Christian practices AQA

Worship key bits

·       Act of religious praise, honour, or devotion

·       Christians may worship in a church.

·       Muslims may worship in a Mosque.

e.g prayer, bible readings, hymns

Why worship?

·       Praise and thank God.

·       Atone for their sins.

·       Seek God’s help for themselves or those who may be suffering.

·       Deepen relationship with God.

Give them comfort

Different types of worship and why they would do it

Liturgical worship	-          Led by priest. -          Bible passages read out loud. -          Hymns will be sung by congregation or choir	-          People receive forgiveness from God through the action of the priest. -          Ritual has been passed down through generations – sense of tradition
Non-Liturgical worship	-          No set orders. -          Have emphasis on the word of God in the bible. -          Session focused on bible readings and a sermon based on the reading. -          E.g Methodist, Baptist, United Reformed Churches	-          Faith expressed in variety of ways. -          Service may have emotional impact - personal revelation from God.
Informal worship	-          Quaker worship is mainly silent, and people speak when they feel Gods presence moving them. -          Community/house churches meet to eat and share their faith. -          Type of charismatic worship – led by the spirit, may involve dancing, clapping, calling out, speaking in tongues. -          Easier to experience God’s holy spirit. -          E.g Pentecostal Church	-          Service may have emotional impact – personal revelation from God. -          Worship follows style of early Christians
Private Worship	-          People spend time alone with God. -          Prayer, meditation, studying. -          Using aids e.g rosary	-          Helps one build discipline which gives them strength to cope in hard times. -          Routinely have God in every day of your life -          Find sense of peace and communication with God in everyday

Different types of prayer:

set prayers- prayers that have been written down and said more than once by more than one person for example the lord’s prayer

informal prayer- prayer that is made up by an individual using his or her own words

nonconformist- english protestant who does not conform to the doctrines or practices of the established church of english

Lord’s prayer

·       Pattern of how to pray which includes A.C.T.S

·       Reminder that a Christian must forgive others.

Gives a sense of unity.

“our father in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. give us today our daily bread. forgive us our sins”

different denominations pray differently

-          Orthodox – icons

-          Nonconformists – sit

-          Anglicans – kneel

-          Catholics – rosary (do more on rosary)

quotes for prayer

“Bless us o Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”  Catholic Grace before meals#

Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

What are sacraments

rites and rituals through which the believer recieves a special gift of grace for catholics anglicans and many protestants sacraments are outward signs of inward grace

Baptism- physical and spiritual

Sacrament	Outward sign (physical act)	Invisible Grace (spiritual meaning)
Baptism	Anointing or full submersion of a baby or adult in water	Receiving absolution (forgiveness) and completing a penance to show one’s sincerity

Believers baptism vs infant baptism

believers- initiation into church by immersion in water of people old enough to understand the ceremony who are willing to live a christian life

infant- ritual through which babies/ young children become members of church where promises are taken on their behalf by adults - infant freed from sin and introduced to the saving love of God and support of Christian community

Quote for baptism

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)”

Holy communion (Eucharist) - different takes

transubstantiation- when the priest blesses the bread and wine it physically becomes the blood and flesh of Jesus 

memorialism- Christs spirit enters the food and drink but is still bread and wine  

consubstantation- just a way to remember him  

Communion quote

-  Matthew 26:26 “Take eat, this is my body”

How different denominations celebrate

-          Christians give thanks

-          Eat bread and drink wine

Divine liturgy (orthodox):

-          Recreates heaven on earth

-          Takes place behind iconostasis (represents divide between earth and heaven)

-          Hymns are sung

-          Bible is read

-          Prayers offered to local community

Liturgy of Catholic mass

-          Offerings of bread and wine

-          Priest says eucharist prayer

-          Lord’s prayer is said

-          Priest blesses congregation who come forward \

 

Holy Communion in Anglican church

-          Sign of peace offered before bread wine

-          Similar to that of a catholic church  

 

Holy Communion in Nonconformist

-          Begins with hymn

-          Congregation prays for the old

-          Eat bread and wine and include Jesus words ‘This is my body, this is my blood’

All sacraments overview

Sacrament	Outward sign (physical act)	Invisible Grace (spiritual meaning)
Baptism	Anointing or full submersion of a baby or adult in water	Receiving absolution (forgiveness) and completing a penance to show one’s sincerity
Confirmation	Repeating the promises made on our behalf at baptism and the anointing with oil by a Bishop	Being blessed by a Bishop and making lifelong vows of celibacy and service to the Church
Holy Communion	Taking Bread and Wine	Remembering Jesus’ death on the cross and receiving his Grace
Reconciliation	Confessing one’s sins to a priest	Receiving absolution (forgiveness) and completing a penance to show one’s sincerity
Marriage	Sharing of vows and rings	Two people become one in the sight of God in an unbreakable union
Holy Orders	Being ordained as a priest and being able to celebrate the sacraments such as marriage and communion	Receiving the Holy Spirit and full membership of the Church
Anointing the sick	Anointing the dying or sick with oil and praying for them	Bring peace and comfort to those near death

Pilgramidges and importance

Lourdes	-          dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus -          Bernadette said she saw Mary while she was praying to the rosary	-          Help people strengthen their faith in Christ -          Shows devotion to Christ
Iona	-          thin place/veil between spiritual and natural world Ecumenical -> all denominations	-          Help people strengthen their faith in Christ -          Shows devotion to Christ

Pilgramidge quote

“I raised my head to look at the grotto, I saw a lady dressed in white” Bernadette describing vision of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes

Christmas + quote

-          The day which commemorates the incarnation, birth of Jesus -          Commemorates salvation -          Trees decorated with light to represent Jesus being the light of the world -          Churches have carol service’s -          Children act out nativity plays -          People exchange cards and gifts

-          Remember birth of incarnate, Jesus

“father you make this holy night radiant with the splendour of Jesus Christ our light” from opening prayer of catholic midnight mass at christmas

Easter + quote

-          Religious season celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead -          Hymns sung -          Orthodox Christians walk around church at midnight on Saturday and enter dark church with lamps

-          Celebrates Passover (saved Jews from slavery and into freedom)

“christ is risen from the dead” from Orthadox hymn at easrer divine liturgy

Role of church-Food banks +quote

·       Food banks are often funded by parish churches to provide for those unable to afford it. Jesus is notably remembered doing something similar with his miracle of feeding the 5000. ·       Some examples of these establishments include the Trussel Trust and the Oasis project.

Matthew 23:35-36: “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.”

Role of church-Street pastors +quote

·    parish nursing    Volunteering members (not necessarily priests) provide reassuring services to those who are vulnerable on the streets. ·       This organisation is in nearly 300 locations worldwide with around 14,000 trained volunteers. idea of agape

James 2:17: “Faith itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Role of church-Mission + quote

·       Mission work is Christians letting others know about their religion. Missionaries also often help those in need in the name of God and is keen to spread their faith. ·       The Alpha Course was set up so that everyone could come and ask about Christianity.

Matthew 28:19: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.”

Role of church- evangelism (same quote as mission)

·       Evangelism is the act of converting others to Christianity. ·       Christ for all Nations (CfaN) was set up by Reinhard Bonnke, who believed God had called him to convert or ‘save’ Africa.

Matthew 28:19 may also be used.

Reconciliation + 2quotes

·       Christians view reconciliation as the best teaching Jesus offered. This can be both applied within relationships between humans and relationships between humans and God.   ·       The Corrymeela Community, founded in 1965, focuses

Ephesians 5:1-14: “You were once in darkness; now you are light in the Lord, so walk as children of light.”   Romans 5:10: “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life”

Persecution + quotes

·       Christians were discriminated against in 139 countries in 2012. ·       Persecution ranges from not allowing them to have good jobs, attacking their homes.

2 Timothy 3:12: “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” Matthew 5:10: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

response to persecution + quote

·       Strengthens their faith in God

·       Must decide whether to fully commit to God or not

·       Not scared because it is in the bible that they will be persecuted

Romans 12:

“Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good

Barnabus fund

·       Send financial support to projects that help Christians who are suffering from discrimination, oppression due to their faith.

 

These projects aim to strengthen Christian individuals, churches and communities by providing material and spiritual support.

Christians and poverty +quote

·       Main Christian teaching is agape, the second great commandment. ·       The parable of the Rich man and Lazarus.(A rich man lives in luxury while a poor beggar named Lazarus suffers outside his gate. When both die, Lazarus is comforted in heaven, while the rich man is tormented in hell, showing the consequences of ignoring the needy.) ·       The parable of the Good Samaritan.(A man is beaten and left for dead. A priest and Levite pass by without helping, but a Samaritan—a social outcast—shows compassion and cares for him, teaching that true neighborly love crosses social and ethnic boundaries.)

1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth”

Charities for poverty

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), Christian Aid and Tearfund

·       All Christian organisations that help communities who are facing sever poverty in the world