0:00:02 > 0:00:03Oh, hello.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05We're at a very special birthday party,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08and you've joined us just in time for the cake!
0:00:08 > 0:00:11ALL: Happy birthday!
0:00:11 > 0:00:12Yes, it's Pentecost Sunday,
0:00:12 > 0:00:16the day that Christians celebrate the birth of the Church.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19# Happy birthday to you...
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Far too many candles on this cake!
0:00:25 > 0:00:28This week, we're in Nottingham for some Pentecost praise.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32We find out what's attracting crowds to city centres,
0:00:32 > 0:00:33and the party continues
0:00:33 > 0:00:37with some lively Pentecost music led by Steve Thompson.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Pentecost is certainly a red-letter day for Christians
0:00:52 > 0:00:53here in the East Midlands,
0:00:53 > 0:00:56eager to mark one of the most important festivals
0:00:56 > 0:00:57in their calendar.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59People from all over Nottingham
0:00:59 > 0:01:02have come to St Nic's church in the heart of the city centre
0:01:02 > 0:01:05to celebrate Pentecost
0:01:05 > 0:01:07with worship leader Steve Thompson and his band.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10We begin our Pentecost fest with a well-known song
0:01:10 > 0:01:12written by a local lad
0:01:12 > 0:01:14who was also the founder of the Salvation Army -
0:01:14 > 0:01:16the one and only William Booth,
0:01:16 > 0:01:20O God of Burning, Cleansing Flame.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Pentecost, to me, is when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples
0:04:47 > 0:04:50to empower them and equip them to what they needed to do.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51Pentecost, for me,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54means that Christianity's not just religious actions that we go through
0:04:54 > 0:04:59but that God is really real, by the Holy Spirit he's really here.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03The moment of Pentecost and the consequence of it through the generations
0:05:03 > 0:05:06is real and active and living in my life today.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09In order to understand Pentecost,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13we need to go back to the very beginning, to the Bible.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16It was 50 days after Easter,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20and Jesus's disciples were gathered together in Jerusalem.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24As they were praying, the Holy Spirit descended on them.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28The disciples became elated, began to speak in different languages,
0:05:28 > 0:05:33and at that very moment, 3,000 people were converted.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38In Nottingham, we love Pentecost.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40We have prayer meetings with people
0:05:40 > 0:05:42from all sorts of different churches,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45praying for the revival of the Church
0:05:45 > 0:05:47but also that we will bring
0:05:47 > 0:05:50love and peace and harmony within the city of Nottingham.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54And it is because of the Holy Spirit being poured out at Pentecost.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57We're not individual Christians, we belong together as a family.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02When I think about where is God right now,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05I know that he is with me, as the Holy Spirit is with me right now.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08The Holy Spirit is somebody who's constantly with me.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10He's a companion, gives me advice on what to say
0:06:10 > 0:06:12when I don't really know what I'm doing.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15If you've got the Holy Spirit to talk to,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18you're getting the instincts, getting the knowledge of God,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21who created everything and knows everything.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26So what or who is the Holy Spirit?
0:06:29 > 0:06:32When Christians speak of God, we speak of God the Father,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35God the Son, the Lord Jesus,
0:06:35 > 0:06:37and God the Holy Spirit.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41But the whole purpose of the Holy Spirit is to point people
0:06:41 > 0:06:43to the Lord Jesus and to glorify him.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49This morning, you can see there's a gentle wind.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53I can't touch it, I can't feel it, but it's real.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55The Holy Spirit is just as real.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59You can't touch him, you can't feel him, but he's real.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02When I read my Bible and meet with Jesus there,
0:07:02 > 0:07:04that's the Holy Spirit helping me.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08When I join with other people in worship from all languages and nations,
0:07:08 > 0:07:09like the first Pentecost,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12it's the Holy Spirit welling up in my heart,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14helping me to worship Jesus.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30Modern worship songs have become a popular part of the Christian music scene,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33and music director Steve Thompson
0:10:33 > 0:10:36has been leading worship for many years.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39You're just encouraging people not just to sing songs
0:10:39 > 0:10:42but to use songs to worship.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Music is a wonderful, universal language,
0:10:47 > 0:10:52and it's amazing, you know - you can get a group of people together,
0:10:52 > 0:10:54you start playing a selection of music...
0:10:54 > 0:11:00# Once again I look upon the cross where you died... #
0:11:00 > 0:11:03..and it will affect each individual so differently.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07# ..mercy and I'm broken inside
0:11:07 > 0:11:10# Once again I thank you
0:11:10 > 0:11:14# Once again I pour out my life. #
0:11:18 > 0:11:20I just think music is just a beautiful gift
0:11:20 > 0:11:24that God has given this planet for our pleasure,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27for his pleasure - you can use music to worship.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29But it joins people together
0:11:29 > 0:11:30in a very, very special way.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38I believe everything that I do is because of my faith.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41And certainly leading worship, I am saying,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43"I know who I'm singing about."
0:11:43 > 0:11:47If you do not know Jesus, well, certainly by the end of the worship
0:11:47 > 0:11:50may you not only find him through the songs we're singing
0:11:50 > 0:11:51but who I am.
0:11:51 > 0:11:57# In Christ alone my hope is found... #
0:11:57 > 0:12:02I can sing the same song over and over again,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05and each time I sing the song,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I see a different aspect of the lyrics.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10And I believe the Holy Spirit helps us
0:12:10 > 0:12:13to see a little bit further than with the natural eye
0:12:13 > 0:12:18and very much inspires the way I lead worship.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Leading worship is not just the leading of the songs,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27it is really living a life of worship.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30And the Holy Spirit helps me to do that.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35I love those moments of worship where it becomes personal,
0:12:35 > 0:12:39the individual is communicating with God,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42God is communicating with the individual.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45The Christian Church has been growing
0:15:45 > 0:15:47since that first Pentecost
0:15:47 > 0:15:50and now numbers more than a billion around the world.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Here in Nottingham, a group of city-centre churches
0:15:53 > 0:15:56are finding that their contemporary style of worship
0:15:56 > 0:15:58is attracting bigger congregations.
0:15:58 > 0:16:04# Joyful music leads us sunward
0:16:04 > 0:16:07# In the triumph song... #
0:16:08 > 0:16:11'The gospel is the power of God and if we actually'
0:16:11 > 0:16:14believe the message and give people a sense of value
0:16:14 > 0:16:18and worth to their lives, then they are going to want to sign up.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Give them something they die for, they have something to live for.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25THEY SING
0:16:28 > 0:16:30'That is all at the core of why,'
0:16:30 > 0:16:33in any community - there are other cities, I'm sure, like Nottingham -
0:16:33 > 0:16:37but the favour of God does appear to be on a number of congregations.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42THEY SING
0:16:42 > 0:16:43'David, there seems to be'
0:16:43 > 0:16:47a great lot of action between the churches. What are you all doing?
0:16:47 > 0:16:50There is a lot of prayer, there is a lot of prayer for one another.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55THEY PRAY
0:16:55 > 0:16:57'I think, in the churches, there is a sense
0:16:57 > 0:16:59'where there is a grace come upon us'
0:16:59 > 0:17:03to touch people's lives. We are humbled by that.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07There is a definite commitment, in the different spiritualities
0:17:07 > 0:17:10to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as individuals
0:17:10 > 0:17:13and in us as communities, that we are going to help people.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17David's church is still growing and work
0:17:17 > 0:17:20has just started on a new, even bigger, building.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23And across town, another church is so popular
0:17:23 > 0:17:25it is meeting in a converted warehouse.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Trent Vineyard has gone from strength to strength
0:17:29 > 0:17:31since it was founded 15 years ago.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35It began with a congregation of just two and now has 2,000
0:17:35 > 0:17:40and rising, with about 1,500 people attending on a Sunday.
0:17:40 > 0:17:45Such is its popularity, it has even outgrown this enormous building.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56THEY SING
0:17:59 > 0:18:02And unusually for a church, they even have a bar,
0:18:02 > 0:18:07where people can relax and chill after a service. Cheers!
0:18:10 > 0:18:13'I think the Christian community owes it to the nation to say,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16"You may have been told that God isn't around anymore
0:18:16 > 0:18:18"and the Church is redundant.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21"People have said that for 2,000 years and we're still here."
0:18:24 > 0:18:26I'm trying to inspire a younger generation to say,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29"Look, the Gospel is as good as it was 2,000 years ago.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31"It has transformed the world.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35"There are hundreds of millions of Christians, living in faith,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38"to the ends of the Earth. The Gospel is penetrating the world
0:18:38 > 0:18:41"more than in any other generation."
0:18:45 > 0:18:49People in Britain and Europe need to believe in the Gospel again
0:18:49 > 0:18:51and let the Gospel advertise itself.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29In the early days, Christians didn't worship in church buildings,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32but at home, where they met to pray and discuss their faith.
0:22:32 > 0:22:362,000 years on, Johnny Kinch has rekindled the idea,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39but with a modern twist. He brings people together
0:22:39 > 0:22:41in their local coffee shops.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Ladies and gentlemen, there are two new
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Sunday Night Lives opening tonight!
0:22:46 > 0:22:48CHEERING
0:22:48 > 0:22:50# ..empty, if you had not filled me
0:22:50 > 0:22:54# You are where I begin... #
0:22:54 > 0:22:56'Sunday Night Live was about putting on an event
0:22:56 > 0:22:58'that would attract people in'
0:22:58 > 0:23:02out of a desire, out of an interest, to see fantastic music
0:23:02 > 0:23:05in a great coffee shop, because there is a massive cafe culture.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08# This is how you bring me round... #
0:23:08 > 0:23:10'It's for Christians'
0:23:10 > 0:23:15and non-Christians. It's to showcase the Church, in all of its greatness
0:23:15 > 0:23:18and all of its glory.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19APPLAUSE
0:23:19 > 0:23:21We're not here to preach, not here to teach,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24but what we want to do is inspire people to live better...
0:23:24 > 0:23:27'As Christians, it's lovely to actually'
0:23:27 > 0:23:32see something going on that is accessible to everybody.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35I'd like to find out a bit about Danny's faith.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37- You're a Christian, Danny?- Yep.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40'People come up and do their testimonies, say why they love God'
0:23:40 > 0:23:44and all that. Yeah, it's been really great. It's lovely here.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Get yourselves a coffee, get yourselves a drink.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Introduce yourself to somebody you don't know. Let's make new friends.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54'Live music, good coffee, just a nice chance just to chill.'
0:23:54 > 0:23:56What more could you want?
0:23:56 > 0:24:00We want communities to come together, to go away refreshed
0:24:00 > 0:24:01and encouraged and equipped...
0:24:04 > 0:24:07I came over to check everything was all right between you.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12Oh, a relationship counsellor as well as a doctor? You must be busy.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15Sunday Night Live is a change of direction for Johnny.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17On screen he was a successful actor,
0:24:17 > 0:24:21appearing in soaps and sitcoms, but in real life,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23the picture was very different.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32'I was absolutely aware that I had problems, but like most people,'
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I didn't want to own up to it. I was in denial.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40'I had an enormous hole that I was trying to fill with drugs, drink,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43gambling, relationships - whatever I could fill in there,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47to get satisfaction for a short period of time.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55One minute, there I was working on television in different programmes,
0:24:55 > 0:24:59the next minute, I'm walking into a hostel and I just wanted a bed.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02I was so low and they recognised me and yet, I was so embarrassed,
0:25:02 > 0:25:06I felt so distraught inside. They eventually gave me a bed
0:25:06 > 0:25:08and they couldn't believe I was asking for a bed.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12And so, that was a very, very difficult time.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15I now know you can't fill a spiritual hole with physical stuff.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20In essence, I challenged God - "I'll give you a certain amount
0:25:20 > 0:25:21"of time to change my life."
0:25:21 > 0:25:25I've got drug dealers after me. I owe this money, that money.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29I've got a drug problem myself, alcohol problem, gambling problem.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32I'm swearing, I'm fighting.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35I thought, "If you can make something out of that,
0:25:35 > 0:25:37"then all the best to you."
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Thousands of people across the UK...
0:25:39 > 0:25:40'Before I met God,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43'I denied Him, I denied everything that was good.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46'Now, I've met Him, now I've been empowered
0:25:46 > 0:25:48by the Holy Spirit, I'm quite happy to say,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52"Fantastic, look at what God can do with something
0:25:52 > 0:25:54"that was rubbish and turn it into something good."
0:26:00 > 0:26:05# In your presence there is fullness of life
0:26:06 > 0:26:12# And healing flowing for body, soul and mind
0:26:12 > 0:26:16# God of miracles
0:26:16 > 0:26:22# God of the impossible is here
0:26:24 > 0:26:29# God is here
0:26:31 > 0:26:34# God is here
0:26:34 > 0:26:38# Let the brokenhearted
0:26:38 > 0:26:43# Rejoice
0:26:44 > 0:26:48# God is here
0:26:48 > 0:26:50# Let the sick say
0:26:50 > 0:26:56# "I am well"
0:26:56 > 0:27:01# God is here
0:27:01 > 0:27:07# Let the weak say, "I am strong"
0:27:10 > 0:27:14# God is here
0:27:14 > 0:27:21# His wonders to perform
0:27:25 > 0:27:31# In your presence there is perfect peace
0:27:31 > 0:27:38# In the stillness I behold your deity
0:27:38 > 0:27:41# God of wonders
0:27:41 > 0:27:47# God of power is here
0:27:49 > 0:27:56# God, God is here
0:27:56 > 0:28:00# God is here
0:28:00 > 0:28:06# Let the brokenhearted rejoice
0:28:06 > 0:28:10# Lift up your head
0:28:10 > 0:28:14# God is here
0:28:14 > 0:28:16# Let the sick say
0:28:16 > 0:28:18# "I am well"
0:28:18 > 0:28:22# All sufficient One
0:28:22 > 0:28:27# God is here
0:28:27 > 0:28:32# Let the weak say, "I am strong"
0:28:32 > 0:28:36# Let the weak say, "I am strong"
0:28:36 > 0:28:39# God is here
0:28:39 > 0:28:45# His wonders to perform
0:28:45 > 0:28:48# Oh, His wonders
0:28:48 > 0:28:53# Yes, His wonders
0:28:53 > 0:28:58# His wonders to perform
0:28:58 > 0:29:01# Oh, His wonders
0:29:01 > 0:29:06# Yes, His wonders
0:29:06 > 0:29:14# His wonders to perform
0:29:14 > 0:29:19# His wonders to perform. #
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
0:29:29 > 0:29:32ignite in us your holy fire.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Strengthen your children with the gift of faith.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Revive your church with the breath of love.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42And renew the face of the Earth
0:29:42 > 0:29:44through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
0:29:44 > 0:29:45Amen.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52We've nearly come to the end of our programme here in Nottingham,
0:29:52 > 0:29:56but we will be back to hear more about this great city
0:29:56 > 0:29:58and its thriving church community.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01And we finish our Pentecost celebration with a song
0:30:01 > 0:30:05that reminds us that today's church started with just 12 men
0:30:05 > 0:30:10and now there are over a billion Christians over all the Earth.
0:33:15 > 0:33:21Next week on Songs of Praise, the countdown to London 2012 begins.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24Aled Jones takes a look inside the Olympic Stadium,
0:33:24 > 0:33:27as the builders are about to move out,
0:33:27 > 0:33:29and meets the vicar who needs to don a hard hat
0:33:29 > 0:33:31to visit his parishioners.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34And, of course, some fantastic hymn singing.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:33:54 > 0:33:57E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk