2) Celebration and Pilgrimage

Question 1

2.1 Christmas

Answer 1

Christian holy day that marks the birth of Jesus (25 Dec)
-celebrating Advent and Christmas

Question 2

2.1 Advent

Answer 2

The period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.
-Always four Sundays before Christmas

Question 3

2.1 Significance of advent

Answer 3

-Means ‘coming’
-to remember the birth of Christ
-thank God for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit
Acknowledge and focus on the second coming of Christ:
-what they need to do to be ready for his return - preparation and anticipation
-for Christians, Advent should also have a sense of seriousness and self-termination
-celebrating involves a season of prayer, fasting, repentance

Question 4

2.1 Advent Customs

Answer 4

Advent wreath:
-with 4 white candles - 1 candle lit on each Sunday of Advent
-5th red candle - represent Jesus as the light of the world and lit on Christmas Eve/ day
-circle of evergreen leaves - represents eternal life
Advent calendar:
-by opening the 24 doors of the Calendar, children are encouraged to think about the passing day of Advent
-waiting in anticipation for Christmas
Charity events:
-advent is traditionally a time for Christians to think about how they can change for the better
-Concern sponsored fast
-Christian Aid - provides resources for schools/ churches

Question 5

2.1 The significance of Christmas

Answer 5

-all about God sending his son into the world as part of his plan is to bring salvation to people
-incarnation (in the flesh) when God became man in the form of baby Jesus

Question 6

2.1 Reasons to celebrate Christmas

Answer 6

Reminds Christians of God’s unconditional love:
-‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’
-we have sinned against God, but He still sent His son to die for our sins
Commemorates the beginning of the end of sin
-before, we lost the intimate fellowship he had with God but through the birth of Jesus, we reconciled back to God

Question 7

2.1 Christmas customs

Answer 7

-the Christingle service
-midnight mass
-family service
-epiphany

Question 8

2.1 The Christingle service

Answer 8

Means ‘Christ Light’. Worshippers (often children) are given a Christingle to hold and there may be a candlelit procession around the church
-orange - the world
-candle - Jesus, the light of the world
-red band - blood of Christ, shed for the world
-cocktail sticks - four seasons
-nuts and fruits - the good things the earth provides

Question 9

2.1 Family service

Answer 9

Some denominations hold a special service on Christmas morning
-young children encouraged to bring toys
-Christmas carols sung
-Bible readings based around Christmas

Question 10

2.1 Epiphany

Answer 10

The twelfth day of Christmas, 4 January is the Epiphany, which marks the end of the Christmas season
-epiphany means ‘to show forth’
-this is the date of the visit of the Magi when Jesus was ‘to show forth’ as God’s son to non-Jews
-Jesus’ birth would be important for all people and not just the Jews
-idea known as universalism

Question 11

2.1 Easter

Answer 11

Commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Question 12

2.1 Lent

Answer 12

Easter begins with Lent, which is the 40 days leading up to Holy Week

Question 13

2.1 Significance of Lent

Answer 13

Christians remember when Jesus went into the desert to fast and was tempted by the Devil

Question 14

2.1 What Christians do in Lent

Answer 14

-some Christians fast in remembrance of Jesus’ actions
-many give up something they enjoy eating or drinking, such as chocolate or alcohol
-to challenge themselves to resist temptation as Jesus did

Question 15

2.1 Holy week

Answer 15

A week before Easter Sunday that recalls the suffering and death of Jesus
-Psalm Sunday
-Holy Monday
-Holy Tuesday
-Holy Wednesday
-Maundy Thursday
-Good Friday
-Holy Saturday
-Easter Sunday

Question 16

2.1 Psalm Sunday

Answer 16

On the day, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The people showed him love by waving palm branches as he passed by.
-Palm crosses are given out during Christian services on Psalm Sunday to commemorate this event

Question 17

2.1 Holy Monday

Answer 17

Commemorates Jesus’ cleansing of the temple, when he committed aggravated assault against money changers and other commercial interests who had tables in the temple
-Christians might confess to sins in their own life

Question 18

2.1 Holy Tuesday

Answer 18

Recalls Jesus’ description to his disciples on the Mount of Olives of the destruction of Jerusalem
-Christians might remember that God’s kingdom will be different to what we expect and not entirely of this world

Question 19

2.1 Holy Wednesday

Answer 19

Recalls Judas’ decision to betray Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver
-Christians look to avoid deceit in their own lives

Question 20

2.1 Maundy Thursday

Answer 20

Commemorates the Last Supper, Jesus’ arrest
-Roman Catholic priests will wash 12 members of the congregation’s feet
-reminder to the attendees that they should be prepared to service the needs of others, like Jesus
-other churches perform the Eucharist - where wine and bread are consecrated and consumed

Question 21

2.1 Good Friday

Answer 21

Recalls Jesus’ death on the cross. By doing so, he repented for the sins of all humanity
-3 hour main service in some churches, to represent 3 hours Jesus spent on the cross
-The RCC - hold a procession called the stations of the cross which re-enacts Jesus’ journey carrying the cross to his cruxifiction
-evangelical churches might perform plays

Question 22

2.1 Holy Saturday

Answer 22

Final day of Holy week and Lent
-CofE and RC might do an Easter vigil at night to reflect on the suffering of death

Question 23

2.1 Easter Sunday

Answer 23

Day of Jesus’ resurrection
-churches hold vigils on the Saturday evening before services the following Sunday -staying awake to keep watch over the sick, to pray or protest during hours usually given to sleep
-Easter Sunday is a day of joy to celebrate what God has done for humanity
-have a baptism - to be reborn into Christianity like Jesus
-breaking of the Lenten Fast - after sacrificing something you will enjoy it more. Sacrificing for God for eternal life after
-Giving of eggs - symbolises life and the shape of the entrance of the tomb

Question 24

2.2 Pilgrimage

Answer 24

A journey which has religious and spiritual significance, usually to an important religious place. People who go pilgrimage are pilgrims

Question 25

2.2 Purpose of pilgrimage

Answer 25

-meet other Christians to discuss faith and deepen religious understanding
-meet other faiths and deepen understanding of the manifold representations of God
-to break away from mundane routines and life to foster new spiritual connections
-to follow in the footsteps of key figures in the faith

Question 26

2.2 Protestant view today on pilgrimage

Answer 26

Many visit sites such as Jerusalem to feel connected to Jesus and reflect on their faith. However, they would not worship saints or shrines

Question 27

2.2 John Calvin view on pilgrimage

Answer 27

-Protestant reformer
Criticised the practices of celebrating relics and creating shrines at certain sites
-believed these were not true signs of worship and distracted from the purpose of worship
-protestants also considered worshipping figures such as the Virgin Mary a form of idolatry as only God can be worshipped

Question 28

2.2 Roman Catholic view on pilgrimage

Answer 28

Many Catholics make pilgrimage to sites that connect them to saints or sites in which the Virgin Mary has been sighted

Question 29

2.2 Arguments for Pilgrimage

Answer 29

-demonstrates a sustained commitment over a period of time: financially and spiritually
-develop a ‘placed’ understanding of stories which can seem distant
-meet other Christians who can develop faith in new ways
-stories of life changing accounts
-‘Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps’ (1 Peter)

Question 30

2.2 Arguments against pilgrimage

Answer 30

-doubts over original sites and events since they are old
-Christians should have faith instead of acts - ‘blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’ (John 20)
-risk of idolatry (John Calvin)
-money spend could be better used helping those in need
-sites become commercials. Shops can sell souvenirs, including statues of the Virgin Mary

Question 31

2.2 Jerusalem

Answer 31

The capital city of Israel when Jesus was alive. The city where he was crucified, buried and rose again
-it is a place where the Bible comes alive
-Via Dolorosa
-Church of the Holy Sepulchre
-Stone of unction

Question 32

2.2 Jerusalem - Via Dolorosa

Answer 32

-the way of sorrows
-processional route, representing the path Jesus would have taken on his way to his cruxifiction

Question 33

2.2 Jerusalem - Church of the Holy Scepulchre

Answer 33

-Two churches built by Constantine
1-built over the spot where Jesus’ tomb is believed to be
2-where Jesus cruxifiction is said to have taken place

Question 34

2.2 Jerusalem - Stone of unction

Answer 34

Believed to be where Jesus’ body is laid to rest
-pour oil and rub off into handkerchief to bring home as a relic

Question 35

2.2 Bethlehem

Answer 35

Traditional site of the birth of Jesus
-The church of Nativity- resides over the spot and built by Emperor Constantine
-Grotto of the Nativity 14 pointed gold star - agreed site of the birth of Jesus
-Chapel of the Manger - where Jesus was placed as a baby

Question 36

2.2 Walsingham

Answer 36

Civil parish in Norfolk, England which is famous for its religious shrines in honour of Jesus
-vision of virgin Mary’s home by the Lady of the Manor of Walsingham in 1000s. She was told to build this home in Walsingham as she saw it in the vision
-Builders struggled to build it, but one day found it had moved 200 yards by itself and completed