Christian Practices

what is worship?

* the act of religious praise, honour or devotion
* it is a way for Christians to show their ==deep love and honour for God==

why do Christians worship?

1. to praise and thank God
2. to ask for forgiveness
3. to seek God’s help for themselves or others
4. to deepen their relationship with God and strengthen their faith

describe liturgical worship

a church service that follows a set structure or ritual

__what form does it take?__

* takes place in a Church
* priest leads the congregation and may perform symbolic actions
* formal prayer with set responses
* music and hymns
* bible passages read, there may be a sermon

e.g.

the Eucharist for Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican Churches

__*why is it important for Christians?*__


1. worldwide set order for service that is familiar to everyone
2. ritual passed down through generations which gives a sense of tradition
3. Bible readings follow the Christian calendar and teach Christian history and faith

describe non-liturgical worship

a service that does not follow a set text or ritual

%%__what form does it 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, the number and type can change from week to week

%%e.g.%%

services in non-Conformist churches: Methodist, Baptist, United Reformed

%%__*why is it important for Christians?*__%%


1. services can be planned and ordered to suit a certain tjeme
2. non-Conformist churches place an emphasis on the word God in the Bible

describe informal worship

a type of non-liturgical worship that is ‘spontaneous‘ or ‘charismatic‘ in nature

^^__what form does it take?__^^

* community or house churches meet in private homes and share food
* Quaker worship is mainly silent, people speak 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

^^e.g.^^

community or house Churches, Quaker worship, charismatic worship of the Pentecostal Church

^^__*why is it important for Christians?*__^^


1. the style of worship in house churches is similar to the worship of early Christians
2. people can share readings and prayers and can take an active part in the church by calling out or speaking without formal training
3. service may have an emotional impact with a feeling or personal revelation from God

what is prayer?

* prayer is *communicating with God, either silently or through words of praise, thanksgiving or confession, or requests for God’s help or guidance*
* Christians may use @@set prayers@@ that have been written down and said more than once by more than one person e.g. the Lord’s Prayer
* they may also use @@informal prayers@@ to communicate with God, some Christians find they can express their needs to God more easily by using their own words

why is prayer important?

1. encouraging reflection in the middle of a busy life
2. enables Christians to talk and listen to God
3. helps Christians to keep a close relationship with God
4. helps Christians to accept God’s will even if it means suffering
5. gives a sense of peace
6. gives strength in times of trouble

describe the Lord’s prayer?

* 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 about 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 Christian community%%, and it can create a sense of unity when everyone in the congregation says it together
* the Lord’s Prayer is often used in worship and is nearly always said at Holy Communion, baptisms, marriages and funerals. It is also used in schools and in commemoration

what are sacraments?

holy rituals through which believers receive a special gift or grace (free gift of God’s love) Some Christian denominations recognise seven sacraments while others acknowledge fewer

what are the 7 sacraments?

Catholic and Orthodox Christians recognise 7 sacraments: __Holy Communion, marriage, confirmation, holy orders, reconciliation and the anointing of the sick__

many Protestant churches recognise 2 sacraments: baptism and Holy Communion - because they believe Jesus taught people to undertake these

some churches that practice believers baptism consider it to be important but not a

describe infant baptism

### @@__practised by:__@@

Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed Christians

### @@reasons why:@@

* removes original sin - Catholic and Orthodox belief
* allows the child to be welcomed into the Church asap
* parents can thank God for their new baby and celebrate with family and friends

### @@what happens?@@

* 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

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describe beliver’s baptism

### %%__practised by:__%%

Baptists, Pentecostalists

### %%__reasons why:__%%

* people should be old enough to consciously make a mature decision about their faith
* the decision to live a life dedicated to Jesus is what saves a person, rather than the baptism itself

### %%__what happens__%%

* the person is fully immersed in a pool which symbolises cleansing from sin and rising to new life in Christ


* when asked whether they are willing to change their lives, 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?

it is a service which celebrates and gives thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus’ death and resurrection

Catholics, Orthodox Christians and some Anglican believe the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. This means Jesus is fully present in the bread and wine. this is the divine mystery that helps believers share in the saving sacrifice of Jesus’ death and resurrection

Protestant Christians celebrate HC as a reminder of the Last Supper. they do not believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. Instead, they believe the bread and wine are symbols of Jesus’ sacrifice which helps believers to reflect on its meaning today

‘for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes‘

what is the impact of Holy Communion?

individuals:

Christians receive God’s grace by joining the sacrifice of Jesus

this helps to strengthen their faith in God

they become closer to God

communities:

HC brings the community of believers together in unity by sharing bread and wine

this can provide support and encouragement for those going through a difficult time

wider society:

HC 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 the service to help support those in need e.g. homeless

what is a pilgrimage?

a journey made by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons

as well as making a physical journey for a sacred place, the pilgrim also makes a spiritual journey towards God

why do Christians go on a pilgrimage?

1. grow closer to God
2. thank God for blessing
3. be forgiven for isn
4. reflect on one’s life
5. strengthen their faith in God
6. pray for someone special
7. experience a holy place
8. seek cure for an illness
9. help other pilgrims who are ill or disabled
10. meet others who share the same fath

how do pilgrimages have an impact on Christian’s lives?

1. give then a better understanding of their faith
2. renew their enthusiasm for living a Christian life
3. help them to see problems in a new light
4. help them to feel cleansed from sin
5. help them to feel more connected to the Christian community
6. give them a good feeling about helping other pilgrims who are disabled or ill

describe Lourdes

significance:

where Mary is said to have appeared in a number of visions to a young girl - 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 have claimed to have taken place here

activites:

Pilgrims go to Lourdes to bathe in the waters of the spring, or the 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

describe Iona

significance:

where St Columba established a monastic community in the 6th century AD

the community now has an ecumenical centre where pilgrims can stay

activities:

because it’s peaceful, quite, and a place of natural beauty, pilgrims can spend time praying, reading the Bible, reflecting and meditating

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

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what is persecution?

@@hostility and ill-treatment@@

* the International Society for Human Rights estimates 80% of all acts of religious discrimination 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:


1. being forced to pay extra taxes
2. job discrimination
3. being forbidden to build churches
4. attacks on Christian homes, churches, and families, including murder

what are some Christian responses to persecution

1. 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

^^“i want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings” : this quote shows that one way Christians can get to know Jesus is by sharing in his suffering^^


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

“if one part suffers, every part suffers with it” : this quote refers to the Church. it shows that helping individuals Christians also help the whole Church


3. christians are encouraged to show love and forgiveness towards their persecutors

^^“do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good“ : Christians should respond to evil with love^^

what are some ways the Church has helped persecuted Christians?

* Christians have smuggled Bibles into the USSR 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

describe Christmas

Christmas commemorates the incarnation of Jesus, which is the belief that God became human in Jesus, the celebrations reflect Christian beliefs and teachings in the following ways:


1. light represents Jesus as the light coming into the world of darkness
2. nativity scenes show baby Jesus was born into poverty
3. carol services with Bible readings remind Christians about God’s promise of a saviour and the events of Jesus’ birth
4. Christians give to charity in this time of peace and goodwill because God gave humanity the gift of Jesus, his son
5. Christmas cards and gifts recall the wise men’s gifts to Jesus
6. midnight mass reflects the holiness of the night and the joy Christians feel at Jesus’ birth

describe Easter

Easter is the most important Christian festival

holy week: remembers the ev