Living a christian life

• Liturgical worship


  Usually following an agreed form of words (often the congregation follow the words in a service book or on an overhead screen)
• Non-liturgical worship


  Although the service will have a clear structure, there will be no, or very few, set words other than the words to songs
• Individual worship


  Quiet worship alone in a person's own home
• The Book of Common Prayer (BCP)

  • The oldest Anglican service book, written in the 16th century by Thomas Cranmer and modified in 1662. Many of its prayers and services are still used today. It also contains special services, the creeds, the 39 Articles, and special prayers for each week of the year.
• Liturgical and non-liturgical forms of worship occur in various different denominations, and most Christians will worship using both forms
• Christians who value liturgical worship

  Find comfort in using words that may well have been said for decades, or centuries. There is also security in knowing exactly the pattern the service will follow, the length of time it will take, and usually that the form of words used have been authorised by a particular denominational hierarchy.
• Christians who value non-liturgical worship

  Appreciate the fact that they have more freedom to express their worship - this might involve lifting hands or even dancing. Typically the sung worship may be of any length, the service may or may not have structured prayers, the service leader has far more control of the service and is able to weave in different aspects.
• Sacraments


  Particularly important and significant Christian ceremonies, seen by many Christians as signs of God's love - a special holy action that shows a religious truth. For some Christians, like Catholics, sacraments are more than just signs - they are 'effective signs', which means that they bring about the thing that they symbolise.
• Sacraments recognised by different Christian groups

  • Catholic Church: 7 sacraments
  • Orthodox Church: 7 sacraments
  • Church of England (Anglican): 2 sacraments (baptism and eucharist)
  • Some Protestant churches (e.g. Salvation Army, Quakers): No sacraments officially recognised
• The 39 Articles of Religion were agreed by the Bishops and Archbishops of England in 1562, covering matters of belief such as heaven, hell, baptism, and creeds
• Types of Christian worship

  • Liturgical
  • Non-liturgical
  • Individual
• There is a great amount of variety in worship both between and within denominations
• The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church

  • Sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation
  • Sacraments of service: Eucharist (mass or holy communion), Marriage, Taking holy orders
  • Sacraments of healing: Reconciliation (confession), Anointing the sick with oil
• The 39 Articles of Religion


  Agreed beliefs of the Church of England published in 1562 after it split from the Catholic Church
• Sacraments


  • Physical side: can be felt, touched, seen, smelled or tasted
  • Spiritual side: each sacrament brings a spiritual blessing to the person involved
• Baptism


  Ceremony in which a person formally becomes a member of the Church, commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:19
• Christian denominations and their approach to baptism

  • Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican Churches: baptise infants
  • Quakers and Salvation Army: no formal baptism
  • Baptist Church: baptise people old enough to decide for themselves
• Infant baptism


  1. Priest pours water three times on child's head

  2. Parents and godparents publicly declare their beliefs

  3. Child is welcomed as a member of the Church
• Confirmation


  When a person freely chooses to conclude the process of baptism, usually after attending a course of Bible study
• Confirmation in different denominations

  • Anglicans: usually at least 12 years old
  • Catholics: at least 8 years old
  • Orthodox Church: no confirmation, instead have Sacrament of Chrismation
• Confirmation service


  1. Those being confirmed make statements of belief

  2. Bishop lays hands on person's head as a sign the Holy Spirit has entered their life

  3. Person is welcomed as a full member of the Church
• Eucharist


  Re-enactment of the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples, involving bread and wine
• Names for the Eucharist

  • Mass (Catholic Church)
  • Holy Communion (Anglican Church)
  • Lord's Supper (Methodists)
• The Eucharist is not celebrated by the Salvation Army
• Catholic and Orthodox view of the Eucharist

  Bread and wine change to become the actual body and blood of Jesus (transubstantiation)
• Other Christian view of the Eucharist

  Bread and wine are symbolic of Jesus' body and blood to help believers remember his death
• Catholics believe they should receive the Eucharist at least once a week, some every day
• Protestants may take the Eucharist less often, perhaps once every few weeks, some do not receive it at all
• Marriage


  The legal union of a man and a woman, who promise before God to love, honour, cherish and respect each other
• Taking holy orders


  Becoming a deacon, priest, or bishop in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches
• Reconciliation (Confession)


  When a person asks forgiveness for the wrongs they have done
• Reconciliation in Catholic and Orthodox Churches

  1. Person confesses sins to a priest, who gives them God's forgiveness

  2. Person may have to 'do penance' such as saying prayers or carrying out positive actions
• Anointing the sick


  Based on teaching in the Bible, the sick person confesses sins and prays with the priest, who lays hands on them and anoints them with oil
• Prayer


  A way of communicating with God, usually through words, and having a personal relationship with him
• Types of prayer


  • Set prayers
  • Informal prayer
  • Private prayer
• The Lord's Prayer


  A special prayer taught by Jesus to his followers, covering the needs of all believers
• Most Christians will use both set and informal prayer to communicate with God
• Christians who prefer set prayers


  Find comfort in using words said throughout history and authorised by their Church, increases sense of shared belief and unity
• Christians who prefer informal prayer


  Appreciate the personal nature of communicating how they are feeling with God, value praying aloud in groups
• Reciting these aloud as a community also increases a sense of shared belief and unity