Christian Practices

• Why do Christians pray?

  • To become closer to God
  • To ask for forgiveness
  • To feel peace and calmness
  • To relieve stress and anger
  • To get rid of fears and worries
  • To show gratitude
  • To ask for help
  • They are following the example of Jesus
• Sacraments:

  • Baptism
  • Eucharist (last supper)
  • Confirmation (sign a person has reached maturity)
  • Reconciliation (forgiveness)
  • Anointing of the sick
  • Marriage
  • Holy orders (commitment ceremony for God)
• Baptism:

  • Symbolises a fresh start
  • Water = coming clean to God
  • Infant baptism - water is poured on babies heads
  • Believer's baptism - adults dunked in pool of water
  • A commandment in the Bible
  • Cleanses of sin
• The Eucharist:


  • Known as mass, holy communion or the Lord's supper
  • Reflects the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples
  • Bread and wine represents Jesus' blood and body
  • Protestants believe the ceremony was symbolic
  • Catholics believe it was Jesus' actual blood and body
  • A form of collaborative liturgical worship
• The bread from the Eucharist is known as the 'bread of life' as Christians believe that once consumed, Jesus lives inside of you
• Pilgrimage is a journey by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons. It is both a physical and spiritual journey.
• Lourdes (France):


  • Bernadette saw visions of Virgin Mary
  • She was told to dig in the ground and when she did, a spring of water appeared
  • The water is claimed to have healing properties
  • Pilgrims drink and bathe in the water or help disabled and ill people drink and bathe in the water
  • Pilgrims pray for healing and forgiveness
  • May recite the rosary together
• Iona (Scotland)


  • Where St Columba established a monastic community in the 6th century
  • Now has a centre where pilgrims can stay
  • A thin veil between Heaven and Earth
  • Quiet and peaceful
  • Pilgrims spend time reading the Bible, reflecting and meditating
  • They can also attend services in the Abbey church, take part in workshops and visit holy or historical sites
  • Pilgrims usually come in the spring and summer
  • Reminder of God's omnipotence
  • At one with nature
  • Reflection on God's creation
• Reasons Christains go on pilgrimage:

  • To visit a holy place
  • To meet other pilgrims
  • To fulfil a religious duty
  • To express gratitude
  • To receive healing
  • To learn or reflect
  • To seek forgiveness
  • To get closer to God
  • To ask God for help
  • To strengthen their faith
• Advent is the countdown to Christmas
• Holy Week is the week leading up to Jesus' death
• Worship is a way for Christains to show their respect and love to God. It is a way of showing dedication and giving themselves to Him.
• Why do Christains worship?

  • To praise and thank God
  • To ask for forgiveness
  • To seek God's help (for themselves or others)
  • To deepen their relationship with God
  • To strengthen their faith
• Liturgical worship:


  • Set structure and response
  • Formal and traditional
  • Led by a priest (in a Church)
  • Includes formal prayers, bible passages, music and hyms
  • E.g. the Eucharist service
  • Practiced in Catholic, Orthodox and Anglician Churches
• Non-liturgical worship:

  • No set order
  • Formal and traditional
  • In a Church
  • Emphasis on the 'word of God'
  • Includes hyms, sermons and Bible readings
  • Practiced in Medodist, Baptist and United Reformed Churches
• Informal worship (charismatic):

  • Not traditional
  • Free-flowing
  • Listening to more modern music
  • Includes dancing, singing, clapping, calling out and speaking in tongues
  • Practiced by Pentecostal Churches and Evangelical movements
• Informal worship (waiting):

  • No leader
  • No set structure
  • Less formal
  • Silent reflection
  • People may speak when they feel moved by God or the Holy Spirit
  • More personal
  • Individuals speak to God
  • Practiced by Quakers
• Private worship:


  • Personal worship
  • May take place at home
  • May use prayer aids (rosary, icons)
  • Includes prayers and Bible readings
  • E.g. saying thanks before meals
  • Personal time with God
  • Practiced by all Christains
• Prayer is communicating with God in silence or aloud, with others or alone.
• Set prayers have been written down and said by more than one person. (E.g. the Lord's prayer).

  Informal prayers have been made up by an individual using their own words.
• Importance of prayer:

  • Enables Christains to speak and listen to God
  • Helps Christains keep a close relationship with God
  • Helps Christains accept God's will even if they are suffering
  • Gives a sense of peace
  • Gives strength in times of trouble
  • Encourages reflection
• Main reasons for prayer:

  • Adoration: Expressing deep love
  • Pentidential: Seeking for forgiveness
  • Commandment: Being told to do something
  • Supplication: Asking for something
  • Intercession: Asking God to help someone
• The Lord's Prayer:


  "Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen."
• The Lord's Prayer meaning:

  • God is our Father and this prayer is going to Him
  • God's name is holy
  • God wants us to make Earth as perfect as Heaven
  • We should trust God to help us with what we need
  • Trespassing against God is a sin
  • Temptation leds us to anger and hate, which is evil
  • God will hear our prayers and answer them
• Importance of the Lord's Prayer:

  • Reminds people of the trinity
  • Prayed out loud at the congregations of Holy Communions, weddings, baptisms and funerals
  • Provides a sense of unity
  • Shows the importance of forgiveness (you need to forgive others in order to be forgiven yourself)
  • Regularly said at Church schools
• Sacraments are holy rituals that are blessed by God.
• Differenent Christain views about sacraments:

  • Catholic and Orthodox Christains recogise all 7 sacraments
  • Many Protestants only accept 2 sacraments (Baptisim and Holy Communion)
  • Other Christians such as Salvation Army and Quakers recognise no sacraments
• Importance of Baptism:

  • Becoming a member of the Church
  • Becoming a child of God
  • Recieving God's grace and the Holy Spirit
  • Being cleansed of sin
  • Imitates Jesus' baptism by John the baptist
• Infant Baptism:


  • Priest pours blessed water onto the baby's head
  • Parents and Godparents make promises to God
  • Removes original sin immediately
  • Child is welcomed into the Church as soon as possible
  • A way for the parents to thank God for their new child
• Adult Baptism:

  • Person is fully immersed into a pool
  • They give a brief testimony
  • Blessed in the name of the Trinity
  • Symbolises being cleansed from sin
  • People should be old enough to make a decision about their faith
  • Living a life dedicated to Jesus is what saves, not being baptised as a baby
  • Jesus was baptised as an adult
• Meaning of the Holy Communion:

  Catholics and Orthodox:

  • The bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Jesus
  • This means Jesus is fully present in the bread and wine
  • This is a divine mystery
  • This is called transubtantiation

  Protestants:

  • Reminder of the Last Supper
  • The bread and wine are symbolic
  • This is called consubstantiation
• Importance of the Holy Communion:

  • Christains receive God's grace
  • Helps Christains stregthen their faith
  • Helps Christians become closer to God
  • Brings believers together
  • Provides support and encouragement to those going through a difficult time
  • Acts as a call to love eachother
  • Encourages the work for equality and justice
  • Churches collect money to support those in need
• How Orthodox Christains celebrate the Holy Communion:

  • Refer to it as the Divine Liturgy
  • Mostly held behind the iconostasis
  • Priest recives baked bread from members
  • Prayers are said for the local community and those in need
  • The priest says the words of Jesus at the last supper
  • Bread and wine is distributed on a spoon
  • Prayers and thanksgiving are said
  • Unconsecreated bread is given out to members of the Church
• How Catholics celebrate the Holy Communion:

  • Bible readings and teachings
  • The Nicene Creed is said
  • Prayers are said for the Church and those in need
  • Shaking hands (the sign of peace)
  • Bread and wine is brought to the Altar
  • The priest repeats the words of Jesus at the Last Supper
  • Wine is distributed in a chalice
  • Wafers may be used instead of bread
  • The priest blesses people and sends them out to live the gospel
• How Methodist Christains celebrate the Holy Communion:

  • Service begins with a hymn and prayer of praise and thanks
  • Bible readings and a sermon
  • Prayers for the world and those in need
  • The minister repeats the words and actions of Jesus at the Last Supper
  • There is an open table for anyone who wishes to recieve Holy Communion
  • Non-alcholic wine is distributed in small cups
  • Service ends with a blessing and instrcution to serve God
• Other pilgrimages:

  • Holy Land (Jerusalem)
  • Rome
  • Vatican City
• Christmas:

  • Commemmorates the incarnation and birth of Jesus
  • Celebrated on the 25th December
  • Churches hold special services - such as a vigil
  • Lights represent Jesus coming to the world of darkness
  • Nativity plays represent the story of Jesus being born for children
  • Carol services and Bible readings remind Christains about God's promise of a saviour and the events of Jesus' birth
  • Midnight Mass reflects the holiness of the night
  • Cards and gifts reflect the wisemen's gifts to Jesus
  • A time of international peace and goodwill
  • People come together and fighting is suspended
  • Christains give charity
• Origins of Christmas:

  • Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus
  • She accepted God's will and became pregnant
  • She and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem where she gave birth to Jesus in a stable
  • They were visited by wise men (who gave them gifts) and shepards
• Importance of Christmas:

  • Represents incarnation
  • Jesus is the central figure of Christianity, so his birth is important
  • Reminds of what is important in life
  • Encourages harmony and peace
  • Encourages helping eachother
  • Jesus being born in a manager represents that he is humble
• Easter:

  • Remembers Holy Week
  • Palm Sunday: Christians are given palm crosses in Church. This is kept until Ash Wednesday the next year and burnt
  • Maundy Thursday: Mass and Holy Communion are celebrated to remember the Last Supper
  • Good Friday: Colourful items are removed and no candles are lit in Churches, symbolising the death of Jesus. Processions and re-enactments of the events leading to Jesus' death are held
  • Easter Sunday: Churches are filled with flowers and hyms are sung to rejoice the ressurection. The priest declares that 'Christ has risen'. Children have Easter eggs