Christian Practices Flashcards
1
Q
What is Liturgical Worship?
A
Worship with a set pattern
2
Q
What are features of Liturgical worship?
A
- Found in Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox churches
- Example of Jesus, taught followers how to pray, give sermons, initiated Holy Communion
- Led by vicar or priest
- Usually takes place in an official building (ie church)
- Set pattern: Read Bible, read Nicene Creed, hymns, set prayers, the sermon, Holy communion, offering one another a sign of peace, the Blessing
3
Q
What is the Nicene Creed?
A
Statement of belief
4
Q
What is Non Liturgical worship?
A
Worship without a set pattern
5
Q
What are features of Non Liturgical worship?
A
- Quaker worship (society of friends), Evangelical worship
- worshippers wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them
- No leader
- may sit in a circle
- Extemporaneous prayers, talking in tongues, healing, spontaneous singing
- Reminder of the Pentecost-> Holy spirit came upon the disciples, they spoke in tongues
6
Q
Why is Liturgical worship important?
A
- Reminder of the pattern of worship Jesus set up, ie gave sermon on the Mount, led the last supper, taught followers the Lord’s prayer
- Brings church community together-> in service, offer one another a sign of peace. Partake Holy Communion together
- Helps believers achieve salvation and atonement, reminded of Jesus teachings, take sacrament of Holy Communion, pray and repent sins
7
Q
Why is Non Liturgical worship important?
A
- Reminder of the Pentecost, Holy spirit came upon the disciples, began talking in tongues-> shows importance of Jesus’ message “preach the gospel to all creation”
- Reminds believers of God’s personal nature + power of Holy Spirit. Ie healings happen, people are moved so they cry
- Helps believers achieve salvation and feel one with God through spontaneous prayer, allowing them to build a personal relationship with God
8
Q
What are 3 different types of prayer?
A
Set prayer
Extemporaneous prayer
Informal prayer
9
Q
What are Set prayers?
A
- Found in Common Book of Prayer
- Used in Liturgical worship
- Lord’s prayer (important example)
- Anglican- Intercession prayer weekly (prayers for others)
10
Q
What are Extemporaneous prayers?
A
- spontaneous prayers
- often said at Informal worship
- worshippers pray in this way when they are moved by the Holy Spirit
11
Q
What is Informal Prayer?
A
- Said at home
- use informal language (dad instead of father)
12
Q
Why is prayer important for Christians?
A
- Example of Jesus: taught disciples the Lord’s prayer + tradition of the Church
- Way to Salvation: Involves repentance of sins, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us”, “lead us not into temptation”
- Reminder of the belief of the greatness of God and important Christian beliefs involving ADORATION: “hallowed be thy name
- CONFESSIONAL: “thine will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
13
Q
What is a Sacrament?
A
An outward sign of Inward blessing
14
Q
What are the 7 sacraments of the Catholic Church?
A
Mass
Baptism
Confirmation
Marriage
Ordination of priests
The anointing of the sick Confession
15
Q
What are the features of an Infant baptism?
A
- White gown (show purity)
- Public event with church community
- Godparents and parents promise to renounce evil, turn to Christ
- Vicar makes sign of cross on baby’s head
- Vicar pours water from the font over the babies head: wash away original sin
- Vicar “I baptise you in the name of the Father, son and Holy Spirit”
- given a candle
- given a baptismal certificate
- Vicar announces the baby has joined the church community
15
Q
What are the 2 sacraments of the Protestant church?
A
Baptism
Eucharist (Mass/Holy Communion)
16
Q
What are the features of an adult baptism?
A
- happens in Baptist church
- public event in front of church congregation
- believer makes baptismal vows
- fully submerged in water in baptismal pool
- Minister “I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”
- Given a candle
17
Q
Why is Baptism important?
A
- Reminder of the example of Jesus: Jesus baptised, Trinity present, “this is my son with whom I am well pleased”, Holy spirit appears as a Dove, Jesus tells disciples to baptise people
- Helps believers achieve salvation: Sacrament, bestows God’s blessing. Washes away original sin of Adam and Eve for atonement to happen.
- Brings church community together: Public event, all witness person entering church community, support
- Jesus told disciples to baptise people: “Go and make disciples of all nations, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”
18
Q
What are the features of Holy Communion/Mass/Eucharist?
A
- Sacrament
- Reminder of Last supper: Jesus blesses bread and wine, says to do this in remembrance of him
- Happens during liturgical worship
- Priest/Vicar represents Jesus, blesses bread and wine, gives it to the congregation
- Catholics believe bread and wine become blood and body of Jesus (transubstantiation)
- Protestant believe bread and wine symbolise Jesus’ body and blood
19
Q
Why is the Eucharist/Holy Communion/Mass important for Christians?
A
- Reminder of Jesus: broke bread and drank wine at the Last supper, told Disciples to do in remembrance of him. “This is my body which I shed for you, this is my body which I give for you, do this in remembrance of me”
- Helps believer to achieve salvation: sacrament, atones believer, helps remember Jesus’ death, reminder of his sacrifice
- Brings church community together: weekly gathering, after offer sign of peace to one another
20
Q
What are features of Christmas?
A
- Period of 4 weeks before Christmas is advent.
- Advent candle lit weekly on Sunday in Church
- Some Christians fast during advent
- Advent: children perform Nativity plays, open advent calendars, light advent candles each day
- Christmas: exchange Christmas cards with religious images and messages
- Christmas Eve: midnight mass
- Christmas Day: Eucharist, exchanging of gifts
21
Q
Why is Christmas important to Christians?
A
- Reminder of belief that Jesus is the reincarnation of God and his suffering. Matthew’s gospel-> wise men bring gold, frankincense and myrrh (kingship, divinity, suffering) , Mary is told by Angel Gabriel she will give birth to the “son of most high”, Virgin birth= shows Jesus’ divinity
- Reminder of the events of Jesus’ birth: ie Nativity scenes depict Matthew’s gospel, showing the 3 wise men, the star + Luke’s gospel showing the shepherds being shown the star
- Brings the church community together: light the advent candles weekly in church, Christingle service ( orange with lit candle-> shows Jesus is coming to suffer for the world, sweets in the orange= his gifts of salvation)
- Time to bring Christians closer to God + help on path to salvation-> advent= fasting and praying, consider spiritual needs
22
Q
What are features of Lent and Holy Week?
A
- Lent is 40 days before Easter
- Time when Jesus was in the desert being tempted by the devil
- Official start of Lent= Ash Wednesday
- Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey
- Christians make crosses with palm leaves for celebration
- Maundy Thursday
- Good Friday
- Easter Sunday
23
Q
What are features of Maundy Thursday (holy week) ?
A
- Maundy Thursday= Jesus overturns the tables in the temple, eats his last supper, is betrayed by Judas, washes feet of disciples, arrested in Garden of Gethsemane, put on illegal trial by Jewish high priests
- Catholic church, priest washes feet
24
What are features of Good Friday?
- Good Friday: Tried by Pontius Pilate who tries to free him by allowing crowds to choose between Jesus and Barabus (murderer)
- he is whipped by high priests, choose Barabus,
- Jesus mocked by soldiers, given crown of thorns, whip him, draw lots over his clothes
- Carried to cross, crucified next to 2 thieves
- Some Christians fast on this day + re-enact his death by carrying out a precession
25
What are features of Easter Sunday?
- 3 women go to his tomb and find it empty
- they tell the disciples who don't believe them
- Peter goes to look for himself
- Christians exchange Easter eggs as a sign of new life
- They read the bible and take Holy Communion
26
Why is Easter important for Christians?
- Reminder of what Jesus did to atone for human sin: when he rose from the dead, he showed death could be defeated, he reversed what Adam had done. Adam brought about death, Jesus brought eternal life and salvation. (so explains St Paul calling Jesus the Second Adam)
- Reminder of the important belief that all believers can have eternal life: "For God so loved he world he gave his only son, so that all who believe in him will not perish but have eternal life", remembered on Easter Sunday with the giving of eggs (new life) and reading in the church of resurrection
- Remembers the resurrection accounts in the Bible
- Brings the church community together: fasting during Lent, services throughout Holy Week, Holy Communion on Easter Sunday, some go an a pilgrimage to Jerusalem
27
What are the Resurrection accounts?
Luke's Gospel: 3 women find Jesus' tomb empty, greeted by two angels who ask "why do you look for the living amongst the dead?" The women go and tell the disciples, they don't believe them, Peter goes to look for himself,
Matthew's Gospel: 2 Mary's go to the tomb, earthquake occurs and an angel appears, angel moves the boulder from the tomb and sits on it, he tells the 2 women that Jesus has risen
John's Gospel: Doubting Thomas asks to see Jesus' wounds to prove that it is him
28
What is a Pilgrimage?
Journey to a sacred place, act of religious devotion
29
What are features of Taize?
- Started in France, Taize by Robert Shluz in 1940's
- Father Roger helped German prisoners, he believed in forgiveness and reconciliation
- Later he was joined by monks from different Christian denominations
- Pilgrims now are from different church denominations
- Pilgrims go to church of reconciliation
- Pilgrims follow the day of the monks when they are there
- they pray together, study the Bible and chant
- Many pilgrims are young, aged 18-30
30
What are features of Walsingham?
- A Saxon woman Faverches has a vision of Mary in Walsingham in 1061
- Mary took her to her house in Nazareth where the Angel Gabriel told her she would have Jesus
- She asked her to build a replica of her house in Walsingham
- Pilgrims from different denominations go there
- they go to church and pray for others
- they believe the water in the church has healing power
31
Why are Pilgrimages important for Christians?
- Shows their devotion, ie taking time out of work means there's a cost
- Helps on their path to salvation, ie at Taize and Walsingham, Pilgrims pray and seek atonement with God
- Brings the Christian community together ie at Taize and Walsingham, there are Christians of multiple denominations
- Reminder of Jesus, ie at Taize, reminder to forgive, at Walsingham, reminder of his birth
32
Why might some Christians believe a Pilgrimage is not important?
- the money could be spent in other, more helpful ways-> ie Given to Tear Fund to help the poor
- Could create disunity, some Christians may not be able to afford it and feel left out
33
What did the 2011 census show about Christianity in Britain today?
- Still the largest religion in the England and Wales, but numbers have fallen since the last census
- Islam is the 2nd largest religion in England and Wales
- 1/4 of people are now atheist. This has grown since the last census
- London is the most religiously diverse city
34
What are issues with Christianity in Britain today?
- Teachings are irrelevant to those who are atheist or agonistic
- Church attendance has declined
- Britain is multi faith, people are choosing to leave Christianity for other religions
- Christianity is loosing identity, ie Christmas is seen as a seasonal festival, not a Christian holiday
35
What are ways Christianity influences Britain today?
Traditions: swearing on the Bible in court, Sunday trading, many people still marry in a church
Laws: based on Christian principles, ie Do not Kill. Has to be passed in the House of Lords, which has 26 Bishops
Education: Some Primary schools are funded by the Church of England, 50% of the RE curriculum. By law, schools should have a daily act of worship
Festivals: Public holidays are around the main Christian holidays, ie Christmas and Easter
36
What is the role of a Christian Church in current Britain?
Place of Worship
To provide important services, ie marriage
To help the Local community, ie youth groups, soup kitchens, counselling
37
Why are Churches important?
- Reminder of Jesus' teachings, ie read gospels weekly in church
- Reminder of Key Christian beliefs, ie through the stain glass windows, Images of Jesus on the cross, candles (resurrection)
- Bring church community together, ie pray together, public events-> marriage, holy communion, baptism
38
Why may Churches not be important/needed?
Too expensive- money can be given to the poor
Jesus did not have a church, he taught outside
Church community could meet in other places, like halls or other people's houses
39
What is Evangelism?
To spread the message of Jesus with the intention of converting others.
Mission of the Church
40
How do Christians Evangelise?
- They way they live their lives, ie being a role model
- On the streets, publicly
- Going overseas and preaching whilst providing education and basic needs for the poor
41
Why do some Christians disagree with Evangelism?
- Not loving to force beliefs on others, Jesus "Love your neighbour"
- Some Christians believe religions are different paths to the same God, so Evangelism is unnecessary
- Jesus "treat others as you would like to be treated
42
Why do some Christians agree with Evangelism?
- Jesus, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can get through to the Father except through me", so Christianity is the only way to God
- Jesus told his disciples to "Go and preach the gospel to all creation" and baptise others
- They take Pentecost to show that the disciples needed to speak in different languages to convert other nations
43
How has the Church grown in Britain?
- Church of England and Catholic Churches have declined, Evangelical churches have increased
- Church of England has tried to attract numbers by meeting informally (ie in cafe or at the beach)
- Evangelical churches are splitting off and forming new churches
- Christianity is spreading successfully in other parts of the world, ie South Asia
44
What are examples of the Persecution of Christians?
All of Jesus' disciples were killed for Evangelising
ISIS have targeted Christians
45
What are features of the Charity, 'Open Doors' ?
- Counselling for trauma of persecution
- Giving Bibles to those who don't have one
- Raising awareness for Persecution
- Giving practical help
46
What are features of the Church Ecumenical movement?
- World wide Sunday school movement
- Joint services bringing together different denominations
47
What are features of the World Council of Churches?
- Came together after WW1 to bring unity and stop conflict
- Hold a week of prayer together
48
Why is unity across Christians important?
- helps Christianity to spread
- What Jesus would have wanted, he did not want division, "love your neighbour", "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar"
- Makes Christianity stronger, more able to face persecution
49
Why do some Christians disagree with unity across Christians?
- They don't want to lose their own identity, ie Lutheran church suspended a pastor for taking part in an interfaith activity
- Orthodox church follows a different calendar
- Worries over leadership, ie will all churches have to follow the pope?
- Difference in belief, ie Liberal and Evangelical Christians on ethical issues
50
What are features of the work of Tear Fund + Biblical quotes to support?
- Fund Raising-> mean bean week, "go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor"
- Long Term Aid-> building bridges in marsh land, Genesis, humans are told to "rule over the fish in the sea", means to be good stewards to the environment
- Emergency Aid-> blankets and food to Syria, "I was hungry and you fed me", Jesus
- Education-> setting up education in Haiti post earthquake + educating the world by raising awareness of issues (campaigning internationally against sexual violence), "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness"
