Christianity - Key terms - Practises

Liturgical worship

Worship led by a priest in a church to a congregation following a set structure which includes: prayer, bible readings, sermons, hymns etc. Allows connection and forgiveness from God through a priest and follows Christian worldwide tradition whilst teaching religious history.

Examples of Liturgical Worship

Eucharist (Holy Communion) in the Catholic, Orthodox and Angelican churches.

Non- liturgical Worship

Led by a priest however the service has not cet order and can instead follow a theme and vary the order of hymns, prayers etc. Places more value on the word of God in the Bible certain practises (like the sacraments).

Examples of Non- liturgical Worship

Non conformist (eg. Methodist or Baptist) church ceremonies. Roman Catholic private worship with rosary beads.

Informal (spontaneous) Worship

A type of non-liturgical worship where worship is spontaneous and not led by a priest. Includes Quaker worship, when quakers only speak in a meeting when moved by the spirit to speak, and Evangelical worship, which involves singing, dancing, speaking in tongues as moved by the spirit. There is no set order to the service.

Prayer

Communicaton with God (silently or with words) to communicate love, thanks, confession, want for guidance, praise. Can occur in Set prayer or Informal prayer.

Set Prayer

Pre-written and repeated prayers said by many to God. Eg. The Lord’s prayer. Common in Catholic Chruch.

Informal Prayer

Prayer with an individual’s own words to form a connection with God. Common in Private worship/informal worship.

Reasons to Pray

• To show devotion

• To feel connection to God and/or community

• To strengthen personal relationship

• To seek guidance/advice

• To Respect God

• For religious events and Holidays

The Lord’s Prayer

A set prayer, this was the first prayer which Jesus Gave to his disciples. For individuals this prayer is a reminder of God’s wishes for people to forgive one another and thank God and seek his guidance. As a community, this set prayer allows Christians to bring a sense of unity and spiritual purpose (especially in important events, eg. Holy Communion).

Sacraments

Ways Christians can show and confirm their faith with action. Followed mostly by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Quakers and Salvation army follow no Sacraments but practise believer’s baptism, which they do not consider a sacrament. Protestant’s follow Baptism and Holy Communion out of the sacraments.

What are the Sacraments?

1. Baptism (protestant)

2. Confirmation

3. Holy Communion (Protestant)

4. Marriage

5. Holy Orders

6. Reconciliation

7. Anointing of the Stick

Baptism

A sacrament, encouraged by Jesus at the Great Commission where he encouraged Christians to “make disciples of all nations in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. It is a welcome to Christianity and has two forms, dependant on the denomination of Christianity: infant and believer’s. Both are performed by a priest or a minister. In both the words “I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” are said.

Infant Baptism (Catholic + Orthodox)

Baby is cleaned of original sin and welcomed into the church with this sacrament. The parents and God-parents promise to raise and guide the baby in faith and light a candle. The priest pours water over the baby’s head and draws a cross in oil. The baby is dressed in white to show it’s purity. This places the baby on the path to salvation form the beginning of it’s life.

Believer’s Baptism (Baptists and Pentecostals)

Cleansing from sin and a conversion to a life dedicated to Jesus. Classes are taken before the baptism to prepare the participant. The believer makes a testimony and/or a bible reading before being fully immersed in a pool by the priest to cleanse them from sin.

Holy Communion

This sacrament reflects on Jesus’ last supper before his crucifixion and his death for our sins. Bread and wine is shared by the congregation, mirroring Jesus’ actions, and prayers, hymns and bible readings take place, led by a minister. he exact order or running of these events varied with the denomination. The word of Jesus of repeated, “this is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me” and “brink, this is my blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins”.

The Catholic Mass

At this ceremony prayers, many of the usual communion celebrations take place, however there is a catholic belief in transubstantiation which differs it to others. Catholics that through the magic of spirit and God the wine and bread is transformed into the blood and body of Christ. This means the Catholics become present in the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ and so they become even more connected to God.

Holly communion (protestant)

Protestants, unlike Catholics, do practise communion yet they do not believe the bread and wine becomes Jesus but instead represents it and symbolises it to focus Christians on Jesus’ sacrifice. This is called Consubstantiation.

Communion importance

Individuals - receive God’s grace in become present and reflecting on great sacrifice of Jesus

Communities - encourage Christians to love and support each other as equals as share the meal of communion

Society - reminds of injustice in the world as some do not have resources to have meals/break bread

Types of Communion

Divine Liturgy (orthodox) - Recreates heaven on earth as service takes place on an altar behind a screen. Candles and incense. Hymns and prayer. Bread baked by congregation shared out by priest.

Catholic Mass - Prayers and Bible readings (for many). Bread and wine on altar and shared by congregation and blessed. The Lord’s Prayer is said.

Non-conformist holy communion - Prayers and Hymns. Prays for world and those in need. People can come forward to take bread or (non alcoholic) wine.

Pilgrimage

An act of worship and devotion by believers where a difficult and important journey is made to a holy site for religious reasons.

Why go on pilgrimage?

Grow closer to God by demonstrating faith and devotion, seek divine aid (for health) or advice, express sorrow for skin and seek forgiveness, thank God, meet others of faith.

Lourdes (France)

A grotto and natural spring in France where in 1856 a young girl called Bernadette had a vision of Mary in a cave near the river and together they prayed with the rosary. Then Mary told Bernadette to dig for a water spring which was found to have healing powers. Now, Christians come here to pray at the grotto where Mary appeared, recite the rosary using rosary prayer beads and bathe in the spring hoping for aid in being cured of sickness or illness. 67 miracles and over 6000 other cures have happened at the spring.

Iona (Scotland)

A place of pilgrimage based in an old small monistic community with multiple places dedicated to virgin Mary. This is known as a “thin place” where the veil between the spiritual and physical world is thinner so it easier to reach and feel connected to God. Here, Christians can hike to holy places, pray, see workshops on Christian themes, go to church service every day.

Christmas

A christina celebration commemorating the incarnation of Jesus on earth and that God became human in Jesus on earth as a gift. It is now a largely secular celebration (especially in western countries like England).

Religious celebrations for Christmas

Nativity scene decorations, 12 days of celebrations, feast of epiphany, Christmas carols and bible readings, midnight mass on Christmas eve, charity giving and nativity plays.

Easter

Arguably the most significant Christian festival as it commemorates Jesus dying for Christians’ sins and then rising from the dead to ascend to heaven. This proves Jesus’ role as the son of God and the power of God and his grace towards humans. The celebrations start with lent and then last a week. Palm Sunday, Maundy-Thursday, Good Friday, holy Saturday and easter Sunday.

Religious celebrations for easter (lead up to friday)

Lent - Jesus’ 40 days of passion and suffering recreated to focus on God.

Palm sunday - recreates Jesus' arrival in Jerusallem as the messiah. Palm leaves make crosses whihc are given out and palm branches brought in with procession.

Maundy Thursday - Remembers last supper, communion takes place

Good Friday Practises

Remembers Jesus’ crusifixion. Services mirror Jesus’ time on the cross tsrating at noon and lasting 3 hours. The church is stripped of decorations and passion plays, meditation and bible readings take place. People also complete marches where a cross is carried, mirroring Jesus’ journey and suffering.

Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday

Jesus’ resurrection and victory celebrated. Churches redecorated with banners and candles, a special candle called a paschal is lit with fives pieces of incense like Jesus’ five injuries. Baptisms occur on Saturday evening (C of E + Roman Catholic). Minister wears white and hymns and baptism take place as Christians celebrate the proven power of God, and existence of heaven and an afterlife. Paradise is now open again as humans save from original sin by Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.

Church

The community of Christians who are followers of Jesus in the local community (and across the globe). They aim to help the local community by offering education, medical aid, community groups and food banks to fulfil Jesus’ wishes of loving one another.

The Trussell Trust

A Christian charity supporting over 1300 food bank centres in the UK. Give food vouchers so desperate people can receive 3 days worth of food donated by the public, give advice and support on how to escape poverty. They are based on the key Christian values: compassion, community, justice and dignity - “for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat”. Want to end poverty in Britain.

Salvation Army

A worldwide Christian church group offering support to suffering groups by offering: drop ins, accommodation and outreach programmes for vulnerable people. They try to improve the lives of many, regardless of background (“love thy neighbour”) and those helping feel they are completing good so they will “rise to heaven”. Those helped may also feel God’s grace and be encouraged to become Christian.

Street Pastors

Following the teahcing of “agape” (selfless and unconditional love to God and all humanity through kindness), street pastors hope to provide a reasuring presence and respond to drunkeness, anti-social behavior and fear of crime. They often call the police and sit with vulnerable poeple to show love and faith. It began in Brixton 2003 from the “ascension trust” charity but has grown massively.

School Pastors

Similarly to street pastors, school pastors hope to aid in creating a safe and comforting environment to prevent bad situations in school by offering support and guidance to young people, educating them and walking them to and from school. This intervention hopes to provide kids with a more stable environment and encourage kind and good behaviour.

Mission and missionaries

Christianity is a missionary faith as at the great commission before Jesus ascended he encouraged Christians to “make disciple of all nations”. Mission is the calling these Christians may feel to go out into the world and spread their faith to fulfil this wish of Jesus. This can often happen in foreign countries and can happen through preaching and/or charitable work

Evangelism

Evangelists spread the Christian gospel as public preaching and personal witness in hopes of educating people on God and their religion in hopes of encouraging more people to become Christian.

The Alpha Course (Britain and the world)

Began in 1977 to help church members understand the basics of Christian faith but it soon adapted to become a tool to introduce people into learning about Christianity (especially as Christian numbers began to drop in the west). It opts to approach faith in a casual, philosophical and spiritual view instead of immediately focussing on Jesus and Scripture (which many people can be overwhelmed by)

Mission in other countries

Christians offer education, medical aid and disaster relief in other countries to demonstrate God’s grace to others and encourage people to join the Christian faith and bring people to salvation (in the afterlife and the present).

Christian Decline

In more prosperous and less desperate areas the numbers of Christians is expected to drop in the future as the faith preaches of a blessed afterlife, which is more appealing to suffering groups of people. This means western countries, which are fullfilled and happy in their lives are less attracted to the faith. (eg. Germany + Northern USA)

Christian Growth

More desperate areas are now being exposed to the faith through missionary work and the teachings of a blessed afterlife are very attractive to the people. (eg. Nigeria)

In the southern States of America evangelist charismatic groups are gaining popularity as their message of a blessed life for Christians is popular.

Culture and Christianity

Although the UK, for example, is no longer a majority Christian country and it’s numbers are declining parts of the religion are ingrained within the countries culture. This includes: Christmas and easter holidays in school and work times, the monarchy and swearing on the bible.

Why is the church declining?

• Less popular ideas of afterlife in privilege countries

• Contravercial views (literalist christians, against same-sex marriages)

• Wide acceptance of sciences

• Difficult to attend church seervices with busy lives

How are the church trying to stop decline?

• Welcoming culture - “I was a stranger and you invited me in” - Encouraging of close relationshps in the church by offering support to eachother with treatment sessions for the vulnerable or coffee-sessions after prayer.

• Willingness to change and adapt in church - This includes changing the times of service or adapting tradition to make church more welcoming and accessible.

Reconciliation

To reach forgiveness from God and restore the relationship between him and humans by first restoring our relationships with one another. “Forgive us our sins as we we forgive those who sin against us”. Also a sacrament in the catholic church where Christians admit to and seek forgiveness for their sins in confessional.

Only possible through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice so we were reconciled with God.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission - South Africa

Desmond Tutu (famous Christian) listened to victims of server trauma give testimonies of their abuse to allow them to get the focus and recognition they deserved. They faced those who had done evil against them so they could reach reconciliation and move on - like opening a festering wound to clean it and then let it heal.

The Corrymeela Community

Ray Davey, survivor of a war camp and witness of the Dresden bombings in 1965 formed the community to promote harmony and reconciliation regardless of denomination and background by sharing stories and create a safe environment to restore balance. They sometime sing to create a community atmosphere.

Christian Persecution

Since christains beginnings there has been persecution against those in the faith - Jesus himself being crusified because of his faith. Today christians face persecution in countries such as North Korea, however they are strong against it thanks to the bible’s encouragement - “Blessed are those who are persecuted… great is your reward in heaven”.

World-wide church community

Corinthians suggests that the Christian church is alike to the body in that it has many different parts and members yet they are all connected and so “if one part suffers, every part suffers with it”.

This encourages the church to respond to persecution of other members of the church by visiting the areas and campaigning for equal treatment.

World Poverty

Christians are encouraged to stop poverty for many reasons, one being the parable of the rich man and Lazarus where a rich man is punished in the afterlife for never giving to the needy. Christians are encouraged to love everyone and help those with less than them. This can occur by giving a tithe every year where a set amount of a christian’s income is given to charity every year.

Christian Aid (charity)

A worldwide organisation who “believe in life before death”. Try to assist in suffering areas and to desperate people by using donations to fund food, shelter, sanitation and psychological assistance. People are also sent to help people try and be self sufficient using money to help start people onto a brighter path by funding new businesses.

CAFOD (Charity)

Christian charity believing “The earth belongs to everybody, not the rich. Attempt to offer clean water ,education, healthcare, disaster relief and fair working practises in desperate areas. Do this through donations and devoted time.

Transubstantiation

The catholic belief that in mass through the magic of Christ the bread and wine is transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ and he is present in the event of Catholic Mass