RS Christian

Ascension

The event 40 days after the Resurrection, when Jesus returned to God, the Father, in heaven.

Atonement

Reconciliation between God and humanity sealed by the sacrificial death of Jesus.

Baptism

The sacrament through which people become members of the Church, using water as a symbol of the washing away of sin.

Believer’s baptism

Initiation into the Church by immersion in water of people who understand and choose to live a Christian life.

Bible

The holy book containing the Old and New Testaments, serving as a source of wisdom and authority.

Catholic

The tradition within the Christian Church led by the Pope.

Christ

The leader promised by God to the Jews; means 'Anointed One' in Greek.

Christian

Someone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows the religion based on his teachings.

Christian Aid

A Christian charity providing emergency and long-term aid to the developing world.

Christmas

The festival to remember the birth of Jesus.

Church

The people of God / Body of Christ, believed to be present and active through the Holy Spirit.

Creation

The belief that the world is God’s loving creation.

Crucifixion

The Roman method of execution by which criminals were fixed to a cross.

Easter

Festival of the resurrection of Jesus.

Eucharist

A sacrament in which the death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated using bread and wine.

Evangelism

Preaching the gospel to convert people to the Christian faith.

Evil

The opposite of good; a force seen as destructive and against God.

The Father

The first Person of the Trinity, the creator and sustainer of the universe.

Foodbanks

Places where people in need can collect food, often run by churches and religious charities.

Grace

The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it.

Heaven

The state after death of being with and enjoying eternity with God.

Hell

The place of eternal suffering or separation from God for those who desire no relationship with Him.

Holy Spirit

The third person of the Holy Trinity who inspires and is believed to be present among Christians.

Incarnation

The doctrine that God took human form as Jesus.

Infant baptism

The sacrament of initiation of babies and young children into the Church.

Informal prayer

Spontaneous prayers spoken from the heart, personal to the individual.

Iona

Place of pilgrimage founded by St Columba in the fourth century.

Jesus

First century Jewish teacher believed by Christians to be the Son of God.

Judgement

When God decides whether a person receives eternal life or eternal punishment.

Just

The nature of God as one who treats each individual fairly and equally.

Law

The law of God revealed in the Bible which Christians are called to obey.

Liturgical worship

A church service that follows a set structure or ritual.

Lourdes

A pilgrimage site where the Virgin Mary appeared to St Bernadette, associated with miraculous healings.

Lord’s Prayer

The prayer taught by Jesus to the disciples, used in personal and communal worship.

Mission

The duty of Christians to spread the good news and the gospel.

Non-Liturgical worship

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

Omnipotent

The belief that God is ‘all powerful’.

The Oneness of God

The belief that God is ‘One’.

Original sin

The belief that human nature is flawed, leading to tendencies against God's will.

Orthodox

A Christian denomination found primarily in Greece and Russia.

Persecution

Facing hostility and ill-treatment for practicing one's religion.

Pilgrimage

A religious journey to a holy site or sacred place as an act of worship.

Prayer

Communicating with God through thanksgiving, confession, requests for help, and listening.

Private worship

A believer giving God praise on their own.

Protestant

Christian denominations where authority is based on the Bible rather than Church teaching.

Reconciliation

Making up and rebuilding relationships between two groups after conflict.

Resurrection

The event of Jesus rising from the dead, celebrated on Easter Day.

Sacrament

The outward sign of an inward change by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Salvation

Deliverance from sin and admission to heaven brought about by Jesus.

Sin

Behavior against God's laws and principles of morality; a wrong thought, word, or action.

The Son

The second Person of the Trinity; Jesus, in whom God became incarnate.

Son of God

A title for Jesus, denoting the special relationship between Jesus and God.

Street Pastors

A Christian organization providing care on city streets, mainly at night.

Suffering

Facing and living with unpleasant events or conditions.

Trinity

The belief in three Persons in the One God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Word

God creating the world through His Word, linked to Jesus in St John’s Gospel.

Worship

Showing adoration and reverence; offering praise to God.