Christian Practices - Key Words

Question 1

Baptism

Answer 1

The sacrament through which people become members of the Church. Baptism involves the use of water as a symbol of the washing away of sin. It is a rite of initiation

Question 2

Believers’ baptism

Answer 2

Initiation into the Church, by immersion in water, of people old enough to understand the ceremony/rite and willing to live a Christian life. Some denominations prefer this to infant baptism. This form of baptism contains many similarities to the baptism of Jesus

Question 3

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

Answer 3

A Christian charity that provides emergency and long-term aid to the developing world

Question 4

Christian Aid

Answer 4

A Christian charity that provides emergency and long-term aid to the developing world

Question 5

Christmas

Answer 5

The Feast Day commemorating the birth of Jesus (25 December in most Churches)

Question 6

Easter

Answer 6

The religious season celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It starts on Easter Day and finishes with the feast of Pentecost

Question 7

Eucharist

Answer 7

Literally ‘thanksgiving’. Another name for Holy Communion and a service in which the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated, using bread and wine. Thanks are given to God for his creation of the world, for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and for the bread and wine which many Christians refer to as Jesus’ Body and Blood

Question 8

Evangelism

Answer 8

Preaching the gospel (the good news about God) to convert people to the Christian faith

Question 9

Food banks

Answer 9

This relates to Christian charities collecting donated food to distribute to the poor in Britain

Question 10

Holy Communion

Answer 10

Another name for the Eucharist in which the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated using bread and wine

Question 11

Infant baptism

Answer 11

Initiation of babies and young children into the Church, where promises are taken on their behalf by adults. The infant is freed from sin and introduced to the saving love of God and the support of the Christian community

Question 12

Informal prayer

Answer 12

This takes the form of extempore prayer, consisting of spontaneous prayers spoken from the heart as opposed to the use of set prayers

Question 13

Informal worship

Answer 13

Worship which has no set structure. It is usually spontaneous and sometimes charismatic in nature

Question 14

Iona

Answer 14

An island of the west coast of Scotland founded by Columba in the 4th century. It is used by Christians today as a centre for pilgrimage and religious retreat

Question 15

Liturgical worship

Answer 15

A church service which follows a set structure or ritual

Question 16

Lourdes

Answer 16

A town in France, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in a series of visions, and now a place of pilgrimage, where it is claimed that miraculous healings have taken place

Question 17

Lord’s Prayer

Answer 17

The prayer taught to the disciples by Jesus; also known as the ‘Our Father’.

Question 18

Mission

Answer 18

Literally ‘sent out’. It refers to the duty of Christians to spread the gospel (the good news about Jesus)

Question 19

Non-liturgical worship

Answer 19

A service which does not follow a set text or ritual. This type of worship is sometimes spontaneous or charismatic in nature

Question 20

Persecution

Answer 20

Throughout the centuries and still in some parts of the world. Christians face punishment and even death for adherence to their faith

Question 21

Pilgrimage

Answer 21

A journey by a Christian to a holy site, e.g. Lourdes, Iona. Pilgrimage is itself an act of worship and devotion

Question 22

Prayer

Answer 22

Communicating with God through words of praise, thanksgiving or confession, or requests for his help or guidance. Listening to and speaking to God

Question 23

Private worship

Answer 23

A believer giving God praise and worship on his or her own

Question 24

Reconciliation

Answer 24

The process of restoring harmony after relationships between people has broken down; A sacrament in the Roman Catholic and some Anglian Churches

Question 25

Set prayers

Answer 25

These are prayers written throughout the centuries by Christian holy men and women, which many Christians use. The Lord’s Prayer is an example of a set prayer

Question 26

Street pastors

Answer 26

A Christian organisation consisting of people who work mainly at night on the city streets, caring for those who need help

Question 27

Tearfund

Answer 27

A Christian charity that provides emergency and long-term aid to the developing world

Question 28

Worship

Answer 28

Offering to God the praise he is due. This may be done in public or in private worship