We pray for our nation, that 2008 will be a year of:
Health of body mind and spirit
Open-hearted attitudes
Passion for justice and mercy
Expectations and visions fulfilled.
We pray that The God of all Hope will give us
the faith and courage to live lives that will
release HOPE this year.
I make this declaration and pray this prayer in
the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.
Amen.