Christianity: Practices

what is worship?

-any act that shows devotion or love for God

what are some examples of the ways that Christians worship?

-prayer

-reading from the Holy Bible

-attending the Eucharist

-singing religious songs

QUOTE : why do many Christians believe that worshipping together is essential?

-Jesus said 'For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.' ( Matthew 18:20 )

what are the three main forms of worship?

-liturgical worship

-non-liturgical / informal worship

-individual ( private ) worship

what is meant by liturgical worship?

-a pattern of worship with set prayers ( e.g. the Lord's Prayer ) and readings that can be found in a printed book

-Christians often join together as a congregation in church to participate in liturgical worship and sing hymns, pray and recite set responses to readings

FOR EXAMPLE :

-Catholic and Church of England Christians have their main service on a Sunday morning

why do some Christians prefer liturgical worship?

-it means that different churches in different areas will be taking part in the same worship at the same time, in the past, present and in the future

-people can feel more involved in their Christian community as they are taking part in the same worship and experience of others

-in the Bible, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, and the Eucharist is based on his Last Supper therefore Christians who take part in liturgical worship may feel closer to Jesus

-some Christians believe that liturgical worship is most respectful

what is meant by non-liturgical / informal worship?

-a church service which does not follow a set text or ritual and is often called 'spontaneous' or 'charismatic' in nature

FOR EXAMPLE :

-the Society of Friends ( Quakers ) and Evangelical worship

what is the nature of the Society of Friends ( Quakers ) non-liturgical worship?

-rather than holding services in churches, Quakers worship together in meeting houses

-meetings last about an hour and have no set hymns, prayers or sermons

-everyone worships as equals as there is no leader and worshippers usually sit in a circle to show that their is no hierarchy

-everyone waits in shared silence until someone is moved by the Spirit ( has a strong religious feeling ) to do something as part of their worship

-they believe that God speaks through the contributions made at the meeting and some people say that there is often a feeling that a divine presence has settled over the group

-the words should come from the soul / the inner light rather than the mind

-the Spirit assures Quakers that we belong to God as he 'speaks to us deep in our hearts'

why do some Christians prefer non-liturgical / informal worship?

-it means that they can worship in the way that they feel is best for them and express their love for God in a genuine and unrestricted way, rather than following meaningless rituals

-in the Bible, Jesus said 'for where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them' and therefore if people are worshipping together, even informally, they may feel very close to Jesus

what is meant by individual ( private ) worship?

-worship on your own to seek a personal relationship with God ( e.g. praying or reading the Bible at home )

QUOTE : why does some Christians prefer individual ( private ) worship?

-it can offer great freedom to people as they get to decide how to worship and may feel a more personal connection with God

-in the Bible, Jesus said 'but when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen' and therefore some Christians believe that both corporate ( shared by a whole group, not just an individual ) and individual worship is important

what is prayer?

-how Christians communicate with God and receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit

-Christians think of prayer as a two-way method of communication that gives comfort as God is listening and may send messages back

what are five main categories of prayer ( ACTS & I ) and what do they mean?

A-adoration = praising God

C-confession = admitting to sins and asking for forgiveness

T-thanksgiving = giving thanks to God for what he has given ( e.g. Jesus' sacrifice, creation, or personal things like family )

S-supplication = asking God for something ( e.g. strength through times of difficulty )

&

I-intercession = asking God to help other people

what is a sacrament?

-an outward, visible sign of an inward, invisible blessing by God

-this means a rite ( religious ceremony / practice ) is performed that is believed to be linked to a spiritual gift of grace from God

what are the seven sacraments recognised by the Catholic Church?

SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION :

-baptism = some Christian denominations baptise babies and some baptise adults

-confirmation = a ceremony marking a person's choice to take on the full responsibility of being a member of the Catholic Church

-eucharist = re-enactment of the Last Supper

SACRAMENTS OF HEALING :

-reconciliation = confessing and apologising for sins to a priest, who gives forgiveness on behalf of God after the confessor performs a penance

-anointing of the sick = a ceremony in which God's grace is passed on to a very sick or dying person

SACRAMENTS OF SERVICE :

-ordination / holy orders = becoming a priest

-marriage = the joining together of a couple in a formal union intended to be lifelong

what sacraments do the Church of England and many other Protestant denominations recognise?

-the gospel sacraments ( baptism and the eucharist ) which were directly commanded by Christ in the gospels and are necessary for salvation

why do the Quakers ( the Society of Friends ) and the Salvation Army reject all sacraments?

-they believe that Jesus did not intend for baptism or the eucharist to become a rigid constraint for people

-rituals are a distraction as they become the focus of worship, with the inward grace forgotten

-there is no need for a ritual to be performed to secure God's grace

-God can speak directly to an individual's heart, he does not need a mechanism to do it

QUOTES : why is baptism a sacred sacrament?

-Jesus was baptised by his cousin ( John the Baptist ) and baptism remains important for Christians because after his resurrection, Jesus told his followers that they too should be baptised as 'no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit' ( John 3:3-6 ) and he told his disciples to '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 )

what does baptism do?

-cleanses people from original sin and welcomes a Christian into God's family

why does the Catholic Church practise infant baptism?

-so that anyone, even a baby, can receive God's forgiveness, be saved from sin and access eternal life in heaven

what happens in infant baptism?

-for Orthodox Christians, infant baptism involves total immersion whereas in other denominations, priests use holy oil to make the sign of the cross on the baby's head before sprinkling the baby with holy water

IN INFANT BAPTISM...

-some Christians like to dress the infant in white to symbolise purity

-the baby's head is anointed with oil in the sign of the cross

-water is poured from a font over their head three times to represent the three persons of the Trinity, following Jesus' instruction to baptise 'in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit'

-parents and godparents make promises on behalf of the child

-promises are made using a question-and-answer liturgy to accept the creed, renounce evil and raise the child as a Christian

-a lighted candle is given to the child's family as a sign of Christ, the light of the world

QUOTES : who is Believer's baptism practised by and why do these denominations teach that baptism should only occur once somebody is an adult?

-Evangelicals, Baptists and Pentecostals

-they believe that becoming part of a faith community is an important commitment that people should choose for themselves

-Christians should follow Jesus' example as closely as possible, and he was baptised as an adult

-the Bible seems to support adult baptism as there are no examples of babies being baptised in the Bible

-Jesus does not recommend baptising people as soon as they are born because in the Bible, a person called Nicodemus asks Jesus 'how can someone be born again when they are old?' to which he replies 'you must be born again' ( John 3:4-7 ), and this shows that baptism ( being 'born again' ) was practised on adults ( people who are 'old' ), rather than infants

what happens in Believer's baptism?

-Baptists usually give their testimony, telling of their conversion or their personal journey into the Christian faith

-those who are to be baptised publicly declare penitence ( confession and repentance for sin, resulting in forgiveness ) for their sins

-the person's whole body is fully immersed into the water, for some this happens three times, symbolising death to the old life and rebirth into the new

-there is no need for parents or godparents to be present because the person can make the decision to turn to Christ themselves

QUOTE : why is the Eucharist a sacred sacrament?

-Jesus told his disciples that they should take bread and wine in memory of him

-the Bible says 'the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "this is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." in the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying "this cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."' ( 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 )

when is the Eucharist celebrated?

-the Catholic Church states that Christians should celebrate the Eucharist at least once a year at Easter, but preferably they should receive it at least once a week ( every mass on Sunday ) as it is essential to bring them into union with Christ and sustain their relationship with God

what are some of the different Christian beliefs about the significance of the bread and wine in the Eucharist?

-transubstantiation = Roman Catholics believe that during the Eucharist ( which they call Holy Communion ) the bread and wine are transformed into the actual flesh and blood of Jesus Christ

-commemoration = some Christians believe that the Eucharist is a re-enactment of the Last Supper and the bread and wine are seen as emblems of Jesus' sacrifice

-symbolic = Baptists believe that the bread and wine are symbols that can be used to bring people together as a community, and they use non-alcoholic wine and the bread is offered from person to person

-mystical = Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus is mystical present in the bread and wine

-consubstantiation = Church of England Christians believe that the bread and wine contain Jesus' spiritual presence but do not literally transform into his body and blood ( transubstantiation )

what is pilgrimage and what do Christians believe about it?

-a journey that has religious or spiritual significance, usually taken to an important religious place

-pilgrimage is not compulsory in Christianity but many Christians believe that the act of pilgrimage is symbolic of their journey through life as they become closer to God

what are some of the purposes of pilgrimage?

-deepen their connection to God

-feel connected to the worldwide community of Christians, and to meet Christians from different denominations

-learn more about and feel connected to the history of Christianity

-see sights where miracles happened and receive special blessings

-seek healing or self-acceptance of ailments

QUOTE : what are the three main pilgrimage sites for Christians and why do they want to visit them?

-The Holy Land, Jerusalem = where Jesus lived, died and came back to life

-Taizé = home to an ecumenical community of one hundred Catholic and Protestant monks from around the world, and so pilgrims who visit show that they value the teaching in the Bible that 'we are all one in Jesus'

-The Shrine of Our Lady, Walsingham = believed to be the site of an important vision of the Virgin Mary ( also known as Our Lady )

what do Christians do on pilgrimage to Jerusalem?

-visit places associated with Jesus and follow his last journey through the streets of Jerusalem before his crucifixion

-the stopping places where events are told of in the Bible such as places where Jesus fell, the place where he died and the site of his tomb

what do Christians do on pilgrimage to Taizé?

-young people are encouraged to live out the Christian Gospel in a spirit of joy, simplicity and reconciliation

-experience Taizé's unique meditative music and chants as part of candlelit worship

-gather with the monks for prayer, three times a day

what do Christians do on pilgrimage to Walsingham?

-some Catholic Christians walk the last mile to the shrine barefoot to show their devotion and desire for forgiveness ( an act of penance )

-there are daily services where pilgrims pray together, especially saying the rosary, celebrating eucharist and receiving blessings

-pilgrims go on a procession from the ruined priory ( a small monastery ) to the shrine

-there is a daily service called the Sprinkling of the Well, as some pilgrims believe that the water of the church well can bring special blessings

what does Christmas celebrate and when is it celebrated?

-the birth of Jesus

-the actual date of Jesus' birth is unknown, but the Western Church celebrates Christmas on 25th December and the Eastern Church celebrates it on 6th January

what is Advent and what are some key events during it?

-the season leading up to Christmas

-preparations begin four Sundays before Christmas Day

KEY EVENTS :

-Christians count down to Jesus' arrival using an Advent wreath and four candles, one to symbolise each of the four Sundays in Advent

-people put up lights and light candles, which Christians use as a reminder that for them, Jesus is the light of the world

-Christians celebrate this time of year by praying together and enjoying family time

-Nativity plays, re-telling the story of Jesus' birth are often performed in schools

-Christians sing carols

-a nativity display may be put on display in Christian homes and churches

-Christingle services may be held

what happens on Christmas Eve?

-midnight mass is a service celebrated on the night of Christmas Eve

-a final candle, called the Christ Candle, is lit on the Advent wreath

-carols are sung, readings and a sermon are heard, and the eucharist is shared at midnight, often by candlelight

-Orthodox Christians observe a full fast, abstaining from all food as they prepare for Christ's birth

what happens on Christmas Day?

-the main Christmas Day service is held mid-morning and the Eucharist is celebrated together as a church community

-it is a joyful time and ministers from robed traditions wear gold or white

-in the Orthodox Church, all-night services are held that end with a proclamation on Christmas morning that Christ is born

-the Salvation Army uses Christmas as a time of work to ensure the homeless are provided for during the winter, as they believe that Jesus' family was poor and without shelter before his birth

-they form bands to play carols in towns to raise awareness and funds to provide for the poor

-Christmas celebrations in the Western world are more commercialised than in the East, with the buying and receiving of gifts and cards

-in the UK, many people celebrate the holiday and its traditions even if they are not Christians

what is Easter and when is it celebrated?

-the most important celebration for Christians as it celebrates Jesus' victory over death

-this celebration marks the central belief of Christianity: Jesus' death for humanity's salvation from sin and his rising to new life and a new covenant

-Easter is a moveable feast so the date on which it is celebrated varies from year to year

-in Western Churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, on or after 21st March

-the Orthodox Church times it differently so that it always occurs after the Jewish Passover

what does the preparation for Easter begin with?

-Lent

-this starts on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days

-this period recalls Jesus fasting in the desert after his baptism

-during Lent it is traditional to give up a luxury or to fast as an act of penance

-Ash Wednesday includes a church service where worshippers receive a cross of ash on their foreheads

what is Holy Week and when does it begin?

-the week leading up to Easter is called Holy Week and begins on Palm Sunday

-the services remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, when the crowds laid palm branches before him

-services may take place outside and can involve a circuit of the church or a walk through the town waving crosses made out of palm leaves

what is Maundy Thursday?

-this day marks the Last Supper, Jesus' betrayal and his arrest with an evening Eucharist

-Christians remember Jesus' commandment to love each other

-Catholic priests may wash the feet of twelve churchgoers as an act of service, just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples

-the Pope holds celebrations in the Vatican and washes the feet of those often shunned in Christianity society

what is Good Friday?

-this is a day of quiet reflection and mourning

-Jesus is believed to have died at 3pm, so services take place in the afternoon around this time

-no sacraments are shared on this day and Catholics may hold a fast

-some churches hold a parade in the streets carrying a cross

-others hold Passion Plays that re-enact the story of Jesus' death

what is Easter Sunday?

-on Saturday night, some churches hold an all-night or early-morning vigil around a fire outside the church until sunrise

-Easter morning is welcomed with joyful celebrations

-the Paschal candle is lit and Catholics place five pieces of incense in it to represent the five wounds of Jesus

-the Eucharist is shared and the service is celebratory

-robed ministers will wear white or gold on this day, and flowers fill the church

-the sharing of chocolate Easter eggs is a popular custom

-it represents the new life offered by Jesus' resurrection, and is shared by many non-Christians as well

-it has become part of UK culture and marks the beginning of spring

what do the census figures from 2001 and 2011 show about Christianity in Britain?

-the statistics show that Christianity remains the main religion in Great Britain, but in the ten years between censuses, the number of Christians reduced significantly from 41 million people to 33.2 million

-the data also shows a rise in members of non-Christian religious faiths, especially for Islam, which in 2011 was the second largest group with 2.7 million people in England and Wales

-closer analysis shows a rise in the proportion of Christians who have minority ethnic backgrounds, which suggests that increases in the popularity of religion may come from more recent migration

-another change is the significant rise in the number of people who stated 'no religion' on their census form, which suggests a significant rise in the number of people who are Atheist or Agnostic, from 8.6 million people in 2001 to 14.1 million in 2011

-all this presents Great Britain as an increasingly pluralist society, with people from a diverse range of backgrounds living alongside each other

-the censuses also show that Britain is increasingly secular with many more people claiming to have 'no religion'

what are some key facts about Christianity and the law in the UK?

-the Church of England is the Anglican Church, which is a Protestant denomination and is the official religion of the UK

-the King is the official head of the Church of England, and he is also the head of state, which means that while he does not make laws, he opens Parliament, agrees to legislation and officially appoints the prime minister

-this means the church is still influential in UK law

-there are two levels of administration of law in the UK

-the House of Commons contains elected people known as MPs

-the House of Lords contains unelected people, including 26 Church of England bishops

-for a law to be approved, it must be passed by both houses, so the Church has a role in shaping laws that affect everyone, whether they are Christian or not

-witnesses in court are asked to swear an oath to tell the truth while placing their hand on a Bible or other sacred text

-some people say that many of the laws in the UK have their roots in Christianity, for example, there are laws that reflect the Ten Commandments, which forbid stealing and murder

-many Christians would argue that the laws by which people live in the UK reflect a tradition of Christian justice, fairness and loving one's neighbour

what are some key facts about Christian festivals in the UK?

-school holidays and public holidays in the UK are often based around Christian festivals, for instance, schools have a Christmas holiday, and Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays for all UK workers

-similarly, following public holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday ( immediately after Easter Sunday ), most schools have a break for two weeks, which some schools refer to as the Easter holiday

-these public holidays were originally intended for religious observance, although nowadays many people think of them as simply breaks from school or work

-while festivals from other faiths are becoming increasingly familiar in the UK, they are not currently enshrined in UK culture

-therefore, while Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest, activity in the UK is not restricted to reflect this

what is the main function of a local church?

-a place for Christians to worship

-Bible study groups and Sunday schools run by local churches are opportunities to worship and learn more about Christianity

-rites of passage, such as baptisms, confirmations and marriages, are held in local churches, encouraging the involvement of the community

QUOTES : why do many Christians work to help their communities become better places and how do they put their faith in action?

-they see this as putting their Christian faith into action

-Jesus taught that people cannot love God if they ignore those in need: 'If anyone has material possessions and ignores his brother in need, how can he love God?' ( 1 John 3:17 )

-Christian churches are often open all day for quiet reflection, and everyone is welcome to attend their services

-in this way, churches can provide support to the lonely and help those in need

-many Christians volunteer for local charities, and some churches run food banks from their halls

-some Christians volunteer as street pastors, going out onto the streets at night to care for the homeless and those who are at risk

-this practice flows from one of Jesus' key teachings: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' ( Mark 12:31 )

in what ways does the Salvation Army carry out its work?

-setting up food kitchens

-organising toy collections at Christmas

-operating an advice network

-running affordable nurseries so that parents can work and provide for their families

-providing summer camps and after-school clubs to provide children with a safe environment where they can gain independence and life skills

-attending political conferences to raise the concerns of society's most vulnerable people

-supporting people addicted to drugs, alcohol and other substances

-fighting to end modern-day slavery

-organising events for the elderly to reduce isolation

QUOTE : what is evangelism and why is it believed to be a Christian duty?

-preaching the gospel to others with the intention of converting them to the Christian faith

-they do it because Jesus told his followers to '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 )

what is a mission and what are the problems associated with Christian mission?

-a special assignment or purpose

-Christian mission involves spreading the gospel story to everyone, especially overseas

-historically, this has been controversial as some consider it disrespectful to the culture and faith of the places visited by missionaries

-non-Christians may feel that mission interferes with a person's choice to believe what they want, therefore, many missions today place more emphasis on providing help for people in need and putting Christ's love ( agape ) into action

what are some key facts about the work of Tearfund?

-Tearfund is an example of a Christian mission

-it is a Christian charity that aspires to place agape ( Christ's unconditional love ) as central to their work by bringing practical help to vulnerable people

-Tearfund has been operating for over 50 years and works in over 50 different countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa as well as the UK

-they provide emergency disaster relief and long-term projects such as building toilets in poor communities, linking churches with partners overseas, and running education and youth volunteer schemes

-Tearfund's recent work has included medical assistance in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh

-they work to provide child-friendly spaces for orphans and traumatised children, as well as education, water and hygiene provisions

what is ecumenism?

-the idea of creating greater unity and closeness between the different denominations of Christianity

QUOTE : what are some key facts about the persecution of Christians ( past and present )?

-Jesus warned his followers to expect persecution for their faith: 'You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.' ( Matthew 10:22 )

-early Christians, like Jesus, were persecuted and even martyred for their faith by the Pharisees and the Romans

-Christians in the second century were thrown to wild animals for refusing to give up their faith, and church leaders were put to death

-the persecution of Christians has continued up to the present day; in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI called Christians the most persecuted group in the modern world

-the World Evangelical Alliance reports that over 100,000 Christians are violently killed every year and millions are denied their fundamental human rights because of their faith

-Christian Freedom International and Open Doors are organisations based in the UK who help persecuted Christians

-Christian Freedom International is a human rights organisation that advocates for persecuted and oppressed Christians

-they provide spiritual support through prayer, and physical help by distributing food, water, medicine, clothing and Bibles

-they also build hospitals and schools in refugee camps, and they look to scripture for their inspiration

-Open Doors works in over 60 countries, supplying Bibles, training leaders how to resist persecution, and providing practical support and emergency relief for Christians who suffer for their faith

-founded by Brother Andrew from the Netherlands, the charity began its work in Eastern Europe and expanded to work in Africa, Asia, Latin America, China and the Muslim world

why is reconciliation important for Christians?

-they believe that Jesus was the ultimate example of reconciliation, because his sacrifice healed the broken relationship between God and humanity

-so, following Jesus' example, Christians believe that reconciliation is something everybody should aim for