Living the Christian life

• Types of Christian Worship

  • Liturgical
  • Non-liturgical
  • Private
  • Informal
• Liturgical worship


  A set form of worship that usually follows an agreed pattern of words. The words are in a service book or on a screen for everyone to read.
• Non-liturgical worship


  A freer form of worship that doesn't follow a set structure. The leader of the worship is free to choose the hymns, prayers or readings. The main focus is the sermon.
• Private worship


  Where Christians worship God in private. They can communicate with God one-to-one and express emotions they cannot express in front of others.
• Informal worship


  Worship at home or as a community. This could include charismatic worship.
• Purposes of Prayer


  • Thanksgiving
  • Worship
  • Petition
  • Forgiveness
• Set prayers


  Prayers that have been written down. They are usually read or sung from a prayer book.
• Set prayers


  • Lord's Prayer
• Set prayers


  • Familiar words are comforting
  • The words have been authorised by the church
  • Reciting them allowed with others creates a sense of unity and shared belief
• Informal prayers


  Prayers that are made up in the moment with guidance from the Holy Spirit. They have no set format or words.
• The Lord's Prayer


  A set prayer Jesus taught to his followers. It contains many of the key Christian beliefs. The start praises God, the second half asks God for three things: basic need to survive, forgiveness and the strength to resist evil.
• Sacraments


  Important Christian ceremonies that have been officially recognised as having been established by Jesus. Each sacrament has its own special ceremony, which may involve saying prayers, singing hymns, making vows or promises, and listening to Bible readings or a sermon. Each sacrament has a physical and a spiritual side.
• Baptism


  The child is welcomed into the Church as soon as possible and the baptism cleanses the child from original sin. The parents are able to thank God for their new baby and celebrate the birth with family and friends. Godparents and parents promise to bring up the child in a Christian faith. A sign of the cross is made on the forehead, a lighted candle is given to represent the light of Jesus and water washes the sins away.
• The Eucharist is one of the most important sacraments in Christianity.
• Some Christians think people should wait and be baptised when they are old enough to come to a mature decision about their faith
• Believere baptism


  Involves full immersion in a pool, symbolicing the cleansing from sin and the rising up to new life with Christ
• Last Supper

  It is the re-enactment of the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples
• Holy Communion


  It is the sharing of the body and blood of Jesus in the form of bread and wine
• Catholic beliefs about Holy Communion

  • Bread and wine are the actual body and blood of Christ-the change happens when the bread and wine are blessed
  • They have it at least once a week if not every day
  • Jesus is always with them
  • It gives then God's strength for the coming week
  • It reminds Catholics that there is life after death
  • It was introduced by Jesus who told his disciples to do this in memory of me
• Protestant beliefs about Holy Communion

  • Bread and wine are symbols of Jesus body and blood
  • These symbols help believers to remember Jesus' death and sacrifice
  • It helps them remember the Last Supper, and the sacrifice made
  • It gives them spiritual strength
  • It brings the Christian community together
• Confirmation


  • When a person choses to confirm they become a member of the Church
  • They state again the promises that were made for them on their baptism
• Marriage


  The legal union of a man and women who promise before God that they will love and respect each other until death
• Holy Orders

  When a person becomes a deacon, priest or bishop
• Confession/reconciliation


  When a person confesses their sins to a priest, and these are forgiven by God
• Anointing the sick


  A sick or dying person confesses their sins and prays with a priest. The priest lays his hands on them and rubs oil on their forehead
• Pilgrimage


  A journey that a believer goes on to strengthen their faith, to a place that has a special religious significance
• Reasons to go on pilgrimage

  • Feel closer to God, find time for prayer and meditation
  • Seek a cure for illness
  • Strengthen their faith, feel closer as a Christian community and follow in Jesus' footsteps (as he went on a pilgrimage)
  • Have a religious or spiritual experience
• Places of Christian Pilgrimage

  • Taize-France (Small village, Monastic (monks) community established)
  • Walsingham-Norfolk (Village that contains the shrine of Mary)
  • Jerusalem (City in Israel, Jesus spent the last week of his life)
  • Iona-Scotland (Island off the coast of Scotland, where St Columba founded a monastic community/sacred as many saints lived there, one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in the UK)
• What do people do at places of Christian pilgrimage?

  • Join in with prayer
  • Meditation
  • Join in with chants
  • Silence
  • Walk around the town-bare foot
  • Pray at the holy house
  • Follow in Jesus' footsteps (visit sites such as-mount of olives (where Jesus taught his followers), garden of Gethsemane (where Jesus was betrayed and arrested) and crucifixion site)
  • Spend time in prayer and reflection
  • Special pilgrimage walk every week-to visit significant areas
• Celebrations


  Christmas and Easter are two of the main festivals celebrated and recognised by all Christians
• Christmas


  The celebration of the incarnation and birth of Christ on 25th December
• What happens at Christmas

  1. Special services at midnight on Christmas Eve (24 December), when a crb often set up and blessed (nativity scene)

  2. Services on the morning of Christmas Day which recall the Gospel accounts

  3. Gifts being exchanged to remember that Jesus was given presents by the wi men and as a sign of love for each other to reflect God's love in the gift of
• The story of Christmas

  • Angel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of God's son. She accepted God's will and become pregnant.
  • Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem.
  • Jesus was visited by the Shepherds and the Wise Men.
• The importance of Christmas

  • Christmas shows the importance of the family.
  • Jesus was born into a human family.
  • At Christmas, Christians remember the humility and strength of Mary and Joseph and in their worship remember to try and be spiritually like them.
  • Birth of Jesus who is central to the Christian faith.
  • At Christmas time, Christians help others and share with them.
  • Teaches the incarnation of God as Jesus
  • Links with the teachings of the Trinity - God is the father, the son and the Holy Spirit
• Advent


  Marks the beginning of the countdown to Christmas
• What happens during Advent


  1. On the 1 Sunday Christians light a candle on an advent wreath

  2. Then over the next 3 Sundays they light one more candle

  3. Advent calendars can also be used to help countdown
• The importance of Advent

  • This represents the light of Jesus that entered the world with his birth.
  • The wreath (circle) symbolises the eternity of God.
  • Allows Christians to prepare for Christmas
• Holy Week


  It is the week just before Easter Sunday, it is also the final week of lent. It commemorates the last week of Jesus' life.
• The importance of Holy Week


  • It reminds Christians of God's sacrifice of his son, and also God's love for his people.
  • Christians can learn much about Jesus through the last week of his life.
  • It celebrates God raising his son Jesus from the dead.
  • It symbolises the gift of eternal life to everyone.
• Easter


  The resurrection of Jesus