Practices

• Liturgical worship


  Worship which has a set pattern, found in Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox Churches, with service books and set services
• Liturgical worship


  • Follows the example of Jesus who taught his followers how to pray, gave sermons and initiated the first Holy Communion
  • Includes readings from the Bible, Nicene Creed, hymns, set prayers, sermon, Holy Communion, sign of peace, blessing
• Non-liturgical worship


  Worship with no set pattern, found in Quaker and Evangelical worship
• Non-liturgical worship


  • Worshippers wait for the Holy Spirit, no leader, may sit in a circle, includes extemporaneous prayers, talking in tongues, healings, spontaneous singing
• Non-liturgical worship is a reminder of the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they started speaking in tongues
• Set prayers


  Prayers found in the Common Book of Prayer, used in liturgical worship, includes the Lord's Prayer and intercession prayers
• Extemporaneous prayers


  Spontaneous prayers said in informal worship when moved by the Holy Spirit
• Informal prayer


  Prayers said at home using informal language
• A sacrament is an outward sign of an inward blessing
• Seven sacraments of the Catholic Church


  • Mass, Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination of priests, Anointing of the sick, Confession
• Two sacraments recognised by most Protestant churches


  • Baptism, Eucharist (Mass/Holy Communion)
• Infant baptism


  • Wear white gown, public event with church community, parents and godparents make promises, vicar makes sign of cross, pours water, gives candle, announces baby has joined church community
• Adult baptism


  • Happens in Baptist churches, public event in front of congregation, believer makes baptismal vows, fully submerged in water, minister says "I baptise you...", given a candle
• Holy Communion (Eucharist/Mass)


  • A sacrament, reminder of Last Supper, happens in liturgical worship, priest/vicar represents Jesus and blesses bread and wine, Catholics believe bread and wine become body and blood, Protestants believe they symbolise body and blood
• Christmas

  • Advent is 4 weeks before, advent candles lit, nativity plays, advent calendars, exchange Christmas cards, midnight mass on Christmas Eve, exchanging of gifts on Christmas Day
• Lent and Holy Week

  • Lent is 40 days before Easter, starts on Ash Wednesday, Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday with palm crosses, Maundy Thursday Jesus has Last Supper and is betrayed, Good Friday Jesus is tried, mocked and crucified
• Peter does not believe the disciples when they go to tell him that Jesus has risen. He has to look for himself
• Matthew's account of the events at the tomb

  1. Two Mary's go to the tomb

  2. Earthquake occurs

  3. Angel appears

  4. Angel moves the boulder and sits on it

  5. Angel tells the women that Jesus has risen
• In John's gospel, doubting Thomas asks to see Jesus' wounds from the crucifixion to prove that it is him
• Advent


  A time to bring Christians closer to God and help on their path to salvation. During advent, they fast and pray…considering their spiritual needs
• Events on Maundy Thursday

  1. Jesus overturns the tables in the temple

  2. Has his last supper

  3. Is betrayed by Judas

  4. Washes the feet of his disciples

  5. Is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane

  6. Put on illegal trial by the Jewish high priests

  7. In the Catholic church, the priest washes the feet of his congregation
• Maundy Thursday


  • It brings the church community together e.g. fasting together during Lent, Services through out Holy week, Holy Communion on Easter Sunday. Some Christians go on pilgrimage at this time to Jerusalem together
• Events on Good Friday

  1. Jesus is tried by Pontius Pilate

  2. Pilate tries to free him by allowing the crowds to choose to release either Jesus or Barabus

  3. Crowds choose Barabus

  4. Jesus is mocked by the soldiers

  5. Given a crown of thorns

  6. Whipped

  7. Lots drawn for his clothes

  8. Carries his cross

  9. Crucified next to two thieves

  10. Some Christians fast on this day and some re enact Jesus' death with a procession
• Events on Easter Sunday


  1. Three women go to his tomb and find it empty

  2. They tell the disciples who don't believe them

  3. Peter has to see for himself

  4. Christians exchange Easter eggs as a sign of new life, read the Bible and take Holy Communion
• Pilgrimage


  A journey to a sacred place. An act of religious devotion
• Facts about Taize


  • Started in France by Roger Schluz in the 1940's
  • Father Roger helped German prisoners there. He believed in forgiveness and reconciliation
  • Joined by monks from across different Christian denominations
  • Pilgrims now are from different Christian denominations
  • Pilgrims go to the church of reconciliation
  • Pilgrims follow the day of the monks when they are there
  • They pray together, study the Bible and chant
  • Many pilgrims are young-aged between 18-30
• Facts about Walsingham


  • A saxon woman Faverches had a vision of Mary in Walsingham in 1061
  • Mary took her to her house in Nazareth where the angel Gabriel had told her she would have Jesus. She asked Faverches to build a replica of her house in Walsingham
  • Faverches did this and this is why Walsingham is called the Nazareth of England
  • Pilgrims from different denominations go there
  • They go to the church and pray for people
  • They believe the water in the church has healing powers
• Importance of pilgrimage for Christians

  • It shows their devotion
  • It helps on their path to salvation
  • It brings the Christian community together
  • It is a reminder of Jesus
• Reasons why pilgrimage is not important

  • The money could be spent in other ways which are more helpful
  • It could create disunity because some Christians may not be able to afford it and feel left out
• Ways in which Christianity still influences Britain today

  • Traditions-swearing on the bible in court, Sunday trading, many people still marry in church
  • Laws-based on Christian principles e.g. do not kill. Have to be passed in house of Lords-26 Bishops in there
  • Education-any primary schools are funded by the C of E. R.E curriculum-50% Christianity to reflect the fact Christianity is the main religion of this country. By law- schools should have a daily act of worship
  • Festivals-public holidays are around the major Christian festivals e.g. Easter and Christmas
• Reasons why churches are needed

  • Reminder of Jesus' teachings
  • Reminder of key Christian beliefs
  • They bring the church community together
• Reasons why churches are not needed

  • Too expensive-money should be given to the poor
  • Jesus did not have a church! He taught outside
  • Church community could meet in people's houses
• Reasons why some Christians do not agree with evangelising


  • It is not loving to force beliefs upon people and Jesus said to love your neighbour
  • Some Christians believe all religions are different paths to the same God, so evangelism is unnecessary
  • Jesus said "treat others as you would like to be treated yourself"
• Reasons why some Christians do agree with evangelism

  • Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can get to the Father except through me." So Christianity is the only way to God
  • Jesus told his disciples to go and preach to all nations and baptize people
  • They take the Pentecost to show that the disciples needed to speak in different languages to convert other nations
• Features of the Christian Ecumenical movement


  • World wide Sunday school movement
  • Joint services bringing together different denominations
• Features of the World Council of Churches

  • Came together after the first world war to bring unity and stop conflict
  • Hold a week of prayer together
• Reasons why some Christians do not want church unity

  • They don't want to lose their own identity
  • Orthodox church follow a different calendar and want to keep this
  • Worried about leadership-will all churches have to follow the Pope?
• Reasons why unity across Christians is important

  • It helps Christianity to spread
  • It is what Jesus would have wanted-he did not want division-love your neighbour and give to Caesar what is Caesar's
  • It makes Christianity stronger-more able to face persecution
• Features of the work of Tear Fund

  • Fund raising-mean bean week (Eat only beans and rice for one week)
  • Long term Aid-building bridges in marsh lands
  • Emergency Aid-blankets and food to Syria
  • Education-setting up education after the Haiti earthquake and educating the world by raising awareness of issues
• The 2011 census showed that Christianity is still the largest religion in England and Wales but numbers have fallen since the last census