Christian Practices: Worship, Sacraments, Pilgrimage, Festivals, and Community Service

Set Prayers

Prayers that have been written down and said more than once by more than one person, e.g., Lord's prayer.

Importance of Baptism

Cleanses a person of sin, allows entry into new life with Christ, and imitates Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist.

Different Christian beliefs about sacraments

Catholic and Orthodox Christians recognize 7 sacraments, while many Protestant Christians only accept 2.

Infant baptism

Practiced by Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican, and Methodist Christians to remove original sin and welcome the child into the Church.

Believer's baptism

Practiced by Baptists and Pentecostals, where individuals are old enough to make a decision about their faith.

The Sacraments: Holy Communion

Catholics and Orthodox believe the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus, known as transubstantiation.

Protestant Christians and Holy Communion

They celebrate Holy Communion as a reminder of the Last Supper with Jesus.

Eucharist service

A specific type of liturgical worship in the Catholic Church.

Transubstantiation

The belief that bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus during Holy Communion.

Godparents and parents' promises

Made during infant baptism to commit to raising the child in the Christian faith.

Baptism immersion

In believer's baptism, the person is fully immersed in water symbolizing cleansing from sin.

Testimony in baptism

A brief statement given by the individual during believer's baptism about their faith.

Prayer aids

Items such as rosaries and icons used during personal worship.

Silent reflection

A key component of informal worship: Waiting, where individuals sit in silence.

Holy Communion

A sacrament where Christians receive God's grace by joining in the sacrifice of Jesus, symbolized by sharing bread and wine.

Divine Liturgy

The term used for Holy Communion in Orthodox Christianity, involving specific prayers and rituals.

Iconostasis

A partition in Orthodox churches that separates the sanctuary from the nave, where much of the Divine Liturgy is held.

Maundy Thursday

The day commemorating the Last Supper and the arrest of Jesus, marked by the giving of 'Maundy Money' by the Queen.

Pilgrimage

A journey made by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons, serving as both a spiritual and physical journey.

Lourdes

A town in France known for the spring of water believed to have healing powers, where pilgrims go to bathe and pray.

Iona

An island in Scotland where St Columba established a monastic community, now a peaceful place for pilgrims to pray and reflect.

Christmas

A festival commemorating the incarnation of Jesus, celebrated with lights, nativity scenes, carol services, and charitable giving.

Palm Sunday

The day marking Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, celebrated with palm crosses given in church services.

Midnight Mass

A service reflecting the holiness of the night of Jesus' birth, celebrated on Christmas Eve.

Holy Week

The week leading up to Easter, commemorating events in the last days of Jesus' life.

Easter

A Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, following Holy Week.

Open Table

A practice in some denominations allowing anyone who wishes to receive Holy Communion.

Non-alcoholic Wine

Wine used in some denominations during Holy Communion, distributed in small cups.

Creed

A formal statement of Christian beliefs recited during church services.

Rosary

A form of prayer used by Catholics, often recited by pilgrims at holy sites.

Charity

Acts of giving to those in need, emphasized during Christmas as a time of peace and goodwill.

Healing Powers

The belief that certain waters, like those at Lourdes, can heal physical ailments.

Wafers

Thin bread used in some denominations instead of regular bread during Holy Communion.

Sermon

A speech given during a church service, often reflecting on biblical teachings.

Support and Encouragement

The communal aspect of Holy Communion that provides emotional and spiritual support to believers.

Equality and Justice

Values encouraged by Holy Communion, prompting Christians to work towards social justice.

Last Supper

The final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, commemorated in Holy Communion.

Good Friday

Jesus was put to death on the cross.

Easter Sunday

Jesus rose from the dead.

The Church (Capital C)

The worldwide Christian community that supports local projects such as food banks, provides social services, helps those in need, and campaigns for justice.

Individual churches (lowercase c)

Local congregations that educate people about Christianity, serve as meeting places for worship, provide activities for young people, and offer social and spiritual guidance.

The Trussell Trust

A charity running over 400 food banks in the UK, aiming to bring religious and non-religious people together to end poverty.

The Oasis Project

A project run by Plymouth Methodists providing internet café, training courses, job club, and food banks, offering spiritual and practical advice.

Street Pastors

Volunteers trained to patrol streets, originally aimed at challenging gang culture and knife crime, now also addressing drunkenness and anti-social behavior.

The Golden Rule

The principle that you should treat others in the way that you expect to be treated.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

A teaching that emphasizes helping all people in need, regardless of their relationship to you.

The Parable of the Sheep and Goats

A teaching that highlights the importance of treating all people as though they are Jesus.

Evangelism

Spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.

The Great Commission

The instruction from Jesus to his disciples to spread the gospel and make disciples of all nations through baptism.

The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Gave the disciples the gifts and courage needed to carry out the Great Commission.

Missionaries

Christians who promote Christianity, often by going to foreign countries to preach or do charitable work.

The Alpha Course

An introduction to Christianity that explores the meaning of life through discussions, held in various settings.

Church Growth

The rapid growth of the Church in South America, Africa, and Asia, contrasted with stagnation in the USA, Europe, and the Middle East.

New Disciples

The Church's mission to make new disciples, not just new believers.

500 new churches

The number of new churches that begin worldwide each day.

80,000 people

The number of people who become Christians each day worldwide.

Food banks

Services provided by the Church to support the needy in local communities.

Agape love

The selfless, unconditional love that Christians are taught to show towards others.

Bible study groups

Groups organized by individual churches to educate people about Christianity.

School Pastors

Volunteers set up in 2011 to discourage illegal drug use, bullying, and anti-social behavior in schools.

Coverts

People who have converted to become Christians.

Ways Christians spread the faith

Advertising using social media (twitter/facebook), media such as God TV and Christian Radio, talking about what God has done in their life, telling friends and family about their beliefs, praying for others to accept God in their lives, inviting friends to different ways of 'doing' church, and inviting people to other events of church.

Reconciliation

The restoring of harmony after relationships have broken down.

Importance of Reconciliation

Christians believe humans were reconciled to God through Jesus' death and resurrection, restoring the relationship between God and humanity which has been broken through sin.

Corrymeela Community

Brings together people from different backgrounds, including people of different faiths and politics, to build trust and explore ways of moving away from violence.

Irish Church Peace Project

Brings Catholics and Protestants together in Northern Ireland to develop peace and understanding between the two denominations.

Desmond Tutu

Former Archbishop of Cape Town in South Africa who campaigned against apartheid and for justice without the use of violence.

Persecution

Religious persecution is hostility, ill-treatment or discrimination because of a person's religion.

Christian Persecution Statistics

It is estimated that 80% of all acts of religious discrimination today are aimed at Christians.

Examples of Persecution

Being forced to pay extra taxes to government, job discrimination, being forbidden from building churches, attacks on homes, churches and family, including murder and rape.

Positive Effects of Persecution

Persecution might strengthen faith and allows Christians to share in the suffering of Jesus.

Church Response to Persecution

The Church believes it is important to act against persecution by supporting persecuted Christians and encouraging love and forgiveness towards their persecutors.

Ways the Church helps persecuted Christians

Smuggling Bibles into countries for persecuted Christians, supporting charities like Open Doors and the Barnabus Fund, and campaigning for religious freedom.

Christian Aid

A charity that supports projects to encourage sustainable development and provides emergency relief such as food, water, shelter, and sanitation.

Tearfund

A charity that works with churches worldwide to lift people out of poverty and provides long-term aid to help communities become more self-reliant.

CAFOD

A charity that supports campaigns to end poverty and global warming and encourages fair trade.

Causes of Poverty

Debt, natural disasters, disease, conflict, unfair trade, no education, no health care, corrupt leaders, and lack of education.

Teachings of Jesus about Poverty

Jesus taught the importance of helping those in poverty, exemplified by his teachings such as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

A parable that tells of a rich man who ends up in hell for ignoring a beggar.

Parable of the Good Samaritan

A parable that teaches the importance of helping all people, whoever they are.

Jesus' Actions

Jesus helped outcasts such as lepers, tax collectors, and sinners.

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