RS - Christianity

Worship - Acts of religious praise, honour or devotion

Liturgical - Choirs, Hymns, Incense, Eucharist, for Catholics, Orthodox and Anglican churches, receive forgiveness from God through a priest, living presence of Jesus through Holy Communion, Bible readings to teach Christians, set order

Non-Liturgical - Energetic songs, Methodist and Baptist, faith expressed in songs, Christians share personal interpretations

Private - Personal communication with God

Informal - Quakers, spontaneous sharing of thoughts

Why do Christians worship?

To praise and thank God, to ask for forgiveness, to seek Gods help, to deepen their relationship with God and strengthen their faith

Prayer - communicating with God, either silently or through words of praise, thanksgiving or confession, or requests, for Gods help or guidance

Note - Quaker worship is a hour of reflective meditation where there is no set guidelines and people can feel free to speak up

Note - Catholics use rosaries and Orthodox Christians use icons

The Lords Prayer - the prayer taught to the disciples by Jesus

Why is it important?

Gives individuals a pattern for how to pray, reminds you to forgive if you want to be forgiven, reminds you God is the father of the whole community, is spoken at sacraments, traditional, sense of spiritual purpose and unity

Sacrament - A special meeting with God, an outward sign of inward grace, a symbol of representing something much deeper, strengthens relationship with God

There are 7 sacraments, although Protestants only do Baptism and Eucharist as Jesus did them

VOCATION - Marriage and Holy Orders

HEALING - Reconciliation and Sacrament of the sick

INITIATION - Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation

Baptism - The sacrament through which people become members of the church

Christians would want to be baptised as Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan by John, their sins would be forgiven, and they would be recognised as children of God

Infant baptism - Everyone is a descendant of Adam and Eve, therefore we all carry the original sin. Uses: White baptisimal garment, cross, baptisimal candle, holy water, font, priest, oil of Chrism 

Believers baptism - Baptists and Pentecostals think a baby is too young and needs to mature in order to decide whether or not to be baptised, involves full imersion in a pool, person reads from a Bible, very much about changing their life

What is Holy Communion?

Known as Eucharist, The Last Supper, The Divine Liturgy, The Breaking of the Bread, The Lords Supper, and is a sacrament

Service of thanksgiving where sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated using bread (or Host) and wine

Why is it important?

For Catholics, Orthodox, and Anglicans, the sacrifice of Jesus is made real. In Holy Communion, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus, which is called transubstantiation

Protestants believe it is a reminder of Jesus during Last Supper

When Christians celebrate Holy Communion, they give thanks to God for sending Jesus to cleanse our sins

Communion with God; brings people closer and encourages Christians to love each other

Inpact:

Individuals: Receive Gods Grace, strengthens faith, become closer to God

Communities: Brings people together

Wider society: Call to love others

Pilgrimage - A journey to a holy site for a religious reason; is in itself an act of devotion

Examples - Lourdes; in France where Bernadette went, has a magical spring, Iona; where St Columba went, Rome

Advantages - Closer to God, absorb holiness, seek forgiveness for sins, show devotion, ask for God's help, renewal of faith, advice from priests

Disadvantages - Travelling is dangerous, spending money, could get robbed, exploited by companies, tiring, commercialisation

Christmas - Commemorates incarnation of Jesus, God in human form. Lasts 12 days, ends with feast of Epiphany. Lights represent Jesus. Carols show God's promise of a saviour. Midnight mass takes place on Christmas Eve. Exchange gifts to remember the Wise Men's gifts. "Peace and Goodwill"

Easter - Celebrates resurrection of Jesus. Week before is Holy week where Christians remember the events leading up to crucifixion. On "Good Friday" when Jesus was entombed, processions are held and led by a person carrying a wooden cross. Easter Sunday churches are filled with flowers and special hymns are sung

Note - Christian calender is known as the Liturgical Cycle  

Originates from Greek word "ekklesia" and is a gathering of Christians. Church is body of Christ as it carries the work of Jesus on Earth.

What does the church do?

Provides locations to meet, pray, and socialise, campaigns for justice, enables events to take place, prayer meetings and Bible study, supports community projects

The Parable of the Sheep and Goats inspires Christians to give to people in need. They want to be like the sheep and go to heaven. The sheep "fed me when i was hungry". The goats went to hell as they did not

Mission - the vocation or calling to go out into the world to spread a specific faith

The Great Commision - Jesus told his followers to spread his teachings

Evangelism - spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness (Salvation Army, The Alpha Course)

Missionary - a person who goes on to other countries to promote Christianity through charitable work or preaching

Pros: New people, converting people, helping people, new culture, following Jesus's instructions

Cons: Dangerous animals/terrain, cultural misunderstandings, scarcity of food, long distance travelling, leaving home behind     

Matthew 5:23-24 teaches us that Christians should be reconciled to each other

Gee Walker is an example of forgiveness and following the teachings of Jesus. Her son Anthony was killed so she set up the Anthony Walker foundation

The Corrymeela Community - it was founded in 1965 by Ray Davey who was a pacifist and was affected by World War Two. They have 150 members, but have friends from all over the world. It promotes harmony and they went to Ireland to rebuild and reconcile people

Community of Cross and Nuns - Coventry Cathederal was bombed in World War Two and Christians forgave those responsible. It is now a world centre for peace and reconciliation

The Parable of the Prodigal Son - shows God is forgiving

The World Council of Churches (WCC) - works for the reconciliation of different Christians denominations (Ireland) and members of other faiths. The Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace Initiative supports inter-religious dialogue 

Christians were persecuted by Emperor Nero

How do Christians respond to persecution?

Develops their faith and strengthens their conviction, the church grows, encouraged to show love ("do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" - Romans 12:21), suffering enables them to share in the suffering of Jesus

Pastor Baber George - Christian from Pakistan who set up churches and social projects to help the poor. Extreme Muslims accused him of blasphemy, attacked his home, forcing him to flee to Sri Lanka. There he relied on sympathetic Christian organisations like the Barnabas Fund to provide food

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) - campaigns for religious freedom for all, raises awareness of religious persecution, influences governments whose policies affect the oppressed, training in human rights, helps oppressed speak up

The Trussell Trust - Based on Parable of the Sheep and Goats, aiming to bring people together, food is donated to food banks by churches, supermarkets, schools, and businesses, identify people in crisis, 420 Trussell Trust food banks, provides food for nearly 1 million people

The Oasis Project - Plymouth Methodist Mission Circuit is a community hub with an internet cafe, creative courses, a job club, training opportunities, a base for meetings, 200 people use centre each week

Street Pastors - They patrol the streets offering reassurance, safety and support through listening, caring and  helping

Parish Nursing - about supporting people and communities towards whole person healthcare, promotes well-being in body, mind and spirit, work includes diagnosing early signs of health problems and training volunteers to help