Christianity - Practices

Catholic (RC)

A branch of Christianity based in Rome & led by the Pope.

Protestant

Originally called by this name as they were Christians who protested against some RC practices.

Orthodox Church

A branch of the Christian Church.

Anglican Churches

A worldwide Protestant denomination that includes the Church of England.

Non-Conformist churches

An English Protestant who doesn't conform to the doctrines or practices of the established Church of England.

Methodist Church

A Protestant Christian group founded by John Wesley in the 18th century.

Baptist Church

Christians that use the ceremony of baptism (full immersion) to welcome a young person or adult into the Christian religion.

United Reform Church

Christian church that has its roots in the Reformation of the 17th Century, but also because it seeks to be continually reforming, to equip itself to be a Church for today.

Community or house churches

A label used to describe a group of Christians who regularly gather for worship in private homes.

Quaker Church

The Society of Friends Christian Group; Quakers believe that there is something of God in everybody and that each human being is of unique worth.

Pentecostal Church

Form of Christianity that emphasises the work of the Holy Spirit and the direct experience of the presence of God by the believer.

Worship

Acts of religious praise, honour or devotion.

Liturgical worship

A church service that follows a set structure or ritual.

Non-liturgical Worship

A service that does not follow a set text or ritual.

Informal Worship

A type of non-liturgical worship, sometimes 'spontaneous' or 'charismatic' in nature.

Private Worship

When a believer praises or honours God on his or her own.

Prayer

Communicating with God, either silently or through words of praise, thanksgiving or confession, or requests for God's help or guidance.

Set Prayers

Prayers that have been written down and said more than once by more than one person.

Informal prayers

Prayer that is made up by an individual using his or her own words.

Sacraments

Rites and rituals through which the believer receives a special gift of grace; for Catholics, Anglicans and many Protestants, sacraments are 'outward signs' of 'inward grace.'

Baptism

The ritual through which people become members of the Church; baptism involves the use of water as a symbol of the washing away of sin.

Believers' Baptism

Initiation into the Church, by immersion in water, of people old enough to understand the ceremony/rite and willing to live a Christian life.

Infant baptism

The ritual through which babies and young children become members of the Church, where promises are taken on their behalf by adults; the infant is freed from sin and introduced to the saving love of God and the support of the Christian community.

Holy Communion (Eucharist)

A service of thanksgiving in which the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated using bread and wine; also called Eucharist, Mass, the Lord's Supper, the Breaking of Bread, and the Divine Liturgy.

The Eucharist

From a Greek word meaning 'thanksgiving'; a service of thanksgiving in which the sacrificial death & resurrection of Jesus are celebrated using bread and wine.

Pilgrimage

A journey by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons; pilgrimage is itself an act of worship and devotion.

Festival

A day or period of celebration for religious reasons.

Christmas

The day commemorating the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus (25 December in most churches); also, the season of 12 days ending with the Epiphany (when Christians remember the visit of the wise men).

Easter

The religious season celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead; it starts on Easter Day and finishes with the feast of Pentecost.

Church

1. The holy people of God, also called the Body of Christ, among whom Christ is present and active; 2. A building in which Christians worship.

Agape

A word used in the Bible that describes selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love.

Mission

The vocation or calling of a religious organisation or individual to go out into the world and spread their faith.

The Great Commission

Jesus' instruction to his followers that they should spread His teachings to all the nations of the world.

Missionary

A person sent on a religious mission, especially to promote Christianity in a foreign country through preaching or charitable work.

Evangelism

Spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.

Reconciliation

A sacrament in the Catholic Church; also, the restoring of harmony after relationships have broken down.

Persecution

Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race, or political or religious beliefs.