Worship

• Worship


  The way in which Christians show their deep love, reverence and respect for God. It is connected with the word 'worth' and means to recognise someone's importance and value.
• Worship


  • Christians may worship alone or with others, in a special building like a church, in people's homes or any appropriate place. Worship may involve prayer, meditation, Bible readings, singing hymns, preaching, sharing food, pilgrimage, celebrating festivals or using religious art, music or drama. People can worship anytime, but Christians' weekly public worship takes place on Sunday, the day of Jesus' resurrection.
• Why worship?


  Worship allows Christians to praise and thank God for his blessings, to ask for forgiveness of sin or to seek God's help for themselves or others who may be suffering. Worship helps deepen a Christian's relationship with God and gives him or her comfort and strength to live a more truly Christian life.
• Liturgical worship


  • Some Christians prefer services that follow the same set pattern each time. In liturgical worship a priest leads the congregation in formal prayers that have set responses. Bible passages are read out, particularly from the gospels, and there may be a sermon based on these. The priest may perform symbolic actions which have a specific meaning. During the service there will often be music, hymns sung by the congregation or choir, or sometimes chanting by the priest. An example of liturgical worship is the celebration of the Eucharist for Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican Churches.
• Non-liturgical and informal worship


  • Christians also take part in non-liturgical worship, in which there does not have to be a set order or ritual. In Nonconformist churches, such as Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed churches, those planning the service may choose an order to suit a theme. Nonconformist churches place an emphasis on the word of God in the Bible, and although many churches may celebrate Holy Communion regularly, perhaps once or twice a month, the service is usually focused on Bible readings and a sermon based on the readings. Informal worship may depend on people's spontaneous prayers or sharing of thoughts. Quaker worship is mainly silent, and people speak when they feel God's spirit moving them to offer thoughts, prayers or a reading from the Bible. Community or house churches meet to eat together and share their faith to recreate what they believe to be the worship of the Early Church. Some informal worship, like that of the Pentecostal Church, is 'charismatic' (that is, 'led by the Spirit') and may involve dancing, clapping, calling out, and speaking in tongues. These worshippers feel it is easier to experience God's Holy Spirit in informal worship.
• Characteristics of liturgical worship, and why they are important for Christians


  • The people receive forgiveness from God through the action of the priest
  • The people receive the living presence of Jesus in Holy Communion
  • Bible readings follow the Christian calendar and teach Christian history and faith across the Old and New Testament and Paul's letters
  • There is a worldwide set order of service that is familar to al, even visitors
  • The ritual has been passed down through generations, giving a sense of tradition
• Characteristics of non-liturgical and informal worship, and why they are important for Christians


  • The style of worship follows that of some early Christians who met to hear about Jesus in the joy of the Spirit after Pentecost
  • Faith is expressed in a variety of ways. Holy Communion, for example, may be celebrated in different ways
  • Christians can share personal interpretations of the Bible. Often, readings follow the Christian calendar
  • People can take an active part in church by praying aloud or speaking without formal training
  • The service may have an emotional impact, with a feeling of personal revelation from God
• Private worship


  • Private worship allows individuals to spend time with God, either alone or with close friends or family. It may involve prayer, meditation, studying or meditating on a Bible passage, or using aids to worship sach as an icon, or a rosary.
• Worship


  An act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve respect, adoration, praise, and praying.
• Worship


  • For many, it is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition of a God or gods
  • In Christianity, it is the act of attributing reverent honour and homage to God
  • In the New Testament, various words are used to refer to the term worship, such as proskuneo ("to worship") which means to bow down to God or kings
• Ways Christians worship


  • Personally
  • Privately
  • Collectively
• Christian worship


  • Some denominations use rituals, sacred objects, symbolism, and liturgy
  • Other denominations are non-liturgical and take a different approach
• Expressions of worship


  • Music
  • Dance
  • Prayer
  • Study
  • Art
  • Serving others
• Liturgical worship


  • Worship found in services in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Church of England (Anglican) churches
  • Features a set structure to the service, the use of set prayers and readings
• Liturgical worship


  • Some Christians see it as 'old fashioned' or 'very traditional'
  • The service follows the text of a prayer book and is not improvised on at all
  • As a congregation, Christians often participate together, repeating key information and singing hymns
  • Liturgical worship often takes place in a church, but not always
  • Some Christians prefer liturgical worship because the familiarity of the service makes them feel secure and they can join in with ease
  • It helps Christians put into words how they feel, when they may not be able to on their own
• Liturgical worship


  • Others may see it as too prescriptive and lacking of emotion
  • The constant repetition can cause people to lose focus and dissociate
  • People are unable to express to God how they are feeling themselves
• Non-liturgical worship


  • Worship typical of some nonconformist churches
  • It is Bible-based, as they place an emphasis on the word of God in the Bible
  • It often follows a structure but the service leader has free choice within that structure
• Non-liturgical worship


  • The minister or person leading worship will choose Bible readings that will be based on the theme of the sermon
  • Prayer is usually in the person's own words and personal style, known as extemporary prayer
• Non-liturgical worship


  • Some believe it to be too open to interpretation, and people may misunderstand the meaning or purpose of the service
  • Other denominations believe that Jesus set out a clear set of words for Christians to use in prayer, therefore we should follow this
• Informal worship


  • Focuses on the adoration of God and is not always carried out in a church
  • Often takes place in large auditoriums or private homes/house churches
• Informal worship


  • Denominations often associated with it are Quakers and the Pentecostal Church
  • It is normally spontaneous and charismatic
  • People can share readings and prayers, and take an active part in the church by calling or speaking without formal training
  • Services may have an emotional impact with feeling or personal revelation from God
• Charismatic worship


  • A form of informal worship with the characteristics of other forms of worship (hymns, sermon, prayer, readings), but is very free-flowing
  • In spirit-inspired worship, the worshippers often speak in tongues (outbursts of praise in words that are not intelligible, but which express the person's devotion to God)
• Charismatic worship


  • Singing is lively, often accompanied by music that is popular and modern in style, with instruments commonly used
  • Has a much more relaxed feel to it
  • Some Christians believe it comes more from the heart
• Quaker worship


  • Quaker services usually are in a space of stillness that is simple and plain with little or no decoration
  • Quakers hold meetings, rather than services, in Meeting houses
  • These meetings last about an hour and have no set hymns, prayers or sermons
• Quaker worship


  • There is not a stage or platform, instead the chairs are formed in either a square or a circle
  • The services are based upon waiting, silence, and listening for the Lord
  • Quakers spend most of the meeting in silence as this kind of worship is seen as a time for connection with God and with others
  • If someone wishes to stand up and speak, they are free to do so as part of this informal worship
  • Meetings focus on the truth and love from God alone
  • Believers collectively gather to experience the Lord individually and share with one another
  • Inspiration from God leads each service
  • Quakers are not specific to who can attend their services, they invite all
  • Quakers do not have a priest or minister because they believe that all believers are equal to hearing and receiving from the spirit and presence of God
• Characteristics of liturgical worship and why they are important for Christians

  • The people receive forgiveness from God through the action of the priest
  • The people receive the living presence of Jesus in Holy Communion
  • Holy Communion may be celebrated in different ways
  • Bible readings follow the Christian calendar and teach Christian history and faith across the Old and New Testament and Paul's letters
  • Often, readings follow the Christian calendar
  • There is a worldwide set order of service that is familiar to all, even visitors
  • The ritual has been passed down through generations, giving a sense of tradition
• Characteristics of non-liturgical and informal worship, and why they are important for Christians

  • The style of worship follows that of some early Christians who met to hear about Jesus in the joy of the Spirit after Pentecost
  • Faith is expressed in a variety of ways
  • Christians can share personal interpretations of the Bible
  • People can take an active part in church by praying aloud or speaking without formal training
  • The service may have an emotional impact, with a feeling of personal revelation from God
• Private worship


  • Informal and often takes place at home, but it can be liturgical or non-liturgical
  • Examples include saying grace before a meal or reading a passage from the Bible each day
  • It is considered very important to Christians, as it is a time when they can personally connect with God
• Private worship


  • Worshipping alone can allow a person to feel close to God
  • It can be an opportunity for Christians to explore a personal, individual connection with God
  • Prayer, meditation, Bible study and singing hymns may all be done at home
  • Christians can unite themselves with the Church of God as they pray while not actually going to a physical church
  • Some Christians belong to the 'house church' movement and meet for worship in each other's homes
  • Many Christians use the Bible in private worship - they may read it all over a number of years, or they may reflect on specific parts of it
  • Catholics may use a rosary, a string of beads which helps them count their prayers as they meditate on the life of Jesus and call on Mary to offer their prayers to God; they call this intercession
  • Others may use Informal prayer, where they may speak to God in more simple, everyday language
• Many Christians worship both publicly and privately
• Importance of worship


  • It creates a personal relationship between God and the believer
  • It can also help to bring a community together as some people feel that they gain a better understanding of Christianity through attending services
• Worship


  An act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve one or more of activities such as respect, adoration, praise, and praying.
• Worship (in Christianity)


  The act of attributing reverent honour and homage to God
• Words used in the New Testament to refer to worship

  • Proskuneo (to worship)
  • Other more ambiguous words
• Worship (according to Jesus)

  Worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth
• Types of Christian worship


  • Personal
  • Private
  • Collective
• Expressions of worship


  • Music
  • Dance
  • Prayer
  • Study
  • Art
  • Serving others
• Liturgical worship


  Worship found in services in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Church of England (Anglican) churches. Features a set structure, set prayers and readings.
• Liturgical worship


  • Roman Catholic Mass
  • Anglican Eucharist in the home of a sick person
• Liturgical worship


  • Familiarity of the service makes people feel secure and they can join in with ease
  • Dignity and variety within the set structure
  • Worldwide order of service that can be followed in other countries or churches
  • Helps Christians put into words how they feel