Beliefs - Christianity: Practices

Why do Christians worship?

-To praise and thank God

-To ask for forgiveness

-To seek God's help for themselves or others

-To deepen their relationship with God and strengthen their faith

What form does liturgical worship take?

-Takes place in a church

-Priests lead the congregation and may perform symbolic actions

-Formal prayers with set responses

-Bible passages are read out, there may be a sermon

-Music and hymns

Why is liturgical worship important?

-Worldwide set order for service that is familiar to everyone

-Ritual passed down through generations gives a sense of tradition

-Bible readings follow the Christian calendar and teach Christian history and faith

What form does non-liturgical worship take?

-Takes place in a church

-Often focused on Bible readings followed by a sermon

-May also have prayers and hymns but there is no set order, they make up each one from week to week

Why is non-liturgical worship important?

-Services can be planned and ordered to suit a certain theme or congregation

-Emphasis on the word of God in the Bible

What form does informal worship take?

-Community or house churches meet in private homes and share food

-Quaker worship is mainly silent to offer space when moved by God to offer their thoughts or read from the Bible

-'Charismatic' worship may involve dancing, clapping, calling out and speaking in tongues

Why is informal worship important?

-The style of worship in house churches is similar to the worship of early Christians

-People can share readings and prayers and can take an active part in church by calling out or speaking without formal training

-Service may have an emotional impact with a feeling of personal revelation from God

Why is prayer important?

-Encourages reflection in the middle of a busy life

-Enables Christians to talk and listen to God

-Helps Christians to keep a strong relationship with God

-Helps Christians to accept God's will even if it means suffering

-Gives a sense of peace

-Gives strength in times of trouble

Why is the Lord’s Prayer important?

-When Jesus' disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, he answered with the Lord's Prayer.

-Christians see it as a model of good prayer as it combines praise to God with asking for one's needs.

-It reminds Christians to forgive others in order to be forgiven, since prayer is only effective if people's relationships with others are right.

-It reminds Christians that God is the Father of the whole of Christian community, and it can create a sense of unity when Christians pray it together.

-The Lord's Prayer is at the centre of worship and is nearly always said at Holy Communion.

-Christians may also use it in funerals, in schools and in commemoration services in Britain.

Catholic/Orthodox sacraments

Catholic and Orthodox Christians recognise seven sacraments:

-Baptism

-Confirmation

-Holy Communion

-Marriage

-Holy Orders

-Reconciliation

-The anointing of the sick.

Protestant sacraments

-Many Protestant churches recognise two sacraments – baptism and Holy Communion – because they believe Jesus taught people to undertake these.

-Some churches that practise believers' baptism consider it to be important but not a 'sacrament'.

Quaker sacraments

Some churches, like the Quakers or Salvation Army, do not see any ritual or ceremony as being a 'sacrament'.

Why is infant baptism practiced?

-Removes original sin (Catholic and Orthodox belief).

-Allows the child to be welcomed into the Church as soon as possible.

-The parents and their child (or their new baby) are celebrated with family and friends.

What happens during infant baptism?

-The priest or minister pours blessed water over the baby's head and says, 'I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.'

-Godparents and parents promise to bring up the child as a Christian.

-The child is welcomed into the Christian community.

Why is believer’s baptism practiced?

-People should be old enough to consciously make a mature decision to live a life dedicated to Jesus, what the Bible says, rather than as babies.

-They see baptism as a new start in life.

What happens in believer’s baptism?

-The person is fully immersed in a pool which symbolises cleansing from sin and dying to new life in Christ.

-When asked whether they are willing to change their life, the person gives a brief testimony of their faith in Jesus.

-The person is baptised 'in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit'.

What is holy communion?

A service that offers praise and gives thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus' death and resurrection. It has different meanings for different Christians

What does holy communion mean for Catholics/Orthodox Christians?

-They believe the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation)

-The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the bread and wine become Jesus' body and blood, which helps believers to feel that Jesus is present and with them.

What does holy communion mean for Protestants?

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

-They see it as a symbolic act of remembering Jesus' sacrifice (instead of transubstantiation), which helps believers to reflect on his meaning today.

The impact of holy communion on individuals

-Christians receive God's grace by joining in the service of Jesus.

-This helps to strengthen their faith.

-They become closer to God.

The impact of holy communion on communities

-Holy Communion brings the community closer together by sharing the bread and wine.

-This can provide support and encouragement for those going through a difficult time.

The impact of holy communion on wider society

-Holy Communion acts as a call to love others in practical ways.

-It encourages Christians to work for equality and justice for all.

-Many churches collect money during services to help support those in need, such as the poor or homeless.

What happens in Orthodox Divine Liturgy?

Liturgy of the Word:

• There are hymns, prayers and a Bible reading.

• The priest comes through the Royal Doors to chant the Gospel.

• There may be a sermon.

Liturgy of the Faithful:

• The priest receives wine and bread baked by church members.

• Prayers are offered for the church, the local community and the world.

• Behind the iconostasis, the priest says the words of Jesus at the Last Supper.

• Most of the bread is consecrated as the body and blood of Christ.

• The priest distributes holy bread and wine on a spoon.

• Prayers of thanksgiving are said.

• Unconsecrated pieces of bread are given to people to take home, as a sign of belonging to the Christian community.

What happens in Catholic Mass and Anglican holy communion?

Liturgy of the Word:

• There are three Bible readings, a psalm and a homily.

• The Creed is said.

• Prayers are said for the Church, the local community, the world, and the sick and the dead.

Liturgy of the Eucharist:

• In the Anglican Holy Communion, people give a sign of peace to each other.

• Offerings of bread and wine are brought to the altar.

• The priest repeats the words of Jesus at the Last Supper over the bread and the wine.

• People say the Lord's Prayer.

• In the Catholic Mass, the sign of peace is given at this point.

• People receive the bread and wine.

• The priest blesses people and sends them out to live the gospel.

What happens in United Reform Church holy communion

• The service begins with a hymn and prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

• Bible readings and a sermon are given.

• Prayers for the world and the needs of particular people are said.

• The minister repeats the words and actions of Jesus at the Last Supper.

• There is an 'open table' so anyone who wishes may receive Holy Communion.

• Sometimes the bread is cut beforehand, other times it is broken and passed around by the congregation.

• Wine is sometimes non-alcoholic and is usually distributed in small cups.

• The service ends with a prayer of thanksgiving, a blessing, and an encouragement to go out and serve God.

Why do people go on a pilgrimage?

-Meet others who share the same faith

-Experience a holy place

-Help other pilgrims who are disabled or ill

-Seek a cure for illness

-Thank God for a blessing

-Pray for something special

-Reflect on one's life

-Be forgiven for sin

-Strengthen faith in God

-Grow closer to God

How can pilgrimage impact a Christian’s life?

-Give them a better understanding of their faith

-Renew their enthusiasm for living a Christian life

-Help them to see problems in a new light

-Help them to feel cleansed from sin

-Help them to feel more connected to the Christian community

-Give them a good feeling about helping other pilgrims who are disabled or ill.

What is the significance of Lourdes as a place of Christian pilgrimage?

-Where Mary is said to have appeared in a number of visions to a young girl called Bernadette.

-Mary told Bernadette to dig in the ground, and when she did a spring of water appeared.

-The water is believed to have healing properties, and a number of healing miracles are claimed to have taken place here.

What are some of the activities in Lourdes?

-Pilgrims go to Lourdes to bathe in the waters of the spring, or to help other pilgrims who are ill or disabled to bathe in the waters.

-Pilgrims also pray for healing or forgiveness.

-They may recite the rosary together.

What is the significance of Iona as a place of Christian pilgrimage?

-Where St Columba established a monastic community in the 6th century AD.

-The community now has an ecumenical centre where pilgrims can stay.

What are some of the activities in Iona?

-Because it is quiet, peaceful and a place of natural beauty, pilgrims can spend time praying, reading the Bible, and reflecting or meditating.

-Pilgrims can also attend services in the abbey church, take part in workshops, and visit the island's holy or historic sites.

How are celebrations held during Christmas?

-Lights represent Jesus as the light coming into the world of darkness

-Nativity scenes show baby Jesus born into poverty

-Carol services with Bible readings remind Christians about God's promise of a saviour and the events of Jesus' birth

-Midnight Mass reflects the holiness of the night and the joy Christians feel at Jesus' birth

-Christmas cards and gifts recall the Wise men's gifts to Jesus

-Christians give to charity in this time of peace and goodwill because God gave humanity the gift of Jesus, his Son.

How are celebrations are held during Easter?

Good Friday:

-On Good Friday (the day Jesus was crucified), there are special services and processions led by a person carrying a cross.

Saturday night:

-On Saturday night, some churches hold a special service to celebrate Christ's resurrection.

-Orthodox Christians walk with candles in procession, then enter the dark church as if going into Jesus' empty tomb.

-The priest announces 'Christ is risen!' to which people answer 'He is risen indeed.'

-Catholics and Anglicans have a vigil that begins in darkness, before the Paschal candle is lit to symbolise the risen Christ. The service ends with Holy Communion.

Easter Sunday:

-Churches are filled with flowers and special hymns are sung to rejoice at Jesus' resurrection.

-Services are held at sunrise, and shared breakfasts include eggs to symbolise new life.

What do individual churches do?

-Educate people about Christianity (e.g. Bible study groups)

-Are meeting places for prayer and worship

-Provide activities for younger people (e.g. youth clubs)

-Are places where Christians can socialise and obtain spiritual guidance.

What does the (worldwide) Church do?

-Supports local projects such as food banks

-Provides social services such as schooling and medical care

-Helps those in need

-Campaigns for justice.

What is the Trussel Trust and what do they do?

-A charity running over 400 food banks in the UK.

-These provide emergency food, help and support to people in crisis in the UK.

-Non-perishable food is donated by churches, supermarkets, schools, businesses and individuals.

-Doctors, health visitors and social workers identify people in crisis and issue them with a food voucher.

-Their aim is to bring religious and non-religious people together to help end poverty and hunger.

What is the Oasis Project and what do they do?

-A community hub run by Plymouth Methodist Mission Circuit.

-Provides an internet café, creative courses, a job club, training opportunities, a meeting place and a food bank.

-Spiritual and practical help is given to those in need because of ill health, learning disabilities, domestic violence, substance abuse, low income and housing problems.

Why is it important to help in the local community

-Jesus taught that Christians should help others by showing agape love towards them. For example, in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus teaches Christians they should give practical help to people in need.

-Two examples of Christian organisations that provide practical help to local communities are Street Pastors and Parish Nursing Ministries UK.

What are the Street Pastors and what do they do?

-An initiative started in London in 2003, by the Christian charity the Ascension Trust.

-Adult volunteers are trained to patrol the streets in urban areas.

-The main aim originally was to challenge gang culture and knife crime in London.

-The focus then widened to responding to drunkenness, anti-social behaviour and fear of crime.

-Street Pastors work closely with police and local councils.

-They listen to people's problems, advise on where they might get help, and discourage anti-social behaviour.

-A similar group called School Pastors was set up in 2011 to discourage illegal drug use, bullying and anti-social behaviour in schools.

What is the Parish Nursing Ministries UK and what does it do?

-This Christian charity supports whole-person healthcare through the local church.

-They provide churches with registered parish nurses who promote well-being in body, mind and spirit among the local community.

-The nurses help to provide early diagnosis of health problems.

-They train and coordinate volunteers to help combat loneliness or provide support during times of crisis.

-They give additional help to the NHS.

-They encourage people to exercise and have a good diet.

-They focus on the whole person, including listening to people and praying with them if asked. They also direct people to specific services if needed.

What is the Great Commission and why is it important?

-Jesus gave a Great Commission 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.

-All Christians have a duty to spread the gospel and tell others of their faith, but some become missionaries or evangelists (people who promote Christianity, for example by going to foreign countries to preach or do charitable work).

-The aims of missionary work and evangelism are to persuade people to accept Jesus as their Saviour, and to extend the Church to all nations.

What is the Alpha Course and what does it do?

-Alpha is an example of evangelism in Britain.

-It was started in London by an Anglican priest, with the aim of helping church members understand the basics of the Christian faith.

-The course is now used as an introduction for those interested in learning about Christianity, by different Christian denominations in Britain and abroad.

-The organisers describe it as 'an opportunity to explore the meaning of life' through talks and discussions.

-Courses are held in homes, workplaces, universities and prisons as well as in churches.

How does the Church grow?

-The Church is growing rapidly in South America, Africa and Asia, but not in the USA, Europe and the Middle East (where Christians have been persecuted).

-Worldwide around 80,000 people become Christians each day, and over 500 new churches are formed.

-The Church's mission is to make disciples, not just new believers. This means new Christians are also expected to help spread the faith.

-Evangelism should therefore be followed up by training new converts (people who decide to change their religious faith) in the way of following Jesus.

-Every Christian has a role in encouraging fellow believers.

How can Christians spread their faith?

-advertising and using media (such as Facebook, Twitter or Premier Christian Radio)

-praying for others to accept God

-sharing what God has done for them with others

-inviting people to Christian meetings, fellowship meals and social events

What is Christ for all Nations and what do they do?

-Christ for all Nations is an example of a Christian organisation promoting evangelism. They do this by holding evangelistic meetings throughout the world, but particularly in Africa.

-They are led by the evangelists Richard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda.

-Some of their large open-air rallies held in Africa have drawn crowds of up to 1.6 million people.

-It is claimed that many miracles of healing take place at the meetings.

-Christ for all Nations claims that 74 million people have filled in decision cards to follow Christ at their meetings.

Why should you work for reconciliation?

-Christians believe humans were reconciled to God through Jesus' death and resurrection. This means Jesus' death and resurrection helped to restore the relationship between God and humanity, which had been broken by sin.

-For Catholics, the sacrament of Reconciliation also helps to restore people's relationship with God.

-Matthew 5:23–24 teaches that Christians should be reconciled to each other.

-Reconciliation is therefore an important part of the Church's work. This might involve anything from trying to restore relationships between individual people, to working for peace between different religious groups or nations at conflict.

What is The Irish Churches Peace Project and what do they do?

-The Irish Churches Peace Project brings Catholics and Protestants together in Northern Ireland.

-The project aims to develop peace and understanding between these two denominations.

What is The World Council of Churches and what do they do?

-The World Council of Churches works for reconciliation between different Christian denominations and members of other faiths.

-For example, the Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace initiative supports inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.

What is The Community of the Cross of Nails and what do they do?

-After the bombing of Coventry Cathedral in World War II, local Christians showed forgiveness to those responsible, and the cathedral became a world centre for peace and reconciliation.

-The cathedral is home to the Community of the Cross of Nails, which works with partners in other countries to bring about peace and harmony.

What is the Corrymeela Community and what do they do?

-The Corrymeela Community brings together people from different backgrounds, including people of different faiths or political leanings.

-They meet at a residential centre in Northern Ireland to build trust and explore ways of moving away from violence so they can work together constructively.

What is persecution?

-The International Society for Human Rights estimates 80% of all acts of religious discrimination today are aimed at Christians.

-This persecution happens around the world, but particularly in countries such as North Korea, Somalia, Iraq and Syria.

-It might involve:

-being forced to pay extra tax

-job discrimination

-being forbidden to build churches

-attacks on Christian homes, churches and families, including murder.

What are some Christian responses to persecution?

-For some Christians, persecution can have a positive effect, as it strengthens their faith and conviction. It also allows them to share in the suffering of Jesus.

-The Church believes it is important to act against persecution, by supporting persecuted Christians wherever possible and campaigning on their behalf.

-Christians are encouraged to show love and forgiveness towards their persecutors.

How has the Church helped persecuted Christians?

-Christians have smuggled Bibles into the USSR (Russia) to strengthen and give comfort to persecuted Christians.

-The Barnabas Fund sends money to support people persecuted for their faith.

-Christian Solidarity Worldwide campaigns for religious freedom for all.

Why do Christians help those in poverty?

Christians try to help those living in poverty because Jesus taught that this was important. For example:

• Jesus once told a rich man to sell everything and give to the poor (Mark 10:21).

• The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus tells of a rich man who ends up in hell for ignoring a beggar.

• The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches the importance of helping all people.

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

What is Christian Aid and what do they do?

-Supports projects to encourage sustainable development.

-Provides emergency relief, such as food, water, shelter and sanitation.

-Campaigns to end poverty alongside organisations such as the Fairtrade Foundation, Trade Justice and Stop Climate Chaos.

What is Tearfund and what do they do?

-Works with over 90,000 churches worldwide to help lift people out of poverty.

-Supplies emergency aid after natural disasters and conflict.

-Provides long-term aid to help communities become more self-reliant, such as education or new farming equipment.

-Supported by donations, fundraising events and prayer from churches in the UK.

What is CAFOD and what do they do?

-Works with local organisations to train, supply and support communities to work their own way out of poverty.

-Gives short-term aid such as food, water and shelter during conflicts and disasters.

-Lobbies UK government and global organisations for decisions that respect the poorest.

-Encourages Catholic schools and parishes to pray, give money and campaign for justice.