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Apostles' Creed

Creed = a statement of beleif, Credo = believe

Three sections known as the trinity

1) Father, 2) Son, 3) Holy Spirit

1st section- God is the - Father - almighty (omnipotent) - Creator, at a funeral the body is commited to the earth and soul to God

2nd section - Jesus - gods only son- conceived by the holy spirit- virgin birth- crucified, died and buried- Rose from the dead- ascended to heaven- seated at the right hand of the father- coming again as judge

3rd section - The holy spirit is God in the third person

- The church is world wide-family - forgiveness of sins - life with God forver

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The ten commandments

The ten commandments teach/ give christians a gide of how to live as God wants them to.

The first 4 commandments are about God- and are summed up by the first great commandment                                                                                                         1. God must come first                       2. Do not worship idols                                  3. Keeps Gods name special                  4. keep his day special

The fianl 6 are about people- summed up by the second great commandment  5. honour your parents  6. do not murder  7. do not commit adultry   8. do not steal    9. do not lie   10. do not be jealous

The two great commandments:

1. Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

2. Love your neighbour as yourself

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Why the churches split

After the death and resurrection of Christ there was one big church. Many did not agree with how the church was being run so the great schism occured to form the eastern orthodox church and the western catholic church. The Schism occured because  there were many disagreements for example - Roman catholic have the pope - Catholic put more emphasis on Mary - Catholic confess to the preist, Protestant confess to God -

 In the western catholic church there was a second split to form the catholic and protestant churches. This was because they disagreed on things like: - church leaders became corrupt - did not accept the pope - Not inline with newtestament teachings - They used the wealth of the church for their own benefit - didn't believe in praying to God for forgiveness of sins -The eucharist / Communion are different, Catholic beleive in transubstantiation, where the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus. Where as Protestant beleive it is simply a symbol of what Jesus did for them. All churches also have different views about marriage of the clergy, The furnishings of the church, Baptism, weddings etc.

The name of the churches mean: Roman catholic = Universal : Orthodox = correct beleif : Protestant = protested

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Ecumenism

Ecumenism is the bringing together of the different churches.

The different churches may come together for many different reasons

They may come together in joint services, charity events

They may come together to show unity stronger voice, as they all beleive in the same God and all want to see his work shown. It also lessens the confusion for outsiders to the church.

There are many ecumenical centres and charities where different churches come together, some of these are:

- Taize         - Sole survivor        - Christian aid     - Spring harvest    

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Christian Pilgrimage

Reasons for going on a Pilgrimage...                                       

- Holiday      - Heartbroken       - Happiness       - Help      - Healing    - Honeymoon - To ask for something  - To achieve eternal life  - to deepen faith  - to give thanks

Places of Pilgrimage...

- Jerusalem --> The place of the last supper, death and Resurrection of Jesus

- Rome --> Centre of the Catholic religion, Place where the pope lives, vatican city

- Walsingham --> Richeldis had a vision to build the holy house in Norfol

- Lordes --> Mainly a Catholic place of pilgrimage is mostly visited because of the healing water

- Nacareth --> is the birth place and childhood home of Jesus

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Sunday

Sunday is the sabbath day or the day of rest after the 6 days of creation, it is enforced in the 10 commandment to keep the sabbath day holy

A sunday is for: - Worship   - Rest

A sunday service contains - Gospel - Celebrate Lords supper - Sermon  - Prayer   - Music

Why Sunday?

Sunday was chosen as the sabbath day for Christians as: - Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday - Christianity began on a Sunday - To be different from the Jews  - Remember the resurrection

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Advent

Advet remembers the three comings: - John the Baptist - Jesus' birth - Return of Jesus

Purple is used to represent Advent because it is a solum colour and advent is a time to think and look at your relationship with God

Why is Advent important to Christians?

- Reflection on what is important and not important in your life - Self examination - Time for inner cleansing - Preparation for Christmas/ Coming of Jesus - Meeting with other Christians - Out reach and making the Christian message known. The symbols of Advent are: Light vs Dark, The green wreath = eternity

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Christmas

What is the meaning and importance of Christmas?

- God came down in human form - God kept his promise - Virgin birth means Jesus was born with no sins - The anticipation of eternal life - God was clearly in charge of time - Identity of the poor and outcast

How does it affect lives of believers?

- Sense of anticipation and hope - Jesus the light comes into a dark world - A profound sense of Joy - encouragement to share with needy

How is Christmas celebrated?

- Nativity Plays - Church services - Gospel preaching - midnight mass - singing carols - helping the poor - special prayers - Reading the Bible

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Lent

Lent is the preparation for Easter, Christians prepare for Easter by thinking of things they have done wrong.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and it ends on Easter Saturday

Lent is 40 days as Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the Desert, he was in the desert to prepare for his ministry.

Some Christians may celebrate lent by fasting, they do this because Jesus fasted when he was in the desert and it also brings them closer to God as they reflect and think about him. Other ways of celbrating Lent are: - Giving up something - Making pancakes to symbolise getting rid of all the fat in the house to remove the temptation - Mothering Sunday - Putting ashes on your forehead - represent the spring cleaning of the sole.

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Easter

Maundy Thursday:

Washing of the feet - Showing humility - Queen gives maundy money to the poor, to show they care for the poor - Stay up all night, as Jesus did

Good Friday

Jesus died on the Cross to achieve forgiveness for a those who ask for it and believe in Jesus

Easter Sunday

Jesus rose from the dead on this day. This may be celebrated with a sunrise service = son rise - Lighting the paschal candle - communion service, Jesus the lamb of God had forgiven sin, East roast lamb

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Pentecost (Whitsun)

The holy spirit came down onto the disciples in the form of wind and flame, giving them the ability to speak lots of different languages, 3000 people became Christians on that day.

The word "Pentecost" means "the fiftieth day" , Pentecost was Fifty days after the feast of the passover.

What happens?

- Early morning church service     - Baptisms  - Walks through the town                   - Decorating wells    - Buying new clothes , new fresh start

Why do they do it?

- Birthday of the church - Giving of the holyspirit - Fulfilment of Jesus' promise - Reminds them of their obligation to spread the Gospel.

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Infant Baptism

What is said at an Infant Baptism?

- I Baptise you in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy spirit - This is done because they believe in the trinity  - God parents make promises to help the child grow up in faith - annpinting with oil - sign of the cross on the head

The affects of having an Infant Baptism;

- Babies are baptised to dedicate them to the church and start the faith - It has become a tradition to Baptise your child although it used to be done because there were lots of premature deaths in children and baptising your child was thought to protect them and ensure that they went to heaven. The child also becomes involved in the family of the church - the child has to decide later if it agrees with its baptism through confirmation.

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Baptism By Full Immersion-

The affects of Beleiver Baptism-Before a baptism a person must first beleive - it is a new start - they recieve support from the church - they are going public in their faith - it is a personal decison - they can become fully involved in church life

What happens at the Baptism?

First the person gives a testonmony telling the congragation how you came to faith and why you wish to be baptised.

Next you are baptised by two people (the minister and another leader in the church)  in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Ypu are baptised in a Baptistry that may be built into the church floor. You can also be baptised in swimming pools, in the sea and rivers. Being baptised by total immersion represents duing to your old self and the rising to a new life with God. During th service there is lots of Hyms, songs, bible readings and an explination of the reasons for baptism, this allows people to understand what baptism is and the reasons for it.

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Confirmation

In churches where infant baptism is practised, the promises to God were made by the parents and God parents. In an Orthodox church confirmation takes place immediately after baptism. In other Churches it becomes the choice of the person, usually a teenager but there is no set age, whether to confirm the promises made by the parents and God parents when they were younger.

In the Anglican church (CofE) the Bishop asks the candidates to stand and openly declare their "allegiance to Christ" and their "rejection of all that is evil". After this candidates kneel before the Bishop. He places his hands on each head and says, "confirm, o lord, your servant (name), with your holy spirit".

In a Catholic Church young people are prepared for confirmation by their parents and by catechists in their own parish. The ceremony normally takes place during mass (communion). Candidates are asked to stand and make their baptismal vows. The Bishop lays his hand on the candidates head. Dips his thumb into a small pot containing chrism (oil and balsam) and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the candidate.

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Marriage

The order of a Wedding Service-

(* = legal requirement!)

1) The Bride arrives with her father. 2) Walk down the aisle. 3) Stand before the Priest 4) The purpose of marriage - Companionship- deepening the relationship - to have children in a safe and stable environment 5)* Opportunity to contest the marriage - if the people getting married are underage  - if they are already married 6) Father gives away the bride- Symbolic of changing family. 7)* Making vows      8) Giving & receiving rings 9) sermon 10) Hymn & Prayer 11) Final blessing 12) Kissing the bride 13)* Pronounced husband and wife 14)* signing the register- 5 people must sign: Bride, Groom, Priest and 2 witness'

Benefits of marriage ---- 1. It provides a suitable relationship in which two people can express their love and commitment to one another 2. it gives them a sense of security 3. It provides a secure and stable environment into which children can be born and brought up 4. it has the help and support of the church

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Divorce

There are different stages of divorce

 - Desertion, where one partner simple leaves the other to live elsewhere

- Judical seperation, the courts grant seperation, meaning the couple cannot interfer in each other's lives

- Divorce, the marriage is officially declared by the courts to be at an end.

Being divorced from a partner, unless you were widowed or there was violence in the marriage etc., you may not be able to get remarried in some churches.

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Death & Funerals

What happens at a Funeral?

 - Prayers and Hymns    - Commital    - Eulogy - telling about the person and thanking for their life  - Eucharist in some churches  - Burial or cremation

How does this show Christian belief.

- Words express God's sovereignty over death  - Words express belief of life after death   - commital "dust to dust" , to show God is creator 

How beliefs in the after life will affect the way Christians live?

- Life after death gives hope and sense of fairness, early death - Roman Catholic believe in purgatory, bereaved will pray for dead to have lived a good life to achieve heaven - some believe they must evangalise to get into heaven

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Chruch Furniture & Parts of the Church

Main traditional parts of the Church :::: Pew - Fixed benches on which people sit  -- Stalls - Fixed seats in the Chancel where the choir and Clergy usually sit  -- Alter - Communion table -- Lectern- the stand on which the Bible rests -- Pulpit- is the raised, enclosed platform from which the preacher gives the sermon  14 stations of the Cross

Nave- The main body of the church   Chancel- The whole area at the end of the church which stands the alter and choir stalls   Sanctuary- The area immeduately around the alter

Hassok- A firm cussion for people to kneel on when they prey  Tabernacle- the box in which the consecrated bread is kept   Confessional- A place where catholics confess their sins to the priest   Paschal candle- The easter candle, lit during the rest of the year at Baptisms

ORTHODOX - Iconostasis - screen that hides the alter   Royal doors

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Communion

Communion can also be known as 'Mass' or 'Eucharist' depending on the Church. But what ever name it is given they are all done in rememberance of the last supper that Jesus told all Christians to do in rememberance of what he did for us when he died on the Cross and rose again.

The Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches believe in Transubstantiation, which means that they believe that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus.

The Protestant church believe in Consubstantiation, which means that they believe that the bread and wine do no change and it is simply symbolic.

A communion service is much the same as a normal service with hymn and prayer and a sermon but also includes communion.

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The Bible

The Bible is the holy book for ALL Christians. The Bible is a collection of 66 books including both the new and the old testaments, the books include: History, stories, poetry, songs, parables, laws, sermons, letters and predictions about the future. The bible is divided into two parts, the new testament and the old testament. The old testament describes events that took place in the centuries before the coming of Christ. The new testament is made up of 27 of the 66 books in the Bible, which were all written following the death of Jesus.The Bible is used by Christians in many different ways; it can be read on your own or with a group of people. It is used to teach the word of God and Jesus and the way of life that Christians should lead. It is a guide or map of life for Christians to show them the correct way to live. It is used as a comfort as God speaks through the Bible. The Bible is also used in worship as many songs are inspired by words from the Bible.

The Canon (Bible) 'measuring rod', the collection of writtings that have been accepted in the Bible because they were written or checked by the original disciples. The Apocrypha is extra books only accepted by the Roman catholic and Orhtodox churches.

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Sermon On The Mount

Judging others -- Teching - Judge yourself first, not others - be dicerning about the behaviour of others

Affects - Tolerance towards the faults of others - not to be hypocritical about others - to lead by example - giving practical help and advice

Forgiveness - blessed are the peacemakers - don't retaliate - love your enemies - Lords prayer - don't judge others before you judge yourself - don't let anger control you - forgive within marriage

Prayer - must be sincere asnd genuine - not for show - mean what you are saying - don't use meaningless phrases - prayer starts with praise to God - you are talking to your heavinly father - you are asking for God's plans for this world - ask for forgiveness as well as giving

The beatitudes - Humble - Admit their sin - Pure - Peacemakers - Infuriates wrong doers - Needs God - Exercises forgiveness - Seeks God - Sorry for sin

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