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On Saturday 7 June, the day before Pentecost, the Big Bookend Festival came to LCI. During the day, children came with parents and carers to hear authors tell their stories and recite poems in the story telling yurt, to attend workshops and to create their own stories and artwork. In the evening, an audience gathered to hear six community groups and writers tell stories they had written about Le Grand Depart. The groups included retired folk from a local church, people from Spacious Places overcoming addictions, refugees, student cyclists, a youth drama group and writers. Their stories illustrated their values and lives. They were moving, shocking, humorous, sad and hopeful. People listened to people that they might never have otherwise met and the listening was profound, the stories appreciated.
At Pentecost, in the words of an Iona liturgy, The Word became words. At LCI on Saturday, we had a Pentecost experience. People found their voice, told their stories, listened and were heard. That’s what happened at Pentecost, LCI Leeds 2014.