WCC NEWS: Pentecost Festival in Norway brings together migrant congregations, local churches

A Pentecost Festival held in Grorud Church in Groruddalen, Oslo, Norway on 25 May celebrated the theme “Together as God’s Family.” Pentecost festival in Oslo, Norway, 2026. Photo: Christian Council of Norway 28 May 2026 The festival, organized by the Christian Council of Norway, was developed to nurture trust, social cohesion, and unity across cultural and religious diversity. Those gathered enjoyed food from different traditions, musical performances and speeches, a bouncy castle, face painting, quiz activities, games, community-building activities, and exhibitions. The festival brought together migrant congregations and local churches in one of Oslo’s most diverse areas, home to people from over 140 countries. Rooted in the message of Pentecost in Acts 2, the event embodied a living expression of unity in diversity—where language, culture, and tradition are not erased, but woven together into a shared witness of faith, fellowship, and community. The program included multicultural and ecumenical worship; scripture, prayer, music, and testimonies across traditions; shared meals that brought people together across cultural boundaries; and activities that fostered relationships, belonging, and mutual understanding. “I feel humbled, blessed, inspired, and grateful after this year’s Pentecost festival,” said Rev. Henrik Erhard Hermansen, general secretary of the Christian Council of Norway. “Since 2014, the annual Pentecost festival has been a testimony to the unity of the Spirit and a confirmation of Jesus’ prayer: ‘May they all be one.’” Hermansen further noted that this year’s Pentecost festival was once again a powerful testimony to unity in diversity — a festival of Christians from different nations and church denominations, bringing with them rich and exciting variations in everything from traditional clothing and musical expressions to the food that was served. “The church was packed, and around the stage and the booths outside the church, there were crowds of people everywhere,” said Hermansen. “It was an absolutely wonderful sense of fellowship and celebration.” Citing Paul’s writing—“May you, together with all the saints, be able to grasp the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge”— Hermansen concluded: “This is what we experienced together during the Pentecost festival.” See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland