C4 - festivals & fasts (Holy week, Christmas, Ascension, Epiphany, Pentecost, Lent, Advent) Flashcards
why is Easter the most important festival
-marks Jesus’s resurrection from the dead; Jesus’ victory over sin & death
how is Easter celebrated
-church services
-joyful hymns
-holy communion
-reflect on hope & renewal brought by Jesus’ resurrection
when does Easter happen
-based on Passover which happens on the Lunar calendar; not the same day every year
Holy week
-final week of Lent
-starts with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday
-includes Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Last Supper, His crucifixion & resurrection
importance of Holy week
-reminds Christian’s of Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity’s sins & gives hope through resurrection
-focuses on the core events in Jesus’ life
-inspires people to live out values like humility, sacrifices & love
-Last Supper - started the practice of Eucharist; brings salvation
days of Holy week & what happened on that day
-Palm Sunday - Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
-Maundy Thursday - Last Supper, Jesus’ washes his disciple’s feet, betrayal
-Good Friday - crucifixion
-Holy Saturday - mourning
-Easter Sunday - resurrection
symbols for Holy week & their meaning
-Palm Sunday - Palm leaf - honor & kingship
-Maundy Thursday - Chalice - Jesus’ body & blood
-Good Friday - cross - sacrifice
-Holy Saturday - candle - hope
-Easter Sunday - empty tomb - victory over death
which is the most important day in Holy week
-Easter Sunday
-Paul said in Corinthians
-without Jesus’ resurrection, no one would be saved
spiritual importance of Holy week
-reminds Christians of Jesus’ sacrifice
-gives hope through resurrection
social importance of Holy week
-brings Christians tgt for worship
-palm crosses are given out
-simnel cake is baked & shared
What can Christians learn from Jesus’ actions during Holy week
-God loves humans
-be selfless
-be humble & forgive
-be obedient & do what is right, not what is easy
Key words on Palm Sunday
-palm branches - used to welcome Jesus’ into Jerusalem; symbolizes victory & peace
-Hosanna - cry meaning “Save us now” shouted by the crowd during Jesus’ entry
-Jerusalem - city where Jesus entered to begin the events leading to his crucifixion
-fulfilment of prophecy in Zechariah
why did Jesus’ ride a donkey on palm Sunday
donkey symbolizes humility & peace; contrasts with the image of a warrior on a horse = his mission was spiritual, not political
key events on palm Sunday
-preparation - Jesus sent His disciples to fetch a donkey & a colt; obedience to prophecy
-arrival - Jesus’ entered Jerusalem & crowd laid down palm branches; humility
-proclamation - the crowd shouted “Hosanna” & praised him as King; messianic role
symbol, verse & symbolism on Palm Sunday
-Palm Branches - Leviticus 23: 40 ; victory & peace
-Donkey - Zechariah 9: 9 ; humility & fulfilment of prophecy
-Hosanna - Psalm 118: 25 - 26 ; hope & salvation
how does Western Church celebrate palm Sunday
-procession
-have palm branches during service
-hymns
-children lead the way with palm fonds
how does Eastern Orthodox celebrate palm Sunday
-willow branches instead of palm branches
-liturgies in richly adorned Churches
-incense
-hymns
how does Latin American celebrate palm Sunday
-reenacts Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
-actors in period costumes & figure of Jesus on a donkey
-palm crosses
-shared meals
how does Philippines celebrate palm Sunday
-“Palapas”
-Mass
-palm Fronds during procession
-families come tgt
Key words on Maundy Thursday
-bread - sacrifice; reminds Christians to reflect on His love
-wine - forgiveness; encourages gratitude
-washing disciple’s feet - humility & service; calls Christians to serve selflessly
key events on Maundy Thursday
-last Supper - Jesus & his disciples share bread & wine; establish Eucharist
-Foot washing - Jesus washed his disciple’s feet; humility & service
-Gethsemane - Jesus prayed & was betrayed by Judas; his submission to God’s will
similarities of Eucharist & foot washing
-central to Maundy Thursday
-encourages Christians to follow Jesus’ example
How does Greek orthodox do foot washing on Maundy Thursday
- elaborate & formal ritual
-bishop/ priest washes 12 feet, representing the Apostles
-done during liturgy
-focuses on humility & servant leadership
How does Catholic do foot washing on Maundy Thursday
-Priest washes the feet of 12 parishioners, symbolize Jesus washing the disciples feet
Done during Mass of the Lord’s Supper
How does Protestant do foot washing on Maundy Thursday
-not emphasized as much
-some churches replace the practice with sermons on service
-focus on humility & service
How does Greek orthodox do Eucharist on Maundy Thursday
-Divine liturgy of the Last Supper
-bread & wine are consecrated & distributed
-reserved sacrament is prepared for Good Friday service
-emphasis on the unity of the Body of Christ
How does Catholic do Eucharist on Maundy Thursday
-Mass of the Lord’s Supper
-bread & wine are consecrated & distributed
-Hosts are reserved in a special tabernacle for Good Friday service
-show deep reverence
How does Protestant do Eucharist on Maundy Thursday
-Holy Communion to commemorate the Last Supper
-bread & wine are consecrated & distributed
-emphasis on community
key moments on Good Firday
-Arrest in Gethsemane - Judas, temple guards; Jesus is betrayed & arrested, fulfilling the prophecy
-trial before Pilate - Pilate, Sanhedrin; Jesus is condemned as “king of the Jews” for claiming authority
-crucifixion - Roman soldiers, onlookers; Jesus is nailed on the cross as sacrifice for sin
-death - Jesus, centurion; temple curtain tears, open access to God
-burial - Joseph of Arimathea; Jesus is allowed to be laid to rest
why is good Friday called good
Christians believe that Jesus’ sacrifice brings salvation from sin
Define ecumenical
service that brings tgt Christians of diff. denominations tgt in worship.
ecumenical services on Good Firday
-prayer walks; Christians walk tgt & reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross
-shared services; hymns, bible readings, reflections led by minsters from diff. denominations
- 3h devotion; 3h service reflecting on Jesus’s seven last words on the cross
Catholic, Protestant & Orthodox celebrate Good Friday
-Catholic: liturgy has Veneration of the Cross, the Passion reading, & the Stations
-Protestant: focuses on reflective services, hymns & bible readings
-Orthodox: Epitaphios procession symbolizes Jesus’ burial, lamentation hymns
why is Good Friday important for Christians
-commemorates Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity’s salvation
Holy Saturday
day btw Jesus’s crucifixion & resurrection; time of waiting for Christians
Holy Saturday service
-Easter vigil - marks the Start of Easter
-Lighting the Paschal candle - large candle symbolizes Jesus as the light of the world
-Alpha & Omega - letters on the candle to signify Jesus as the beginning & the end
-Scripture readings - focus on salvation history, from creation to resurrection
-Baptism & confirmation - done on new believers
-Proclamation of the Resurrection - joyful hymns & prayers to celebrate Jesus’ victory over death
-year inscription - symbolizes Jesus’s presence in current time
-5 grains of incense - represents the wounds on Jesus
Catholic, Protestant, Latin American & Orthodox celebrate Holy Saturday
Orthodox: Midnight Resurrection service, candlelight; focus on light as symbol of resurrection
Catholic: Easter Vigil, Paschal candle; use of scripture & light
Protestant: quiet reflection, prayer services; reflect on Jesus’ death & resurrection
Latin American: Procession, cultural festivals; blending of Christian & local traditions
strengths of Holy week
-provides opportunity for spiritual reflection
-highlights key events in Jesus’ life
-encourages communal worship & unity
-deepens faith through symbolic practices
weaknesses of Holy week
-some Christians struggle to relate to the rituals
-secular distractions (eg. chocolate on Easter) may reduce its importance
-limited understanding of theological events
-cultural shift may overshadow significance
Christmas & its importance
-celebrates Jesus’ birth & the incarnation of God
-incarnation means “ to be flesh”
-show’s God’s love for humanity & his desire to bring salvation
features of Christmas celebration
-Midnight Mass - late night service celebrating Jesus’ birth
-Carol Service - gathering to sing hymns about Jesus’ birth with figures
-Nativity play - reenactment of the story of Jesus’ birth
-Advent wreath - wreath with candles symbolizing hope & preparation
-Star - the star the guided the Magi
-Manger - Jesus’ humble beginnings & God’s identification with the poor
-Light - Jesus as the light of the world
how does Christmas bring families together
-shared meals
-church services
-carol services
religious aspects of Christmas
-Midnight Mass
-Carol services
-nativity plays
-lighting the Advent wreath
-reading Bible passages about Jesus’ birth
-prayers & hymns focusing on Jesus’ teachings
-acts of charity inspired by Jesus
-Celebrating the Incarnation of Jesus
-Visiting Churches/ attending Christmas services
social aspects of Christmas
-gift giving
-family meals
-decorating Christmas trees
-exchanging gifts
-Christmas parties & celebrations
-watching Christmas movies
-shopping for presents
-sharing festive foods
How does Christmas help Christians
-reminds them of God’s love & the hope of salvation
What do Christians believe about the Incarnation in Christmas
-“The Word became flesh & lived among us” - John 1:14
-shows God’s love & desire to connect with humanity
-hope for salvation
-Jesus is both fully divine & fully human
Reasons why the Incarnation in Christmas is important
1)God’s presence in the world - Though Jesus, God physically entered human history to live, teach & experience human life. This shows God’s willingness to relate personally with humanity
2)Salvation - Jesus’s life is seen as a part of God’s plan to redeem Humanity from sin. Jesus serves as a mediator between God & humanity
3)Love & sacrifice - Incarnation is seen as a profound demonstration of God’s love. Jesus’ willingness to suffer is the ultimate act of self-giving love
4)Example for living - Jesus serves as a role model on how to live a life of faith. His teachings guide Christians in their moral & spiritual lives
Events at Midnight Mass
-Opening procession - process with clergy, alter services, nativity figures
-scripture readings - read on the prophecy of the Messiah & Jesus’ birth
-hymns & carols - celebrate joy
-homily/ sermon - priest/ minister gives message on the importance of Jesus’ birth
-Eucharist
-lighting of candles - each member holds a candle which show Jesus as the light of the world
-blessing & dismissal - final prayer & send out the congregation
importance of the Nativity play
-reminds of God’s humility & love
Epiphany & its importance
-means “revelation”
-Jesus being reveled as the Son of God to the world
3 gifts & the Magi & their significance
-gold - kingship
-frankincense - divinity
-myrrh - suffering
-magi - symbolizes that Jesus’ message was for all nations
timeline of the Magi’s travels
-seeing the star
-travelling to Jerusalem
-meeting King Herold
-finding Jesus in Bethlehem
-their journey of faith shows their dedication to honoring Jesus
Greek orthodox practices for Epiphany
-Blessing of waters to remember Jesus’ baptism
-priest throws crosses in a river & people retrieve it as a sign of blessing
Protestant Anglican practices for Epiphany
-focus on the Magi’s visit in sermons & scripture readings
-Epiphany carol services on Jesus’ universal mission
Roman Catholic practices for Epiphany
-special mass focusing on Jesus being revealed to all nations
-blessing homes with chalk to represent the Magi’s initials & a prayer for Christ to bless the home (20 + C + M + B + 25); either the names of the Magi or a Latin blessing
strengths of Epiphany
-highlights Jesus mission is for all
weaknesses of Epiphany
-often overlooked
Lent
-a 40 day period where Christians prepare for Easter by remembering Jesus fasting in the wilderness
-fasting, praying, giving up luxuries to focus on their relationship with God
-time of self- reflection, prayer & renewal
-time of preparation for new believers to be baptized on Easter
-from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday
symbolism of 40
-Jesus 40 days in the wilderness
-Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness
-Noah’s flood that lasted for 40 days & nights
-Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai
-Elijah’s 40 day journey to Mount Horeb
Practices & purpose on Lent
-Fasting; reducing food intake/ giving up certain foods - self- discipline & sacrifice
-prayer; spending extra time praying/ attending Church to reflect on faith - strengthening faith
-charity/ almsgiving; donating money/ time to help those in need - demonstrating generosity & compassion
Lent practices in Roman catholic, Greek orthodox, protestant
-roman catholic - Ash Wednesday, fasting, stations of the cross
-Greek orthodox - strict dietary fasting (no meat, oil, diary) , extra prayers
-protestant - personal reflection, charity, bible study
Ash wednesday
-ashes are placed on the forehead to symbolize mortality & the need for repentance
strengths of Lent
-encourages personal growth & spiritual discipline
-brings communities together through shared worship & charity
weaknesses of Lent
-some might feel that Lent is too focused on traditions than spiritual renewal
-some struggle with the demands of fasting or feel pressured to participate
Advent
-period of waiting & preparation for Jesus’ birth at Christmas & His Second Coming
-4 weeks before Christmas
-reflect on faith, repentance & hope
traditions on Advent
-advent wreath - circular wreath with 4 candles (hope, peace, joy, love)
-advent calendar - daily windows revealing bible verses or treats
-advent services - special services with readings, hymns & candle lighting
Advent practices in Roman catholic, Greek orthodox, protestant
-roman catholic - focus on repentance, lighting advent candle at Mass
-orthodox - focus on prayer & almsgiving, fasting from meat, dairy, oil
-protestant - advent carol services, charity events
features in advent
-light
-wearing purple - penance
-evergreen wreaths - eternal life
-provide a visual reminder of God
strengths of advent
-promotes reflection, faith & generosity
-strengthens family & community traditions
weaknesses of advent
-some feel advent is overshadowed by Christmas
-differences in customers may confuse people
-commercialization overlooks the religious significance
Pentecost
-celebrates when the Holy Spirit came on the Apostles to give them courage to preach
-50 days after Easter Sunday
-was originally a Jewish festival, Shavuot
-marks the birth of the Christians Chruch
events of the Pentecost
-tongues of fire was over each of the Apostles heads (God’s presence)
-a powerful wind filled the room (God’s power)
-the Apostles began speaking in different languages (allowing the to preach to all nations)
holy spirit
-guide & comforter - inspires, teaches & strengthens believers
-God’s presence - empowers people to live according to God’s will
-source of spiritual gifts - equips Christians with gifts to serve others and build the Church
features of Pentecost
-wearing red - symbolize the fire of the Holy Spirit
-kneeling prayers - seeking strength & guidance
-special services with readings from Acts 2
strengths of Pentecost
-celebrates the Holy Spirit’s empowerment of believers
-marks the birth of the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel
weaknesses of Pentecost
-may be less widely known then Christmas or Easter
-supernatural elements might be difficult for some to understand
Ascension Day
-the day that Jesus retuned to heaven after the end of his earthly ministry 40 days after his resurrection as said in Acts
-shows that Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for his followers & gives hope for eternal life
symbols of the paschal cnadle
-light - Christ is the light of the world
-nails - the 5 wounds on Christ
-year - God is eternal
-cross - Jesus’s sacrifice
-sharing the flame - passing on the faith
-alpha & omega - god is beginning & end
-lamb - Jesus as the perfect sacrifice
Customer on ascension day
-Light the paschal candle on Easter & extinguish it on Ascension to show that Jesus is no longer physically present on earth
-procession
-all night vigils (unity & faith in Christ’s spiritual guidance)
strengths of Ascension
-promotes faith & reflection
-reinforces hope & faith in Jesus’ guidance through eternal life
weaknesses of ascension
-suggestions could involve education or new community traditions
-some Christians may not fully understand the symbolism
