|PIC1|Christians from around the country are being invited to join a massive weekend party across Central London on 9-11 May 2008 - the Pentecost Festival.

Free events and high impact performances will fill hundreds of venues - coffee shops, parks, pubs, streets, boats, churches, clubs, hotels, halls, restaurants, theatres, and shops - near 10 Northern Line Tube stations, from Camden Town to Waterloo.

As a key partner at the Pentecost Festival, Bible Society will host one of the showcase events, Luv Esther.

Luv Esther is a stage musical hit pop-opera, with a full professional cast and pioneering soundtrack, which brings the Bible story of Esther to life.

It unlocks some of the Bible's key messages, and sets out to build, inform and energize Christians as a community of activists. Called for such a time as this, we too have a purpose to reach out with compassion for the poor, broken and lost throughout the world.

Luv Esther features Tony Award nominated record producer Kevan Frost, (West End & Broadway), scriptwriter and director Murray Watts, (The Miracle Maker) and stage set designer Sean Cavanagh, (Joseph and The Rat Pack) - a complete pedigree that makes Luv Esther the musical extravaganza unlike any other.

Bible Society is also hoping to help people encounter God and the Bible in a fresh and vibrant new way by hosting a lyfe reception. This simple but effective idea is based on the radical concept that, through Christ, anyone can hear God speak.

lyfe is about meeting with your friends in a coffee shop to discuss big questions. It's about discovering what God has to say about our everyday world. It's about encountering the Bible with your heart and mind, in a vital way.
Meanwhile, Bible Society will also be raising the curtain on its new national film festival, BigStoryLittleFilm.

New filmmakers, students and any one with a video camera will be invited to make their own short film based on a Bible theme or story - which will be judged by some high profile experts, and which could win them a cash prize!

Pentecost is part of Hope 08 - a year of mission across the Church. Hope 08 is an ambitious project to mobilise churches across the UK to 'do more, do it together and do it in word and action'. It's about churches joining forces to serve and witness to their communities, and major Christian organisations are working to build momentum behind the campaign.

Bible Society is involved to continue its campaigning work in the public square, on the back of high profile campaigns in Nottingham, Bristol and last year in Greater Manchester. The aim is to open dialogue with communities and individuals as they engage with the Bible in surprising or unusual ways.

All this is part of Bible Society's mission to make the Bible heard in our culture. The Bible may be available on tap in this country - but people no longer understand its value, significance or relevance to their lives.

Rob Cotton, Bible Society's senior campaign manager, said, "We call this Bible poverty - and Bible Society exists to fight Bible poverty. We want to challenge perceptions about the Bible. We want its message to be known, loved and understood everywhere.

"So we approach our work with energy, creativity and innovation. Bible Society links with those in arts, education, politics and the media to allow the Bible to connect with the fabric of everyday life. We're making Scripture accessible where there is none, and we're working with the Church to help it live out the Bible's message in its daily life and witness."

The performances of Luv Esther will be held at The Shaw Theatre, Euston Road, London, on Friday 9 May, 7.30 pm and Saturday 10 May, 2.30 pm and 7.30 pm.

Don't miss out! Visit www.pentecostfestival.co.uk now to book your tickets and find out more about all the exciting events happening during the festival weekend.

Rob added, 'We look forward to seeing you there. Bring your family, friends and colleagues to join the fun and find out more about our work to put the Bible back in the public square.'