2) Celebration and Pilgrimage Flashcards
(36 cards)
2.1 Christmas
Christian holy day that marks the birth of Jesus (25 Dec)
-celebrating Advent and Christmas
2.1 Advent
The period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.
-Always four Sundays before Christmas
2.1 Significance of advent
-Means ‘coming’
-to remember the birth of Christ
-thank God for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit
Acknowledge and focus on the second coming of Christ:
-what they need to do to be ready for his return - preparation and anticipation
-for Christians, Advent should also have a sense of seriousness and self-termination
-celebrating involves a season of prayer, fasting, repentance
2.1 Advent Customs
Advent wreath:
-with 4 white candles - 1 candle lit on each Sunday of Advent
-5th red candle - represent Jesus as the light of the world and lit on Christmas Eve/ day
-circle of evergreen leaves - represents eternal life
Advent calendar:
-by opening the 24 doors of the Calendar, children are encouraged to think about the passing day of Advent
-waiting in anticipation for Christmas
Charity events:
-advent is traditionally a time for Christians to think about how they can change for the better
-Concern sponsored fast
-Christian Aid - provides resources for schools/ churches
2.1 The significance of Christmas
-all about God sending his son into the world as part of his plan is to bring salvation to people
-incarnation (in the flesh) when God became man in the form of baby Jesus
2.1 Reasons to celebrate Christmas
Reminds Christians of God’s unconditional love:
-‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’
-we have sinned against God, but He still sent His son to die for our sins
Commemorates the beginning of the end of sin
-before, we lost the intimate fellowship he had with God but through the birth of Jesus, we reconciled back to God
2.1 Christmas customs
-the Christingle service
-midnight mass
-family service
-epiphany
2.1 The Christingle service
Means ‘Christ Light’. Worshippers (often children) are given a Christingle to hold and there may be a candlelit procession around the church
-orange - the world
-candle - Jesus, the light of the world
-red band - blood of Christ, shed for the world
-cocktail sticks - four seasons
-nuts and fruits - the good things the earth provides
2.1 Family service
Some denominations hold a special service on Christmas morning
-young children encouraged to bring toys
-Christmas carols sung
-Bible readings based around Christmas
2.1 Epiphany
The twelfth day of Christmas, 4 January is the Epiphany, which marks the end of the Christmas season
-epiphany means ‘to show forth’
-this is the date of the visit of the Magi when Jesus was ‘to show forth’ as God’s son to non-Jews
-Jesus’ birth would be important for all people and not just the Jews
-idea known as universalism
2.1 Easter
Commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ
2.1 Lent
Easter begins with Lent, which is the 40 days leading up to Holy Week
2.1 Significance of Lent
Christians remember when Jesus went into the desert to fast and was tempted by the Devil
2.1 What Christians do in Lent
-some Christians fast in remembrance of Jesus’ actions
-many give up something they enjoy eating or drinking, such as chocolate or alcohol
-to challenge themselves to resist temptation as Jesus did
2.1 Holy week
A week before Easter Sunday that recalls the suffering and death of Jesus
-Psalm Sunday
-Holy Monday
-Holy Tuesday
-Holy Wednesday
-Maundy Thursday
-Good Friday
-Holy Saturday
-Easter Sunday
2.1 Psalm Sunday
On the day, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. The people showed him love by waving palm branches as he passed by.
-Palm crosses are given out during Christian services on Psalm Sunday to commemorate this event
2.1 Holy Monday
Commemorates Jesus’ cleansing of the temple, when he committed aggravated assault against money changers and other commercial interests who had tables in the temple
-Christians might confess to sins in their own life
2.1 Holy Tuesday
Recalls Jesus’ description to his disciples on the Mount of Olives of the destruction of Jerusalem
-Christians might remember that God’s kingdom will be different to what we expect and not entirely of this world
2.1 Holy Wednesday
Recalls Judas’ decision to betray Jesus in exchange for 30 pieces of silver
-Christians look to avoid deceit in their own lives
2.1 Maundy Thursday
Commemorates the Last Supper, Jesus’ arrest
-Roman Catholic priests will wash 12 members of the congregation’s feet
-reminder to the attendees that they should be prepared to service the needs of others, like Jesus
-other churches perform the Eucharist - where wine and bread are consecrated and consumed
2.1 Good Friday
Recalls Jesus’ death on the cross. By doing so, he repented for the sins of all humanity
-3 hour main service in some churches, to represent 3 hours Jesus spent on the cross
-The RCC - hold a procession called the stations of the cross which re-enacts Jesus’ journey carrying the cross to his cruxifiction
-evangelical churches might perform plays
2.1 Holy Saturday
Final day of Holy week and Lent
-CofE and RC might do an Easter vigil at night to reflect on the suffering of death
2.1 Easter Sunday
Day of Jesus’ resurrection
-churches hold vigils on the Saturday evening before services the following Sunday -staying awake to keep watch over the sick, to pray or protest during hours usually given to sleep
-Easter Sunday is a day of joy to celebrate what God has done for humanity
-have a baptism - to be reborn into Christianity like Jesus
-breaking of the Lenten Fast - after sacrificing something you will enjoy it more. Sacrificing for God for eternal life after
-Giving of eggs - symbolises life and the shape of the entrance of the tomb
2.2 Pilgrimage
A journey which has religious and spiritual significance, usually to an important religious place. People who go pilgrimage are pilgrims
