Christianity: Practices Flashcards
Liturgical worship
Is a church service that follows a set structure or ritual
Non-liturgical worship
A service that doesn’t follow a set text/ ritual
Informal worship
Type of non-liturgical worship that is spontaneous/ charismatic in nature
Why do Christians Worship?
To praise and thank God
To ask for forgiveness
To seek God’s help for themselves/ others
To deepen their relationships with God and strengthen their faith
Set prayer
Written down and said more than once by more than one person. E.g the lord’s prayer which Jesus taught his disciples
Informal prayer
Made up by an individual using his/her own words to communicate with God
Why is prayer important?
Gives strength in times of trouble
Gives a sense of peace
Encourages reflection in the middle of a busy life
Enables Christians to talk and listen to God
Helps Christians keep a close relationship with God
Helps Christians to accept God’s will even if it means suffering
Positives of the lord’s prayer
Jesus taught it to his disciples
Christians see it as a model of a good prayer as it combines praise with asking for one’s needs
Reminds Christians to forgive others in order to be forgiven
Reminds Christians God is the father of the whole Christian community
Sense of unity when everyone says it together
It’s said at: holy communion, baptisms, marriages and funerals.
Sacraments
Holy rituals through which believers receive a special gift of grace. Some Christian denominations recognise seven sacraments while others a acknowledge fewer.
Baptism
Ritual in which someone becomes a member of the church. It involves the use of water to symbolise the washing away of sin.
Infant baptism
For babies and children
Believers’ baptism
For people who are old enough to understand the significance of the ritual
Positives of baptism
Imitates Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist.
Cleansed of sin.
Enters new life with Christ in the Christian community.
Becomes a member of the Christian church.
Becomes a child of God.
Receives God’s grace and the Holy Spirit.
Holy communion/ Eucharist
Uses bread and wine to celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection
Impact of holy communion
Strengthen faith, become closer to God.
Brings communities together, this can provide support and encouragement for those going through a difficult time.
Acts as a call to love others in practical ways, encourages to work for equality and justice for all, collect money to help support those in need e.g. homeless people
Pilgrimage
A journey made by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons. As well as making a physical journey to a sacred place, the pilgrim also makes a spiritual journey towards God
Why go on a pilgrimage?
Closer to god. Strengthen faith. Forgiven for sins. Reflect. Pray for something special. Thank God. Seek a cure for illness. Experience a holy place. Meet others of the same faith.
Lourdes (town in France)
Mary was said to have appeared in many of Bernadette’s visions.
The water is said to have healing properties
Iona (island off the coast of Scotland)
St Columba established a monastic community in the 6th century.
Now has a ecumenical centre where pilgrims stay,
Christmas
Commemorates the incarnation and birth of Jesus. Begins on the 25th December and lasts 12 days, ending with Epiphany.
How do we celebrate Christmas?
Lights- Jesus as the light coming into a world of darkness.
Nativity- Jesus was born into poverty
Carol services- God’s promise of a saviour and the events of Jesus’ birth
Midnight mass- holiness of the night and the joy at jesus’ birth
Cards and gifts- wise men
Charity- time of peace and good will because God gave the gift of his son
Easter
Celebrating Jesus’ death and resurrection
Celebrating Easter
Holy Week
Good Friday
Saturday night- special service
Easter Sunday
The Church vs a church
The Church - the holy people of God
A church- a building where Christians worship
What do individual churches do?
Educate about Christianity.
Meeting place for prayer and worship.
Youth clubs.
Place where Christians can socialise and get spiritual guidance
What does the Church do?
Supports local projects e.g. food banks.
Provides social services e.g. schooling and medical.
Help those in need.
Campaign for justice.
Examples of Church helping the community
The Trussell trust.
The Oasis project
Christians should show agape love
Biblical word- selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love
Street pastors
Trained to patrol the streets in urban areas. They help vulnerable people providing a reassuring presence on the streets.
Mission
A vocation or calling to spread the faith. The Church has a mission to tell non-believers that Jesus Christ, the son of god, came into the world as its saviour
Christians spread their faith through evangelism
(Showing faith in Jesus by example or by telling others)
The great commission
Jesus have the great commission to his disciple to spread the gospel and make disciple of all nations through baptism.
Where is the Church growing rapidly?
South America, Africa, and Asia but NOT the USA, Europe or the Middle East
Ways Christians spread the faith
Advertising and using social media.
Praying for others to accept God.
Sharing what God has done for them and others.
Inviting people to Christian meetings, fellowship meals and social events.
Reconciliation
Restoring harmony after relationships have broken down
Reconciliation and the church
Humans were reconciled to God through Jesus.
Catholics have a sacrement of reconciliation.
Reconciliation is therefore an important part of the church’s work. This might involve anything from trying to restore relationships between individuals to working for peace between different religious groups or nations at conflict.
Persecution
Hostility and ill-treatment
Charity examples
Christian aid, Tearfund, CAFOD
