Come and celebrate faith in action

Events include a Christian social action and services exhibition, a full outdoor entertainment programme at the Forum and on Millennium Plain in Norwich, plus a new youth event, theatre workshops and performances in schools, prisons and on the street, café church and a closing celebration service.

The flagship two-day exhibition will fill the Atrium at the Forum and all of Millennium Plain with activities and displays from around 30 different local and national Christian organisations and projects from 9am to 5pm on Friday June 8 and Saturday June 9.

Included will be YMCA Norfolk, Belsey Bridge Conference Centre, Norfolk Street Partnership, United Christian Broadcasters, Christian Concern, OMF UK, Christian Aid, Norwich foodbank, Quiet Waters, All Hallows, Compassion UK, Wispire, Eckling Grange and Felton Fundraisers among others.

Choirs, bands, musicians, street entertainers, theatre, dancers and artists will come together for a two-day display of colour and creativity on Millennium Plain in a rolling programme which will run through Friday June 8 and Saturday June 9, hosted by deputy town crier Bob Lloyd. The Revd Chris Duffett, president of the Baptist Union, will also be doing some street art and escapology

The main event starts at 9am on the Friday on Millennium Plain with a short Opening Service outside the Forum with guest speaker John Drake, former YMCA Norfolk chief executive and Sheriff of Norwich. The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Ralph Gayton, will be in attendance.

On Saturday, national Christian media charity, United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) is hosting a breakfast event from 8.30-10am in the Curve auditorium inside the Forum for church, community and business leaders on 'reaching and supporting our community'.

Celebrate has brought the acclaimed Christian Riding Lights' Roughshod theatre company to Norfolk for two full weeks to perform and engage in schools, prisons and churches as well as at Celebrate itself and the Celebrate Youth Event.

An exciting line-up of top class Christian music, dance and theatre, headlined by The Chip Kendall Band, has been brought together for the new Youth Event from 7pm on Saturday June 9.

The event, at Norwich Central Baptist Church will also feature Christian DJ Galactus Jack, rappers Tall Black Guy, Norfolk band Brokenfor, ENYP's Dance off! Crew and Roughshod Theatre Company.

Other partner events include a Norwich Churches History walk with church historian Dr Nicholas Groves, from in front of the Forum at 2pm on Saturday.

Celebrate project director, John Betts, said: "We want to celebrate everything that is good about Norwich and Norfolk and the many different expressions of its Christian community - its music, social action, outreach, unity, faith, prayer, culture, youth, drama and debate.

"We want to see Norwich city centre filled with people, finding out about what the Church is doing in social action and experiencing the Good News in culturally relevant ways."

On Sunday June 10, Celebrate will finish off with a closing Celebration service in the adjacent St Peter Mancroft church from 3-4.30pm led by project director John Betts with Transforming Norwich Chair, The Revd Madeline Light speaking, plus stories from
Celebrate and the Norwich Vineyard worship band.