3) Worship and Practice Flashcards
3.1 Christian church
Where the Christian communities come together and praise God
-place of worship for all Christians
-Where community gathers
-works of charity carried out
-place of healing
3.1 Physical elements of a Catholic Church
-Altar
-Font
-Lectern
-Confessional
-Statues
-Lady Chapel
3.1 Altar
Focal point of the church. Where the bread and wine are blessed to become the body and blood of Christ
3.1 Font
A stand that contains holy water in a basin at the top
-Catholics are baptised over the font. First sacrament all Catholics will receive
-Situated near the door, symbolising welcoming of New Catholics
3.1 Lectern
Stand where the readings, Gospels and sermons are read from
-important as they are the word of God
-found at the front of church to the side
3.1 Confessional
Box/ stall used for the sacrament of reconciliation (one of the 7 Catholic sacraments)
3.1 Statues
Reminder of faith and an aid to worship
3.1 Lady Chapel
Side Chapel of a church building dedicated to Mary
-not all churches have one
3.1 Non-conforming chapels
Simpler buildings than churches
-tend not to have spires on roofs
-may have a balcony to allow more room for congregation
-internal layout serves main purpose of hearing God’s word and singing his praises
3.1 Physical elements of a non-conforming chapel
-pulpit/ lectern - where the minister will read the Bible
-small table - in front of pulpit/ lectern for communion
-organ - accompanies hymns
-baptisery pool (in Baptist churches) - situated in front where adults are baptised
3.1 Quaker place of worship
Place of worship is called a meeting house
-plain room with seating arranged in a square/ circle - so people can see/ be aware of each other, but they are all equal
-simple to allow members to commune with God’s spirit
3.2 Styles of worship
-liturgical
-non-liturgical
-informal
3.2 Liturgical style of worship
-Catholic, Anglican
-set prayers and readings
-same order of service
-congregation follows service book
-fixed patterns
3.2 Non-liturgical style of worship
-methodist, united reform church
-follows a set pattern, no set prayers/ service books
-every service is similar but different from the last
3.2 Informal style of worship
-quakers, evangelical, ‘charismatic churches’
-highly energetic, singing
-spontaneous, changes
-could be led by anyone
-no set order/ service book
3.2 Argument for liturgical worship
-set format helps the worship to become a repeated ritual with a clear place in people’s lives
-connects worshippers to the rest of the church as everyone is worshipping in the same way - creates a sense of belonging
3.2 Argument for non-liturgical worship
-worshippers believe the Holy Spirit is present and allows them to carry out God’s wishes
-evangelical Christians clap and shout during a service - worship with their whole body, not just their minds
3.2 Roman Catholic Church view on the Eucharist
-Mass - the whole service
It is significant:
-re-enactment of the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples
-given to baptised Catholics over 8
3.2 RCC - Eucharist process
-when the priest consecrates the bread and wine, it becomes the body and blood of Christ in the miracle of transubstantiation
-before the Holy Communion, the priest may say ‘Let us offer each other a sign of peace’ - each parishioner gives those standing next to them a handshake to show solidarity as one family of faith before the real, intimate sign of unity
3.2 Significance of the Eucharist to RCC
-believe the Eucharist is linked to other sacraments. A key moment that demonstrates faith in God’s love and grace
-reminds Catholics Jesus died for their sins. Sacrificed himself so that humanity could achieve salvation
-moment every week when Catholics can feel connected to the presence of God
-Jesus specifically instructed his disciples to share the bread and wine in memory of him
-Jesus said at the Last Supper, ‘This is my body given to you; do this in remembrance of me’
3.2 Significance of the Eucharist to the Quakers
Never celebrate the Eucharist or any sacraments as they find that all ritual distracts and takes focus away from God
-similar to Catholics - they believe when the host is elevated it becomes the literal body and blood of Jesus
-Quakers also believe Christ comes in a physically present way
3.2 Prayer
How Christians communicate with God
-many Christians believe that it is through prayer that God’s grace and guidance are given
-two way communication: God listening, may send messages
-believe the Holy Spirit is active when they pray
3.2 Reasons Christians pray
ACTS and I
-Adoration - praising God
-Confession - saying sorry, asking for forgiveness
-Thanksgiving - thanking God
-Supplication - asking for God’s grace to help with something
-Intercession - praying for someone who is ill
3.2 Importance of praying
Deepens a person’s faith and can help the believer come to a greater understanding of God’s purpose in their lives
3.2 Private worship
Gives Christians a chance to spend the time alone with God
-‘Then your Father, who sees what you have done in secret, will reward you’ (Matthew)
3.2 Ways of prayer
-Meditational prayer - pray deeply about God, on their own and in silence
-Jesus prayer (Orthodox Christians) - Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner’ - they chant this prayer over and over to clear their minds and achieve inner peace
-Bible study - reflects on specific parts
3.2 Symbolism in worship at home
-Catholic - rosary beads - aids to worship, focuses on a set order of prayers, keep track of prayers without being distracted, split into 5 events of the life of Jesus. Allows the individual to focus on the life of Christ as the incarnation of God
-Orthodox - icons of saints
-Christians - cross/ crucifix
3.2 Purpose of baptism
-cleansing of sins - original and personal sin
-adoption as a child of God - now has a spiritual side to their nature and belongs to God
-membership of the body as Christ - child is a member of the church and can have unity with other Christians
3.2 Purpose of infant baptism
-Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican
-cleanse baby of original sin (Adam and Eve)
-Parents and Godparents promise to bring up the child in Christians faith
-confirmation in teens
-first sacrament a person receives - believes a child should be introduced into Christian life as soon as possible
3.2 Purpose of adult baptism
-Baptists, Pentecostalists
-entry to faith should be a conscious choice
-God’s grace is received through internal faith, not external actions
-Jesus’ baptism was an adult baptism
-signifies the end of an old life and the start of a new life as a Christian believer
-identifies with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection
-Individual baptist churches have their own autonomy, so what they do vary from church to church.
3.2 Infant baptism ceremony
-Private, only family and friends invited - symbolic and represents journey into Christian life
-the door
-the pulpit
-the font
-the altar
3.2 Infant baptism ceremony - at the door
The child, god/parents are greeted by the priests, welcomed into the church
Priest asks parents for child’s name:
-displays uniqueness of individual
-traditions one of the child’s name is a saint
God /parents asked questions to determine faith
3.2 Infant baptism ceremony - at the pulpit
-Word of God read and sermon
-Infant annoited with oil - symbolise the healing of God and to ward off evil
3.2 Infant baptism ceremony - at the font
-water blessed
-priests ask parents and godparents to make vows on behalf of the child
-pours water over child’s heat *3 - actual moment over child’s head
-anointed with the oil of chrism
-white shawl around baby
-parents given candle
3.2 Infant baptism ceremony - at the altar
-Ceremony concluded with Lord’s Prayer and 3 blessings: for the Mother, Father, Friends/family
-finishing at the altar - points to the future, when the child will complete initiation into the Church by being confirmed
3.2 Adult baptism ceremony
-usually takes place as part of a Sunday evening service with opening hymns, prayers and short sermon
-candidates publicly testify their faith to Christ
-candidate will descent the stairs, enters - identifies with Jesus’ death
-pastors baptises the candidate
-plunges person under water, fully immersed, quickly bring them back to a standing position:
-has died to their former sinful way of life. God raised Jesus to life on the third day - candidates has a new life with Christ
-get out to be dried/ changed
-hymn sung, short celebration of Lord’s supper
3.2 Symbols in baptism
Water - cleansing and new life:
-washes away child’s original sin
-death to old life and new child can share in eternal life promised by Christ
Oil:
-in Bible times, kings were anointed on the head with oil - a sign of being chosen by God
-symbolises the child has been chosen by God
White garment:
-baptism has cleansed them of their sins
Light - handed to child’s parents - carry the light of Christ in a dark world:
-lit from a Paschal Candle (large candle that symbolizes the risen Christ) - the faith of the Catholic Church is being passed to the child
3.2 The purpose of marriage
-to unify in the eyes of God
-To avoid sexual immorality
3.2 The purpose of marriage - to unify in the eyes of God
‘And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone, I will make a helper for him’ (Genesis)
‘Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be with his wife, and they shall be one flesh’ (Genesis)
‘he who loves his wife loves himself’ (Ephesians)
-‘Whoever finds a wife, finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the Lord’ (Proverbs)
3.2 The purpose of marriage - to avoid sexual immorality
‘But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion’ (Corinthians)
3.2 Symbols of marriage
-Father walking bride down the aisle - symbolises transition and passage
-prayer - God’s blessing and presence hoped for - sacrament - outward sign of inward grace
-hymns - celebration
-explanations of marriage by the vicar - boosts religious significance as vicar is God’s representive on Earth - commitment in front of God
-The bible - God created Adam and Eve - marriage is the natural state one should be in
-sermon - lessons given by the vicar - reminds people of how the marriage fits into God’s plan for us
-vows - declare love for each other - in the presence of God - will be seen as valid in the eyes of GOd
-rings - represent eternal love
-kiss - show love in front of God
3.2 Death
Passage from this life to the next life that Jesus promised
-believed that one day we will be gathered together by God to live with him
-‘for God so loved the world he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall have eternal’ (John)
-Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live’ (John)
3.2 Funeral process
- Vigil - community of friends gather the evening before the main funeral liturgy to pray and keep watch with the family
- Body placed in a coffin, taken to church - represents the deceased being back with God
- Main funeral liturgy - celebration of the Eucharist with the body present. Gathers to give thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death
- Hymns - celebrates the life of the deceased
- Eulogy/ tribute - in remembrance of the deceased
- Burial (commital) - care taken to prepare body
3.2 Funeral - significance of burial
-reflects Christian’s belief in eternal life and the resurrection of the body, so should be treated with great respect
-‘For you are dust, And to dust you shall return’ (Genesis)
-humans are of the earth and will return to the earth
-first human named Adam - meaning ‘ Earth’ - circle of life and death
3.2 Funerals - Cremation
Accepted by the Catholic Church
-ashes are still the body of the deceased but in a changed form. Honor them as we honor the body
-buried in a placed reserved for burial of the dead
-not acceptable to put off burial, scatter ashes, or keep them at home
3.2 Symbols of funerals
-celebrate - eulogy, hymns
-Goodbye - entering God’s care
-prayer - communicate with God
-flowers on hearse/ coffin - represent life and death, regrowth
