Christianity: Worship

Question 1

What is the structure of the Anglican Communion service?

Answer 1

1) The gathering:
- Minister greets the people
- A prayer may be said
2) The liturgy of the Word:
- Bible readings
- Sermon
- Nicene Creed
- Lord’s Prayer
- Confession
- The peace
3) The liturgy of the sacrament:
- Preparation of the table
- Collection
- Eucharistic Prayer
- Breaking of the bread
- Receiving communion
4) Sending out of God’s people

Question 2

What is the structure of the Roman Catholic mass?

Answer 2

• Similar to Anglican service
• Also uses a liturgy
• In the Eucharist, the priest will say: “This is the Lamb of God”, as Catholics believe in transubstantiation (the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ)

Question 3

What is the structure of a Quaker meeting?

Answer 3

• Lasts approximately an hour
• People enter the meeting room and reflect in silence
• No ministers - all are equal before God:
  “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
• Anyone can contribute: speak, pray or read aloud (ministry). This is listened
• People can read the Bible or a booklet called ‘Advices and Queries’.
• The meeting ends when two Quakers shake hands. Everyone else begins to shake hands.

Question 4

What is the structure of a Greek Orthodox service?

Answer 4

• Eucharist is usually called the Divine Liturgy
• Lasts about an hour and a half and has two major sections - both parts involve a procession
• Little Entrance: Book of the Gospels is carried into sanctuary
• Great Entrance: bread and wine are carried to the altar for the Prayer of Consecration and Holy Communion
  1) Liturgy of the Word
• Hymns
• Prayers
• Reading from the Bible
  2) Liturgy of the Faithful
• Nicene Cred
• Hymns
• Lord’s Prayer
• Consecration (God the Father is called upon to send down the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ)
• Bread is soaked in the wine and distributed to the believers on a spoon
• At the end, blessed bread is given out to the congregation, including non-Orthodox believers

Question 5

What is the structure of the Methodist worship?

Answer 5

• Liturgy
• Similar to Anglican
• Uses its own hymn book
• Bible readings taken from the Revised Common Lectionary
• Eucharist called the Service of the Table
• All are welcome to participate in the communion, because it is Christ’s Table
• Wine (but usually grape juice) distributed in small individual glasses
• Wafers used instead of bread
• Communion celebrated once a month

Question 6

What is the purpose of worship?

Answer 6

• Show love and respect towards God
• ## God communicates with the believer

Question 7

Why is liturgical worship important to some Christians?

Answer 7

• Liturgical worship is worship with a set pattern for the service
• The congregation reads responses from a service book
• Used by Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Church of England
• The familiar structure allows worshippers to reflect of the meaning of what is being said
• Everything corresponds to what the congregation believes
• Focuses on key Christian beliefs e.g. Trinity, Sacraments, helping worshippers to keep them in their minds at all times.

Question 8

Why is non-liturgical worship important to some Christians?

Answer 8

• Spontaneous; little organised structure
• Minister leads the service but anyone in the congregation might be invited to pray in their own way, choose a hymn or reading, or preach the sermon
• Common in Protestant and Non-Conformist Churches, e.g. Baptist, Presbyterian
• Allows worshippers to think about the real meanings of what they’re saying, rather than just saying the same things out of habit
• Reinforces the importance of the Bible and its application to daily lives

Question 9

Why is charismatic worship important to some Christians?

Answer 9

• No set pattern
• Speaking in tongues, dancing, clapping, raising hands in the air
• Trying to experience the same gifts of the Holy Spirit the Apostles did on the day of Pentecost
• Worshippers seek to be led by the Holy Spirit - spontaneous prayers or hymns.
• Most common in Pentecostal Churches
• “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

Question 10

What is the role of individual worship?

Answer 10

• Time spent praying or studying the Bible
• Alone or in a group
• Helps develop believers’ relationship with God
• Able to seek specific guidance for their own lives
• Away from the distraction of others

Question 11

What is the role of public worship?

Answer 11

• Official - priests/ministers
• Surrounded by people who believe the same things
• “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20)