SSTT A AUGUSTINEUGUSTINE’’SS C COLLEGEOLLEGE2014

STUDIES OF RELIGION

1 UNIT / 2 UNIT – HSC COURSE

CHRISTIANITYDEPTH STUDY

PART 3 – SIGNIFICANT PRACTICES IN THE LIFE OF CHRISTIANS.

SATURDAY /SUNDAY WORSHIP

THIS RESOURCE BOOK BELONGS TO:1

Christianity - Excerpts from the HSC Syllabus____________________

The focus of this study is the contribution of significant people, ideas, practices and ethical teachings to an understanding of Christianity as a living religious tradition. The study of Christianity is to be of the WHOLE tradition where applicable.

Syllabus Outcomes: H1 explains aspects of religion and belief systemsH2 describes and analyses the influence of religion and belief systems on individuals and societyH4 describes and analyses how aspects of religious traditions are expressed by their adherentsH5 evaluates the influence of religious traditions in the lives of adherents H6 organizes, analyses and synthesizes relevant information about religion from a variety of sources, considering

usefulness, validity and biasH7 applies appropriate terminology and concepts related to religion and belief systemsH8 coherently and effectively communicates complex information, ideas and issues using appropriate written,

oral and graphic forms

CONTENTStudents learn about: Students learn to:

1. Significant People and Ideas the contribution to Christianity of ONE

significant person OR school of thought, other than Jesus, drawn from:- Paul of Tarsus- Hildegard of Bingen- Martin Luther- Catherine Booth- Pope John XXIII- Billy Graham- Dennis Bennett- Sarah Maitland- Liberation Theology- Feminist Theology- Another person or school of thought significant to Christianity

the effect of that person OR school of thought on Christianity

a.explain the contribution to the development and expression of Christianity of ONE significant person OR school of though, other than Jesus, drawn from:

- Paul of Tarsus - Hildegard of Bingen - Martin Luther - Catherine Booth - Pope John XXIII - Billy Graham - Dennis Bennett - Sarah Maitland - Liberation Theology - Feminist Theology - Another person or school of thought significant to Christianity

b.analyse the impact of this person OR school of thought on Christianity

2. Ethics ONE of the following areas of ethical teaching

in Christianity- bioethics- environmental ethics- sexual ethics

a.describe and explain Christian ethical teachings on bioethics OR environmental ethics OR sexual ethics

3. Significant practices in the life of adherents

ONE significant practice from Christianity drawn from:

- Baptism- Marriage ceremony

a.describe ONE significant practice from Christianity drawn from:

Baptism Marriage ceremony Saturday / Sunday worship

2

- Saturday / Sunday worship b.demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Christianity

c. analyse the significance of this practice for both the individuals and the Christian community

Sunday Worship

At the Last Supper Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) For the last 2,000 years Christians have gathered every Sunday to honour this request and celebrate this memorial of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

From Sabbath to SundayThe earliest Christians were Jewish and continued practicing their Jewish heritage of keeping the Sabbath holy (10 Commandments - Exodus 20:8) by keeping it as a day of rest. The Sabbath is Saturday, the seventh day, the last day of the week, the “Day of Creation” when God rested and reflected on the goodness of what He had made. On the Sabbath Jews were not allowed to work, they would meet in the synagogue to hear and study the scriptures. However the early Jewish Christians distinguished themselves from their fellow Jews by also meeting for an agape (love) meal on a Sunday. Also, St Paul spread Christianity to non-Jews and these new Christians did not keep the Jewish Sabbath rest but focused on the Sunday gathering instead. After the expulsion of the Christians from Jewish synagogues (at the end of the 1st century) and with the introduction of Gentiles into the community the double celebration of both Sabbath and Sunday was replaced by Sunday worship alone. Scripture readings were added to the agape feast which became formalised as a ritual celebration.

Sunday – the Day of the ResurrectionSunday is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection, a “weekly Easter.” Sunday is the first day of the week, and the Gospels tell us that it was on Sundays (“the first day of the week”) that the risen Jesus appeared to his followers. For Christians Sunday is also the last day of the week. Sunday is counted twice as the first AND eighth day of the week. The seventh day (Sabbath) was the day of Creation – the eighth day (Sunday) is the “Day of the New Creation” (2 Cor. 5:17) when Jesus destroyed death.

Sunday – the Day of Christian WorshipAs early as the Acts of the Apostles (20:7) Sunday is mentioned as the Christian day of gathering: “On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread…” Most Christians today continue to gather as communities of worship on Sundays (or on Saturday evenings at a Saturday Vigil which counts as Sunday). Over time most Christian denominations have come to believe that the Commandment to “keep the Sabbath holy” and as a day of rest has been transferred from Saturday to Sunday. N.B. A few Christian groups (e.g. the Seventh Day Adventists) have taken the 10 Commandments literally and rather than worshipping on a Sunday have gone back to Sabbath worship.

Sunday – the Day of the Lord3

From the time of the Apostles, to show its special connection with Jesus, Sunday has also been called “The Lord’s Day.” It is a day of worship, focused on God. It is a day for God’s people, the Church to gather, remember, give thanks and celebrate the ongoing presence of Jesus in their midst.

3a. Describe the significant practice of Sunday worship

Sunday Worship in the Early Church

St Justin Martyr wrote the following description of Sunday worship c.155C.E:“On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation. When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss. Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts. When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: ‘Amen.’ When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.”

The Catholic Church

Catholics celebrate the Eucharist or “the sacrifice of the Mass,” a sacramental ritual that celebrates the Paschal Mystery (life, death and resurrection of Jesus). Catholic Masses are lead by ordained priests who may be assisted by deacons, acolytes, readers, musicians and communion ministers. The highlight of the Mass is the reception of the Eucharist. Catholics believe that the bread and wine is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of the priest into the Body and Blood of Christ. The Catholic Mass is highly structured and contains the use of many symbols (altar, vestments, crucifix, candles, bells, incense etc.), set readings from the Bible and prayers from the Missal, and rituals (responses, postures, processions, etc.) The priest also preaches a homily, his reflections on the relevance of the scriptural readings for people today. The basic structure is:

1. Gathering Rites– Gathers the community and prepares them for the celebration Opening hymn, Greeting by priest, Penitential Rite, singing of Gloria, Opening Prayer

2. Liturgy of the Word – Reminds the community of who they are and what they stand for Readings from the Old Testament, Epistles and Gospel, Homily, Creed, General Intercessions3. Liturgy of the Eucharist– Celebrates the presence of Jesus and gives spiritual nourishment

4

Presentation of Gifts, Eucharistic Prayer, Consecration of bread and wine, Our Father, Distribution of Communion

4. Concluding Rites– Assembly are sent forth on mission to continue the work of God in the world Prayer After Communion, Dismissal of Assembly

5

Orthodox ChurchesOrthodox Christians call their Eucharistic celebrations the “Divine Liturgy.” Like Catholics, Orthodox too are sacramental and believes in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic bread and wine. Orthodox services are led by ordained priests with the aid of deacons and cantors. The Divine Liturgy is sung, it generally goes for several hours, involves the use of icons and incense, and parts of the liturgy are hidden behind a wall called the iconostasis. There are four main Eucharistic Liturgies those of St James, St Basil, St John Chysostom, and the Presanctified Gifts. While there are variations between different Orthodox groups there are three basic, interrelated parts:1. The Liturgy of Preparation

- Includes the entry and vesting prayers of the clergy and the Prothesis2. The Liturgy of the Catechumens (also called the Liturgy of the Word)

- So called because in ancient times catechumens were allowed to attend3. The Liturgy of the Faithful (including the anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer)

- So called because in ancient times only faithful members in good standing were allowed to participate. In modern times, this restriction applies only to the reception of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Protestant DenominationsProtestants have a great variety in the way they worship in their Sunday services (they do NOT call it ‘Mass’):

High Church Protestants (e.g. some Anglicans and Lutherans) have Holy Communion services very similar to the Catholic Mass in which they have structured liturgies led by priests and celebrate the Eucharist. Very traditional – e.g. in their use of old hymns and rituals. Strong use of symbolism, e.g. they may use candles, incense, bells, statutes and images, set prayers and responses.

Broad Church Protestants (e.g. Uniting Church, some Anglicans) incorporate both some ritual and a focus on the preaching of the Word of God. May use some symbols in their worship. Generally a mix between traditional and contemporary music.

Evangelical (Low Church) Protestants (e.g. Baptists, Sydney Anglicans) do not focus on sacramental ritual but rather on the preaching of the Word of God. Do not use symbols in their worship – no vestments, candles, images, responses, etc. They do not have priests but rather ministers or pastors and they may not celebrate communion regularly. Some Protestants, e.g. Salvation Army, never celebrate the Eucharist. A Low Church Protestant service would generally involve singing of hymns, preaching by the minister, spontaneous prayers, and more hymns to finish with. Contemporary style music is generally used.

6

Covenant Fellowship - A Congregation Of The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Because of our organisational simplicity, we do not have as many meetings and events as in a more traditionally structured church. So when we are together we want to make the most of it! Thus we have a somewhat lengthy Sunday gathering which is designed to allow for a variety of aspects of biblical community.Our gathering begins at 10:00am with several minutes of greeting and fellowship. We then have about thirty minutes of praise and worship, which consists mostly of the singing

of hymns and psalms and choruses, with prayer and scripture readings mixed in.

o We are committed to having as part of our worship a combination of traditional hymns, psalms, and contemporary praise choruses.

o We welcome a diversity of instrumentation. We then have a short break while the younger children go to Sunday

school. This break is followed by a sermon of thirty five minutes or so in

length. o Our pattern is to preach through a book of the Bible between September and May, and

have special topical series in the summer. After the sermon there is another break, and we rearrange chairs for a time of sharing and

prayer which we call the Open Time, which ends at about noon. o During the Open Time the younger children may participate with everyone else, or,

weather permitting, may go on a supervised walk or have some other kind of activity. After the Open Time we set up for a meal. Most people stay for the meal, which provides a

good opportunity to get to know one another better.You might think that a two hour worship service sounds long. Don’t people get weary? Actually, we like to think of our meal as part of our worship gathering, so really the service is more like three hours! But, as I have pointed out, there are breaks during which time people get coffee and stretch and talk together, much as in a traditional church that has a break between "worship" and Sunday school. The whole atmosphere is relaxed and somewhat leisurely, and time passes quickly. In terms of dress our gatherings are informal and relaxed. On Sundays some men wear coats and ties, most wear slacks and dress shirts, some wear jeans, or shorts! The women too wear dresses, skirts, jeans, or shorts. We want you to dress in whatever way is most comfortable for you.

(e.g. Assemblies of God: Hillsong) worship has a great focus on hymn singing and preaching as well as incorporating charismatic practices – praying in tongues, prophecy, being slain in the sprit and healing in their worship. They are known for being very emotionally involving and uplifting. Most Pentecostals are Evangelicals (or Low Church Protestants) and thus are very biblically oriented. Personal experience of the power of the Holy Spirit is central to Pentecostal worship.

7

3b. Demonstrate how Sunday worship expresses the beliefs of Christianity

We pray what we believeSunday worship is a central way for Christians to celebrate and strengthen their faith in God by expressing their most important beliefs. An ancient Latin expression says “lex orandi, lex credendi” which is translated as “the law of prayer is the law of belief.” This indicates the significant relationship between worship and beliefs – we believe what we pray AND we pray what we believe. Christian denominations are separated due to having different beliefs: thus they worship in different ways. There are fundamental elements that are common in Christian belief – e.g. the Trinity, the Holy Bible and thanksgiving for salvation – which means that there is some common ground in worship. However there are other important beliefs over which there is disagreement – such as the ministerial priesthood and the sacrificial nature and real presence of Christ in the Eucharist – which means that Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants understand their worship in very different ways.

Christian worship is TrinitarianAll Christian worship is Trinitarian in nature – all Christians worship ONE God: Father, Son and Spirit. Catholics, Orthodox and High Church Protestants all begin their worship by making the Sign

of the Cross during which they say “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Christian prayer is addressed to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. In Sunday worship this is expressed by making prayers and giving thanks to God the Father (e.g. “Our Father who art in heaven...”). Through the gospel readings and prayers Christians remember the teachings and actions of Jesus, God the Son, and pray in his name (“we make our prayers through Christ

our Lord. Amen.”) Christians believe that is the presence of God the Holy Spirit within the church and the hearts of the believers that allows people to pray in the first place.

Christian worship is based on the BibleAll Christians consider the Bible to be the revealed Word of God and thus it is the foundation for Christian life and worship. An important part of Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant worship services is the proclamation of the Word of God (called the “Liturgy of the Word” by Catholics and the “Liturgy of the Catechumens” by Orthodox Christians.) A lectionary is an organised collection of scriptural readings that are used at Sunday services. Lectionaries contain passages from the Old and New Testaments that are read in sequence throughout the year around the world. The Catholic lectionary has a three year cycle, which means that over the Sundays of one year the entire gospel of Matthew is read, the next year Mark, the third year Luke, and then back to Matthew. (Excerpts from the Gospel of John are read every year during the season of Easter.) The gospels, as the stories of Jesus, are central to Sunday worship and to show its importance in high church liturgies the Gospel book is brought in a procession with candles and greeted by people standing and singing “Alleluia!” After the scripture readings the presiding minister gives a homily, explaining the importance and relevance of the readings to his congregation. In some low church Protestant and evangelical churches they do not have a set reading out of scriptures but rather rely on the minister to discuss and quote the Bible in his preaching. Protestants have a greater emphasis on scripture in worship than Catholics or Orthodox (as Protestants do not have as much emphasis on the sacraments).

8

Christian worship is Thanksgiving to God for our Salvation by ChristAt the heart of all Christian worship is gratitude for God’s great mercy and love for us. The simple

act of gathering as a community and spending time in worship is a way to show appreciation for what God has done for us. During Christian worship there are many prayers in which we give thanks to God for saving us. The word “Eucharist” itself comes from a Greek word that means “Thanksgiving”. At the start of the Eucharistic Prayer in Mass Catholics say: “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise.”

Christians believe that by his death and resurrection Jesus saved us from hell (separation from God). By our sinfulness all humanity is cut off from God and heaven. We cannot save ourselves. But God chose to come into the world to save us. Jesus is the Incarnation of God, God in human form and thus it is through him that humanity is united with the transcendent. As Jesus is fully human and fully God he is able to save us from sins by dying on our behalf on the cross. As he was an innocent victim, who willingly offered himself in our place, Jesus was able to take on himself the sins of the world and be punished for what we deserve. “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.” (Catholic mass) In doing this God has shown how much he loves us: he is willing to suffer and die for us. By his Resurrection Jesus destroyed death and opened for us the gates of heaven. Catholics say at mass: “Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the saviour of the world.”

Sacramental Sunday WorshipThe differences in beliefs between Christian denominations are expressed in their different forms of worship. The greatest division would be between sacramental and non-sacramental worship. Sacraments are visible symbols of the invisible presence of God. Catholics, Orthodox and some high church Protestants believe that there are Seven Sacraments that were instituted by Jesus (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Marriage, Holy Orders, Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick). They believe that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is actually present when the sacraments are being celebrated. Sacraments are channels of grace – this means that a person who receives a sacrament in faith is strengthened by God. In order for most sacraments to be valid an ordained priest must be the minister. (In emergencies lay people can perform baptisms; the couple minister the sacrament of marriage to each other.) Ordained priests trace their spiritual authority back to the apostles who appointed were given authority by Jesus (John 20:23) and laid hands on successors to continue their work (1Tim 4:14). As sacraments involve a personal encounter between the believer and Christ they are at the heart of Catholic, Orthodox and high church Protestant faiths. (E.g. “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.” (Constitution on the Church, n.11, Vatican II)

The Sacrament of the Eucharist: MealChristians generally agree that the celebration of communion is the celebration of a sacred meal. This meal springs from the Jewish Passover tradition in which bread and wine are blessed and shared in remembering the saving work of God. Jesus shared meals with many people during his ministry – with rich and poor, sinner and outcast – as a way of showing God’s love for all. At his Last Supper Jesus shared a Passover style meal with his closest followers, but introduced something new to this traditional meal. “Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me’. In the same way,

9

after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” (Luke 22:19-20)

The Sacrament of the Eucharist: SacrificeSacramental Christians (Catholics, Orthodox, high church Protestants) believe that at the Last Supper Jesus identified the bread as becoming his body that would be sacrificed on the cross the next day and the wine as his blood that would pour from his wounds. Thus the Eucharist is a sacrifice as well as a meal, making present the body of Jesus that was offered for our sins on the cross 2,000 years ago at Calvary. Each Eucharist is a memorial, not a repetition, of that one sacrifice. Jesus is an innocent person who freely chose to give himself in the place of sinners. By his suffering and death he takes the punishment that we deserve and saves us from hell. Thus Catholics and Orthodox believe that Jesus is the priest who offers the sacrifice as well as the victim who is sacrificed. The cross is the altar on which the sacrifice takes place. Jews used to sacrifice lambs and goats to ask God for forgiveness from sins. On the cross Jesus makes the one perfect sacrifice that does away with the need for any new sacrifices. This is why both Catholics and Orthodox say to the Eucharist during mass: “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.”

The Sacrament of the Eucharist: The Presence of JesusSacramental Christians believe that God is present through the physical symbols and actions celebrated in liturgy.

The Second Vatican Council of the Catholic Church says that Christ is present in the celebration of the Eucharist in four modes: (1) through the community of believers, (2) the priest, (3) the proclamation of the scriptures, and (4) especially through the Eucharist. “Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, ‘the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross’, but especially under the Eucharistic species…. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).’ (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, n.7, Vatican II).

Catholics and Orthodox believe in the “Real Presence” of Christ in the Eucharist. For the Orthodox this presence of Christ is called a “mystery”. Catholics use the term “transubstantiation” to describe the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. This change is caused by the words of the priest and the power of the Holy Spirit. Transubstantiation is not a physical transformation, but a sacramental one.

The meaning of the bread and wine are so transformed by the presence of the Holy Spirit that it is no longer correct to call them bread and wine. (“Substance” is an old philosophical term that had a different meaning than it’s meaning today. It was not the physical matter that something was made of but rather it’s essence or meaning. From the Latin for “across” [trans], “under-“ [sub] and “standing” [stance].) Sacramental worship is thus about the community’s celebration of the presence of Christ in their midst.

10

Non-Sacramental Sunday Worship

During and following the Protestant Reformation the spiritual authority and Tradition of the Catholic Church was rejected by Protestants and this meant a downplaying of the importance of the sacraments. Martin Luther taught that we are saved by: (1) faith alone (not our good works such as receiving the sacraments), (2) scripture alone (not through the Tradition of the Catholic Church), and (3) grace alone (not by our free will, but by the free gift of God to certain chosen people). These beliefs can be seen in the new forms of worship developed by the Protestants. Martin Luther taught that there are only TWO sacraments found in the Bible – Baptism and Eucharist and rejected the other five as non-scriptural. Some Protestant groups have rejected the belief in sacraments altogether (e.g. the Salvation Army) as they believe that faith in Jesus is the only requirement. Some Protestants avoid the term ‘sacrament’, preferring ‘ordinance’. In these traditions, the ceremony is seen not as a specific channel of divine grace but as an expression of faith and obedience of the Christian community. This means that God is not present and active through the symbols and actions used in worship. God speaks only through his Word, the Bible. This is why there is so much emphasis on preaching on the scripture in Protestant services – the sermons can often go from half and hour to an hour and are the main focus of the service. For non-sacramental Protestants Sunday worship is a time to give thanks and praise to God though their prayers and learn about God and be encouraged in their faith through the preaching of the minister and the support of the community. Communion (if celebrated) is not considered a sacrifice but just as a meal that reminds them of Jesus. Non-sacramental Protestant worship is thus focused on strengthening the faith of the individual.

-----------------------------

3b. Analyse the significance of Sunday worship for individuals and the Christian community.

Introduction At the Last Supper Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying:

“This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) For the last 2,000 years Christians have gathered every Sunday to honour this request and celebrate this memorial of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

"The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life" (Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium n.11)

“The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, n.10, Vatican II)

***** Start each paragraph off by saying: Sunday worship is significant to Christians because…

Celebration of Faith and Identity Sunday worship allows Christians to express their faith in God, share that faith with others and

be strengthened in their faith. Sunday worship reminds Christians of their deepest identity. By their baptism they have

become a part of the Body of Christ (the Church). All the baptised share in the “holy priesthood” and thus have a responsibility to worship God.

11

St Augustine teaches that we receive the Body of Christ (the Eucharist) so that we can more fully become the Body of Christ (the Church) and continue Jesus’ work in the world.

All Catholics are obliged to attend celebration of the Eucharist at least on every Sunday and on other days known as holy days of obligation. Not to do so is considered a sin. (Catechism of the Catholic Church.)

Remembering Sunday worship is a time to hear the stories of Jesus and the prophets read from the

Lectionary and having them explained by the minister. It is a time to be reminded of God’s unconditional love for humanity. It is a time to remember that God loved humanity so much he became human himself and died

for us to forgive our sins. “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) Sunday

Thanksgiving Sunday worship is a time to thank for the many blessings in our lives, and to pray for the things

we need. Especially it is a time to thank God for sending Jesus to die for us, save us and promise us the

gift of new life after death. “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God… It is right to give Him thanks and praise” – (Catholic

Mass) “Lord by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the saviour of the world.” –

(Catholic Mass)

Time to encounter Christ Sunday worship is a time to encounter Jesus sacramentally through: the community, the

priest, the scriptures and the Eucharist. “Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in

the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, "the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross", but especially under the Eucharistic species…. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, n.7, Vatican II)

Grace Sunday worship is a time to be renewed by the gift of God’s love and by the power of the Holy

Spirit. For Catholics and Orthodox Christians the reception of Eucharist strengthens our faith and

makes us closer to God. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1391 – 1393:

“Holy Communion augments our union with Christ.” & “Holy Communion separates us from sin.”

Reminder of the mission and purpose of life

12

Sunday worship reminds us of our duty as Christians to live as Jesus lived by loving all and helping the poor.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1397: “The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest.”

Declining attendance of Sunday worshippers However the Census tells us that Sunday worship is no longer of great significance to many

adherents within Christianity. Only 5% of Anglicans, less than 20% of Catholics etc. attend worship every Sunday.

Basically it is because: (1) They do not understand or believe in the central importance of Sunday worship. OR (2) They have had a negative experience of the Church. OR(3) They do not believe in Christianity even though they were baptised.

These three reasons may be expressed in a range of ways: Some feel that the church is out-of-date and irrelevant to modern life. Worship is considered “boring” – people don’t feel that they get anything out of it. Some people don’t feel welcomed at church, they don’t feel like they belong. Some have other priorities such as sports, shopping, spending time with family etc. Some consider themselves Christians because they believe in Jesus and don’t think that

they need to go to a church to follow him. Some people are angry with the institutional churches for reasons such as abuse,

patriarchy, hypocrisy. Some say that they follow Jesus by how they live their lives, e.g. helping others, and

don’t need to go to church to do this. Some say they worship God directly through their prayer or through nature. Some don’t make the effort, as they are tired from work and family commitments. Many of the younger generation have not been brought up to regularly go to church on

a Sunday. Many who once went because they were afraid of going to hell if they didn’t no longer

believe this and no longer go. Many who were baptised and once forced to go by family and social pressure but didn’t

really believe no longer feel obligated.

APOSTOLIC LETTER DIES DOMINI OF THE HOLY FATHER JOHN PAUL II TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY AND FAITHFUL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON KEEPING THE LORD'S DAY HOLY

Introduction

1. The Lord's Day — as Sunday was called from Apostolic times — has always been accorded special attention in the history of the Church because of its close connection with the very core of the Christian mystery. In fact, in the weekly reckoning of time Sunday recalls the day of Christ's Resurrection. It is Easter which returns week by week, celebrating Christ's victory over sin and death, the fulfilment in him of the first creation and the dawn of "the new creation" (cf. 2 Cor 5:17). It is the day which recalls in grateful adoration the world's first day and looks forward in active hope to "the last day", when Christ will come in glory (cf. Acts 1:11; 1 Th 4:13-17) and all things will be made new (cf. Rev 21:5)…

2. The Resurrection of Jesus is the fundamental event upon which Christian faith rests (cf. 1 Cor 15:14). It is an astonishing reality, fully grasped in the light of faith, yet historically attested to by those who were privileged to see the Risen Lord. It is a wondrous event which is not only absolutely unique in human

history, but which lies at the very heart of the mystery of time. In fact, "all time belongs to Christ and all the 13

ages", as the evocative liturgy of the Easter Vigil recalls in preparing the Paschal Candle. Therefore, in commemorating the day of Christ's Resurrection not just once a year but every Sunday, the Church seeks to indicate to every generation the true fulcrum of history, to which the mystery of the world's origin and its final destiny leads.

It is right, therefore, to claim, in the words of a fourth century homily, that "the Lord's Day" is "the lord of days". Those who have received the grace of faith in the Risen Lord cannot fail to grasp the significance of this day of the week with the same deep emotion which led Saint Jerome to say: "Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, it is the day of Christians, it is our day". For Christians, Sunday is "the fundamental feast day", established not only to mark the succession of time but to reveal time's deeper meaning.

3. The fundamental importance of Sunday has been recognized through two thousand years of history and was emphatically restated by the Second Vatican Council: "Every seven days, the Church celebrates the Easter mystery. This is a tradition going back to the Apostles, taking its origin from the actual day of Christ's Resurrection — a day thus appropriately designated 'the Lord's Day'." Paul VI emphasized this importance once more when he approved the new General Roman Calendar and the Universal Norms which regulate the ordering of the Liturgical Year. The coming of the Third Millennium, which calls believers to reflect upon the course of history in the light of Christ, also invites them to rediscover with new intensity the meaning of Sunday: its "mystery", its celebration, its significance for Christian and human life….

The Eucharistic assembly

33. At Sunday Mass, Christians relive with particular intensity the experience of the Apostles on the evening of Easter when the Risen Lord appeared to them as they were gathered together (cf. Jn 20:19). In a sense, the People of God of all times were present in that small nucleus of disciples, the first fruits of the Church. Through their testimony, every generation of believers hears the greeting of Christ, rich with the messianic gift of peace, won by his blood and offered with his Spirit: "Peace be with you!" Christ's return among them "a week later" (Jn 20:26) can be seen as a radical prefiguring of the Christian community's practice of coming together every seven days, on "the Lord's Day" or Sunday, in order to profess faith in his Resurrection and to receive the blessing which he had promised: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (Jn 20:29). This close connection between the appearance of the Risen Lord and the Eucharist is suggested in the Gospel of Luke in the story of the two disciples of Emmaus, whom Christ approached and led to understand the Scriptures and then sat with them at table. They recognized him when he "took the bread, said the blessing, broke it and gave it to them" (24:30). The gestures of Jesus in this account are his gestures at the Last Supper, with the clear allusion to the "breaking of bread", as the Eucharist was called by the first generation of Christians.

From Mass to "mission"

45. Receiving the Bread of Life, the disciples of Christ ready themselves to undertake with the strength of the Risen Lord and his Spirit the tasks which await them in their ordinary life. For the faithful who have understood the meaning of what they have done, the Eucharistic celebration does not stop at the church door. Like the first witnesses of the Resurrection, Christians who gather each Sunday to experience and proclaim the presence of the Risen Lord are called to evangelize and bear witness in their daily lives. Given this, the Prayer after Communion and the Concluding Rite — the Final Blessing and the Dismissal — need to be better valued and appreciated, so that all who have shared in the Eucharist may come to a deeper sense of the responsibility which is entrusted to them. Once the assembly disperses, Christ's disciples return to their everyday surroundings with the commitment to make their whole life a gift, a spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God (cf. Rom 12:1). They feel indebted to their brothers and sisters because of what they have received in the celebration, not unlike the disciples of Emmaus who, once they had recognized the Risen Christ "in the breaking of the bread" (cf. Lk 24:30-32), felt the need to return immediately to share with their brothers and sisters the joy of meeting the Lord (cf. Lk 24:33-35).Pentecost, in the year 1998, the twentieth of my Pontificate. Pope John Paul IIhttp://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_05071998_dies-domini_en.html

14

STUDY & REVISION ACTIVITIES

PRINCIPAL BELIEFS IN CHRISTIANITY

The principal beliefs of Christianity are CLEARLY outlined in the Syllabus sheet from your preliminary booklet.

Christian ethics, practices and the Bible etc. Are NOT principal beliefs, they are things Christians do to express their beliefs.

Think back to the Creed, the Christian statement of beliefs

1. Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ Jesus if fully human (born of a woman, felt pain, anger)and fully divine (miracles /

rose from dead) The Creed – Jesus Christ is the incarnation (human form)of God The human Jesus reveals the divinity of God. “The word became flesh”

2. Death & Resurrection of Jesus Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, historically this is in the gospels. He died ‘for our sins’ the fate of a common human Jesus was sacrificed, seen as worthy, Evidence of God’s unconditional love Resurrection eternal life proof of the divine

3. Nature of God and the Trinity Christians are monotheistic – One God who made all, He is transcendent and

omnipresent The trinity is a mystery.

o God the Father (Transcendent). Creates. Revealed in Hebrew scriptureso God the Son – Jesus (immanent, of this world). Redeems/saves. Revealed in

the Christian Scriptures o God the Spirit (Sanctifier). Unites, Maintains. Revealed in the church.

(What Christians do) Each one is fully God and together they are one God 3 entities in one - all exist equally whether individually of together.

4. Revelation God is involved in all human life. He is revealed to us through the Bible and through good works Revelation centred on Jesus Revelation is God’s communication with us Through this God calls all humans to respond, to accept dogmas, faith in action etc.

5. Salvation Rescuing, Includes revelation but goes beyond It’s a gift from God the death and resurrection of Jesus Draws from the Jewish tradition We need God’s help for salvation Jesus Christ is central Salvation is the release from Sin and death God spiritual help we need to prayer for this. Grace.

15

Saturday / Sunday Worship - Summary from CEO - REOnline (Catholic perspective)Within the Christian Tradition Sunday is referred to as the Lord's Day; 'this is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it' - Ps 118:24. From the very beginning of the Christian era Sunday supplanted the Jewish Sabbath as a day of worship, primarily in commemoration of Christ's Resurrection (Rev 1:10). Later, and this is especially true of the Pentecostal Churches, it also was a memorial of the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. For Christians this first day of the week is dedicated to public worship, so that the community might satisfy its social obligation toward the Lord; only in a secondary manner is there an obligation to rest on that day, as the Jewish Sabbath dictated. The observance of Sunday as a day of rest began to be regulated by Church authorities early in the 4th century. In 321 the Emperor Constantine forbade townspeople to work on Sundays, though he did permit farm labour. From the 6 th to the 13 th century the ecclesiastical legislation of the Catholic Church became stricter so as to ensure that the day was kept holy by prayer, works of charity and relaxation from work. There was also an obligation to attend Mass. At times severe penalties were imposed by civil authorities upon those who failed to observe Sunday as the 'Lord's Day'.Unlike the Catholic Church the Protestant Churches did not at first introduce special Sunday legislation, but when faced with a widespread abuse and disregard of Sunday the concept of Sabbatarianism gradually developed in many places. According to the Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, the faithful are normally obliged to hear Mass on Sunday and to abstain from 'work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body' (#1247). Unlike the vast majority of Christian denominations Catholics can satisfy their Sunday obligation by attending Mass on the Saturday evening instead. The practice of attending a Vigil Mass became universally accepted by Catholics in 1983. The rationale underpinning this practice comes from the Jewish Tradition in which "after sundown" is considered to be the next day. While attending a Vigil Mass satisfies the moral obligation for Mass attendance on a Sunday, Catholics are still expected to refrain from unnecessary work on a Sunday because it remains the "Lord's day." One Christian denomination that stands apart in the timing of their communal worship is the Seventh Day Adventist Church . Established in the early 19 th century this group rejects the notion of Sunday worship, maintaining a Sabbath observance on the seventh day of the week in accordance with Genesis 2:3 'so God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God had rested from all the work he had done in creation'.Irrespective of denomination, Christians have the highest regard for communal worship 'to break bread together' (Acts 20:7). Many terms are used to describe this gathering, including Mass, Eucharist, Divine Liturgy, Communion Service, Divine Service, Corporate Worship. Although ascribed differently there are some fundamental similarities across the Christian denominations in the structure of their liturgy. This is especially true of Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox Christians and members of the Uniting and Lutheran Churches . Of particular note is the reverential manner in which these services are conducted as they commemorate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, commonly termed the Paschal Mystery. Public worship within the Christian Tradition sees the use of Ancient Rites that have been handed down from the times of the Apostles. These have been adopted by denominations, and even within denominations, in a diversity of ways. Common elements of Christian liturgy include but are not exclusive to:

The gathering of believers for the purpose of praise and thanksgiving Readings from both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures Sermon or Homily Creed Prayers of Intercession Sharing of Peace The Lord's Prayer Holy Communion Blessing

16

Sending Forth Although having this common structure for public worship, diversity abounds. Many churches, especially Catholic, Orthodox and "high Anglican" have rich ceremonies, in which the ordained minister is vested, incense is used and the congregation sings hymns inspired by the Scriptures. Many churches use contemporary approaches, which are regarded as simpler and less formalised. Additionally, with the emergence of mega-churches in Australia from the mid 1980's e.g. Hillsong some services have been modeled on the "praise and worship" style of America 's television evangelists. The approaches vary, not just in the hymns that are sung and the prayers recited but even the postures adopted by the congregation. The use of different postures such as standing, sitting, kneeling and bowing, and how they change throughout, reflects a theological understanding of the relationship between man and God as well giving an appropriate response to the actions of the liturgy. The central act of Christian worship is the Eucharist, a Greek term that means "thanksgiving". While many people use this term to describe the Mass or liturgical service itself, it specifically relates to Christ's institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels and St Paul 's Letter to the Corinthians 11:23-25. In light of these writings Christians incorporated "Eucharistic elements" within their public worship. Although common to each of the denominations there are differences in doctrine, especially in relation to the "real presence". The Catholic Church teaches that when the bread and wine are consecrated by a duly ordained priest, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ becomes really, truly and substantially present, while still under the appearances of bread and wine. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1373 - 1379). This dogma of the "real presence", which many know by the term "transubstantiation" is also held as true by Orthodox Christians and some "high" Anglicans. Lutherans however reject this doctrine and advocate a view known as "consubstantiation". The vast majority of Protestants belonging to fundamentalist, evangelical or Pentecostal traditions, believe that Christ is not present at all, but that the Eucharist is simply a memorial meal commemorating Christ's death and resurrection as a past event . Such Protestants believe that Christ is not truly present, but only symbolically present through the bread and wine. From the time of the earliest Christian communities believers have gathered for public worship as a way of commemorating the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and of thanksgiving for God's beneficence. Some denominations have maintained with great fidelity the rubrics of these earliest liturgies whereas others have been altered in light of changing theology and doctrine and in response to the society of the time. Irrespective of its particular form, each denomination has attested to the significance of public worship as satisfying it's obligation to give glory to God and to keep holy the Lord's Day. Importantly, students must be able to show why Saturday/Sunday worship is central to the faith practice of all Christians. Do not focus on one denomination only. The following references are only a start. Lutheran belief and practice is most accurately outlined in the Book of Concord, which is subscribed to by all Lutheran Synods and organizations. Article XXIV states: "...the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. We ... religiously keep and defend it . . . we keep the traditional liturgical form". On its public website http://nsw.uca.org.au the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church of Australia asserts "the most significant ritual practice for the Uniting Church is the conducting of worship on a Sunday. Worship is one way in which people respond to the God who gives them life. When they worship they come together to be reminded of God's faithfulness and goodness, to hear God's word and to respond in praise, thanksgiving, confession of sins, acceptance of forgiveness, prayer for themselves and for the world and in rededicating themselves in God's service." The Catechism of the Catholic Church attests to the significance of Sunday worship stating: "by a tradition handed down from the Apostles which took its origin from the very day of Christ's Resurrection, the Church celebrates the paschal mystery very seventh day, which is appropriately called the Lord's Day or Sunday" #.1166. An excellent source of Catholic teaching on Sunday Worship is the Apostolic Letter Dies Domini (1998) by Pope John Paul II, which can be found above.

Anthony Cleary - Director, Religious Education and Evangelisation CEO, Sydney

17

SATURDAY / SUNDAY WORSHIP QUOTESDescribing the practice

“keep the Sabbath day Holy” 10 Commandments Exodus 20:8 Mention that St Paul spread Christianity to non-Jews. “The day of the new creation” – 2 Cor 5:17 St Justin Martyr (page 3 of booklet) wrote this on Sunday Worship c.155 C.E “On the day

we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read…”

Demonstrating how the practice expresses the beliefs of Christians Significant relationship between worship and beliefs: “lex orandi, lex credenda” –“the law

of prayer is the law of belief” (i.e Christians believe what they pray and they pray what they believe)

Trinity “in the name of the father, son and the holy spirit” Lord’s prayer “our Father who art in Heaven..”- this prayer is about worshiping God and

giving him thanks” Gospel readings pray at the end is: “we make our prayers though Christ our Lord. Amen” “Liturgy of the Word” –Catholics “Liturgy of the Catechumens” –Orthodox “alleluia!” is sung by the congregation Thanksgiving: “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and

praise.” (Said in Catholic Mass) As Jesus was innocent when he died and willingly offered himself in our place, he was able

to take on the sins of the world and be punished for the things we do. “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.” (Said in Catholic Mass)

Salvation: “Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the saviour of the world” (said in Catholic Mass)

“Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life” Constitution on the Church, n11, Vatican II)

The sacrament as a meal ( remember being FED) “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” … “This cup is the never convent in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22 19-20)

Significance of the practice for Christians Remembering: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me”

(Luke 22:19) Thanksgiving: “Lord by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the

saviour of the world” (Catholic Mass) Time to encounter Christ: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there

am I in the midst of them” (Matt 18:20) Grace: “Holy Communion augments our union with Christ and Holy Communion separates

us from sin” –Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1391-1393 At the end of Mass, Christians are reminded to go forth and spread the word and help

others “The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognise Christ in the poorest.” Catechism of the Catholic Church #1397

“The Lord’s day… has always been accorded special attention in the history of the Church because of its close connection with the very core of the Christian mystery”

“The Resurrection of Jesus is the fundamental event upon which Christian faith rests”18

PART 3. SIGNIFICANT PRACTICES IN THE LIFE OF ADHERENTS

3a: Describe ONE significant practice from Christianity drawn from: Saturday / Sunday worship [WHAT IS IT?]

Basically for ALL Christian Denominations, worship follows a similar format1. Gather as a community2. Listen to the Word and 3. Respond4. Nourished (Spiritually and/or Physically)5. Go Forth to do God’s will / Live out Christ’s message

-----------------------------------------------3b: Demonstrate how the chosen practice (Saturday / Sunday worship) expresses the beliefs

of Christianity [HOW DOES IT EXPRESS THE BELIEFS?] Use your own resource book Look at your Yr 11 Christianity booklet for beliefs

1. Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ- Jesus is fully human and fully divine

2. Death & Resurrection of Jesus- Christians believe in what happened to Jesus

3. Nature of God and the Trinity- Christians are monotheistic – One God who made all, He is transcendent and

omnipresent- The trinity is a mystery.- God, the Father, the transcendent is revealed in the Old Testament (Hebrew

Scriptures). He creates.- Jesus, the son, the immanent is revealed in the New Testament (Christian

Scriptures). He saves.- The Holy Spirit is revealed in the church (What we do). He unites and maintains.

4. Revelation- God is involved in all human life.- He is revealed to us through the Bible and through good works- Revelation centred on Jesus

5. Salvation- Goes beyond revelation- Is a gift from God through death and resurrection of Jesus- Jesus is central

3c: Analyse the significance of this practice (Saturday / Sunday worship) for both the individuals and the Christian community [WHY CHRISTIANS DO IT?]

Refer to your resource book for details

1. Celebration of Faith and Identity2. Remembering3. Thanksgiving4. Time to encounter Christ (Sacramentally for some)5. Blessings from God (Grace)6. Reminder of Life’s Mission & purpose (duty of Christians to live as Jesus did)

19

Sample HSC Questions on Significant Practices within ChristianitySECTION II

1. Describe ONE of the following significant practices in Christianity- Baptism- Marriage ceremony- Saturday/Sunday worship (3 marks)

2. Examine ONE significant practice within Christianity drawn from:- Baptism- Marriage ceremony- Saturday/Sunday worship (6 marks)

3. Explain how ONE significant practice within Christianity expresses the beliefs of Christianity. (6 marks)

4. Analyse the significance of ONE of the following practices for individuals within Christianity:- Baptism- Marriage ceremony- Saturday/Sunday worship (6 marks)

5. Explain the importance of ONE of the following practices in Christianity to the life of the community:

- Baptism- Marriage ceremony- Saturday/Sunday worship (6 marks)

Section III (20 marks)

1. Explain how ONE significant practice within Christianity expresses the beliefs of Christianity.- Baptism- Marriage ceremony- Saturday/Sunday worship

2. Explain the importance of ONE of the following practices in Christianity to the life of the community:

3. Analyse the significance of ONE of the following practices for individuals within Christianity:

4. Outline the purpose and assess the significance of ONE of the following practices in Christianity:

5. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and he vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road, and while he opened the scripture to us?’

Luke 24:30-32, New King James Bible

With reference to Luke’s post-resurrection account in the quotation, assess Christianity as a living religious tradition in the life of its adherents. (HSC 2009)

20

Sample Responses ………………………………………………….. CHRISTIANITY SIGNIFICANT PRACTICE (Roth ’09)

Describe Saturday/Sunday Worship.AND

Demonstrate how Sunday/Saturday Worship expresses the beliefs of Christianity.AND

Assess the significance of Sunday/Saturday Worship for both the individual and the community.

Saturday/Sunday worship is important for both the individual and the community as it is a ritualistic expression of the core beliefs of Christianity. Jesus told his apostles, “Wherever Two or more people gather in my name, I will be present” (Matthew 18:20). Therefore SS Worship is a celebration of the ongoing presence of Jesus. The significance of the various activities within the SS Worship service centres on building a stronger relationship with God; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

One of the most integral aspects of SS Worship is prayer. Prayer is a conversation with God and is vital in forming a relationship with God. Through prayer, Christians are able to reflect on their lives and seek strength and guidance from God. Prayer can also be that of thanksgiving. Furthermore, prayer is significant because it provides the opportunity for reconciliation “Forgive us our trespasses, and Forgive those who trespass against us” (The Lord’s Prayer). SS Worship involves both individual and communal prayer.

The Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated in Catholic, Orthodox and some protestant Worship. Although the meaning of this ceremony varies greatly between denominations, it is commonly regarded as a sacred meal. Jesus shared meals with many people during his ministry – with rich and poor, sinner and outcast – as a way of showing God’s love for all. Before Jesus died he gathered with his disciples and broke the bread and shared it for all, saying ‘do this in memory of me.’ Catholics and Orthodox churches believe the bread and body to be the consecrated body and blood of Christ where as other denominations view the Eucharist as a representation of these. Regardless of this, through sharing this sacred meal Christians accept Jesus into their lives and also enter into a covenant with God.

A common element to all SS worship is the reading of scripture from the Bible, most commonly from the gospels. Scripture is greatly important as it enables adherents to learn about the teachings of Christianity. Often the reading of scripture will be accompanied by a commentary from a worship leader who explains the significance of the certain teachings and suggests how adherents are able to integrate them into their lives. This guides adherents towards the Gospel values of going out into the community, improving relationships, working for social justice and being an advocate for peace and harmony.

Another prominent practice in most denominational SS worship is music. Christians are told to ‘Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.’ (Ephesians 5:19) Music is another medium through which Christians are able to express their beliefs and give praise to God.

Through communal rituals of prayer, Eucharist, scripture and song, adherents are able to strengthen their faith and share in their beliefs. This affirms the relationship and sense of community that each individual has with others within the immediate and whole world congregation. The importance of this bond is evident in St Paul’s letters to early Christian communities, in which he describes the Church as the Body of Christ (Romans 12:4) emphasising the need for Christian unity. Therefore SS Worship is essential to the spiritual growth of the congregational community.

SS Worship is significant as it embodies the core beliefs of Christianity.

21

1. Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus: Throughout SS worship, Christians are reminded of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus through scripture, communion and the recital of creeds of beliefs. Sunday is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Therefore SS worship is a celebration of the Resurrection, a ‘weekly Easter.’

2. Salvation: SS worship expresses the belief that God has saved us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The symbolic crosses and crucifixes that are prominent in all Christian worship represent Jesus sacrifice. Catholics say at mass: “Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the saviour of the world.” Therefore, through SS worship, Christians celebrate this Salvation and prepare themselves for judgement.

3. Trinity: SS worship incorporates the Trinitarian belief of one God: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Through the various rituals and practices in SS worship, Christians are able to connect with each. SS worship is especially about receiving the Holy Spirit as Jesus disciples did during Pentecost. The notion of embracing the power of the Holy Spirit is particularly prevalent in Pentecostal denominations where worship is known for involving energetic and emotionally uplifting rituals such as praying in tongues, prayer-healing and evangelical music.

Finally SS worship is important as it allows for Christians to be rejuvenated or re-energised in order to continue their ministry as disciples of God. Through SS worship Christians are empowered to spread the word of God and to serve their fellow man. At the conclusion of SS Worship Christians are sent forth to ‘love and serve the Lord.’

Therefore, Saturday/Sunday worship is important for both the individual and the community as it is embodies the core beliefs of Christianity, acknowledges the ongoing presence of Jesus and allows Christians to achieve a deeper faith in God.

Analyse the significance of ONE practice within Christianity drawn from one of the following:

Baptism Marriage ceremony Saturday/Sunday worship (6 marks)

Requires very concise but accurate facts on the practice of Sat/Sun worship linking each of the steps to the beliefs behind it and giving quotes from the service itself or an encyclical or the Catechism. As this type of worship differs so much depending on the variant, an explanation of this was essential to this answer.

Sample answer:Saturday/Sunday worship gives the worshippers meaning in their daily lives and seeks to guide them ethically, morally and spiritually. It is a gathering of the community and as St Justin Martyr said “on the day of the sun all from the city and country come and dwell in this place”. It is significant as it bring the community closer together. Eucharist is seen as the most significant part of worship and allows Christians to thank Jesus for his sacrifice. Christians agree that the Eucharist should be celebrated with a meal and there is different emphasis according to sacramental and non-sacramental denominations. This part of worship is significant as it represents the last supper and allows Christians to commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice. “This is my body which will be given up for you”. “This is my blood, the new and everlasting”. These words are significant in reminding Christians of the sacrifice that Jesus made for them. The reading of scripture and homily given by the Priest or Minister allows the worshippers to follow God’s words and put them into action. For

22

non-sacramental denominations and Baptists, in particular, the reading of scripture and the Bible is the most significant aspect of Saturday/Sunday worship. It allows them to follow God‘s word and be reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice.

The main significance for worship is the way the community gathers and this is significant in the way that they are all surrounded by their friends and family. Prayer allows them to be at peace with one another. Eucharist is significant as an act of reconciliation and seeking forgiveness for sins. It is a time where all Christians thank God for his gift. “It is to give him thanks and praise”. It allows the community to come together and spread the word of God which is the most significant part of their lives.

Explain the importance of Saturday/Sunday worship in Christianity. (6 marks)

Saturday/Sunday worship is important for Christians as it is a time of remembrance, thanksgiving and celebration of the presence of God:

Remembrance: At the Last Supper Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) For the last 2,000 years Christians have gathered every Sunday to honour this request to remember Jesus’ Last Supper and his sacrifice of himself for us on the cross. Christians also remember the teachings, parables and stories of Jesus through the readings from the Lectionary, especially the Gospel, and the preaching of the minister. Every Sunday is also a reminder of the Day of the Resurrection, a “mini-Easter.”

Thanksgiving: During Christian worship there are many prayers in which Christians give thanks to God for the blessings in their lives and from saving them from sin through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The word “Eucharist” itself comes from a Greek word that means “Thanksgiving”. At the start of the Eucharistic Prayer in Mass Catholics say: “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise.”

Celebration of God’s Presence: At Sunday worship Christians celebrate their identity as disciples of Jesus. They celebrate also the ongoing presence of Christ in their midst. Catholics believe that Christ is especially present at Mass in four ways: (1) sacramentally in the Eucharist - “This is my body… this is my blood.” (2) the Word – he speaks to us when the Bible is read; (3) the priest – who represents Jesus as the head of the community; and (4) through the community itself – the body of Christ.

Explain how ONE significant practice within Christianity expresses the beliefs of Christianity. (6 marks)

Sunday is the day of Jesus’ Resurrection, a day for God’s people, the Church, to gather, remember, give thanks and celebrate the ongoing presence of Jesus in their midst.

Sunday worship expresses the Trinitarian beliefs of Christianity – that God is three (Father, Son and Spirit) yet God is one (monotheism). Orthodox, Catholic and high church Protestants all begin their worship “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Sunday worship expresses the Christian belief that the Bible is God’s revealed Word. An important part of Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant worship services is the proclamation of the Word of God (called the “Liturgy of the Word” by Catholics and the “Liturgy of the

23

Catechumens” by Orthodox Christians.) Christians believe that God speaks to them through the Bible.

Sunday worship expresses the Christian belief that God has saved us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. As Jesus is fully human and fully God he is able to save us from sins by dying on our behalf on the cross. Catholics say at mass: “Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the saviour of the world.”

For many Christians, Sunday worship expresses the sacramental beliefs of the ongoing presence of Jesus. Sacramental Christians (Catholics, Orthodox, high church Protestants) believe that Christ is really present in the Eucharist, and that the bread and wine are changed to his body and blood. “This is my body…this is my blood.” (The Orthodox this presence of Christ is called a “mystery”, Catholics use the term “transubstantiation”).

Demonstrate how Saturday/Sunday worship expresses the beliefs of Christianity. – Sample Notes

At the last supper Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19). For the last 2000 years Christians have gathered every Sunday to honour this request and celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. All Catholics are obliged to attend celebration of the Eucharist at least every Sunday and on other days known as holy days of obligation. Not to do so is considered a sin. Sunday and Saturday worship for Christianity varies slightly according to different variants. Saturday/Sunday worship expresses the beliefs of Christians in that it is a practice of honoring the Sabbath. Whilst the seventh day is the day or creation, the eighth day is the day of the new creation when Jesus destroyed death. Sunday has also been called ‘the feast day’. For Christians, Sunday is the “fundamental feast day” established not only to mark the succession of time but to reveal time’s deeper meaning. Saturday/Sunday worship is central to our faith because it expresses our beliefs “The law of prayer is the law of belief.” It expresses the belief that the bible is God’s revealed word and that God has saved us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. We are reminded of Gods goodness and we hear Gods word both as read from the bible and as reflected upon by the leader. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read as much as time permits. We respond to Gods gifts in praise (singing) and are given an opportunity to pray for the world at large. The service aims to renew ones awareness of God and also affirm the sense of community for each individual. By being gathered together and joining in the service we are then ‘sent fourth’ to spread the news and share Gods love. Mark 16:15 “He said to them, go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” By singing in church it glorifies God and confirms our belief in him. Christian’s believe that the ultimate purpose in life is to attain salvation, linked to the belief in the resurrection, Sunday worship helps believers reflect on that purpose. As Christians, we are expected to live out the values and beliefs of the Sunday worship.There are fundamental beliefs, which are common to all Christian practices. These include:

Worship being Trinitarian in nature, all begin their worship by making the sign of the cross during which they say “In the name of the father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.”

Christian worship is based on the bible. All Christians consider the bible as the revealed word of God and thus it is the foundation for Christian life and worship. A lectionary is an organised collection of scripture readings that are used at Sunday services.

We worship to given thanks to God for our salvation by Christ. At the heart of all Christian worship is gratitude for God’s great mercy and love for us. The word ‘Eucharist’ comes

24

from a Greek word meaning ‘thanksgiving.’ “Let is give thanks to the lord our God it is right to give him thanks and praise.”

Most celebrations follow a similar format: Gathering, hearing, being fed and being sent fourth. They are also all common because regardless of the variant, we gather to worship on a holy day and this worship is linked to a belief in Jesus Christ.There are divisions however between sacramental and non-sacramental worship. Sacraments are visible symbols of the invisible presence of God. These include the 7 sacraments and in particular the celebration of Eucharist. We believe the bread and wine to be the body and blood of Jesus. “Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and give it to them saying, ‘This is my body given for you, do this in memory of me.” Sacramental worship expresses the belief of the on going presence of Jesus. Sacramental Christians believe that God is present in the Saturday/ Sunday worship in four modes. i. Through the community of believers.

ii. Through the priest.iii. The proclamation of the scripturesiv. Through the Eucharist.

“When two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matt 18:20)Non sacramental groups such as Protestants believe that we are saved by; faith alone, scripture alone, grace alone. Some protestant groups have rejected the belief in the sacraments all together as they believe that faith in Jesus is the only requirement. God speaks only through his word, the bible. Non sacramental protestant worship is thus about strengthening the faith of the individual. Catholic worship: Believe that the bread and wine is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of the priest into the body and blood of Christ, a process known as transubstantiation. “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.” The catholic mass is highly structured. The priest preaches a homily, his reflections on the relevance of the scripture readings for people today. Catholic Mass = Gathering rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist and concluding rites (sent fourth on mission).Orthodox Churches: call their Saturday/Sunday worship the ‘Divine Liturgy’. Like Catholics they believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic bread and wine. The Divine Liturgy generally goes for several hours; it involves parts of the liturgy being hidden behind a wall called the iconostasis. While there are variations between different Orthodox groups there are three basic parts: The liturgy of Preparation, The Liturgy of the Catechumens, Liturgy of the Faithful.Pentecostal Churches: Focus on hymns and preaching as well as charismatic practices- praying in tongues, healing in their worship. Ceremonies are known for being very emotionally involving and uplifting. Most are evangelicals and thus are biblically orientated. Personal experience of the power of the Holy Spirit is central.

Analyse the significance of Saturday/Sunday worship for both the individuals and the Christian community.

Sunday worship is significant as it provides a constant source of ethics for Christians. These are derived from the Epistle, the old Testament reading and the New Testament reading. This communicates the Gospel values of going out into the community, improving relationships, working for social justice and being an advocate for peace and harmony. As Christians we are meant to live out the values and beliefs of the Sunday worship. Sunday/Saturday worship is significant as it provides a special time of engagement with God. In honoring the Sabbath we are not only called to be rested but to rest in God.

Sunday worships main significance is that it imposes an ethic upon Christians, it teaches that all Christians must live their live so that their lives are motivated by the love and will of God. It

25

challenges Christians to work for the spread of God’s love, not only for them but for everyone. Its significance can also be seen as it represents the last supper and us living out Gods message “do this in memory of me”. Saturday/Sunday worship is the primary religious act through which Christians worship God. It can be split into four main parts: the gathering, hearing, being fed and being sent fourth. The significance of the Sabbath is expressed through the book of Genesis; Jesus rested on the 7th day of creation. Sabbath is also related to not just the Old Testament Genesis and 10 Commandments but in the New Testament; Last Supper and the resurrection.

2007 Trial Sample Student Answer (7 marks)Saturday/Sunday worship is undertaken by the majority of Catholics and most other Christian variants as well, although some denominational groups differ in minor practices such as the Receiving of the Eucharist, they are all common in that the adherents come together as a community to reflect on, worship and strengthen our relationship with God. Most Sunday worship follows a similar pattern - coming together, hearing the word of God, being fed (either spiritually or physically), and then the congregation, is sent forth. During this worship, Christians reflect on the teachings of Jesus through the Bible readings, and the homily from the presider. These teachings provide a source of ethics for the Christian community. These ethics are meant to be lived out in accordance with God’s will. “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” We gather on Sunday, the Holy day, and in doing so establish a sense of community and strengthen relationships with those around us that takes us beyond the church, into the community at large. At Saturday / Sunday worship, Christians base these rituals on the Last Supper. In particular, the moment at the Last Supper when Jesus said to his disciples, “Do this in memory of me”. The liturgy of the word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist allow vital opportunities to intimately engage with God and pray for the community as a whole, as well as expressing beliefs in peace and social justice, which are then exercised in people’s daily lives. There does exist small differences in how the liturgy runs between the Orthodox and Catholic churches (such as whether or not they have the sign of peace, or make the sign of the cross during the liturgy), but all Christian variants, have at their heart, the desire to become evangelic as a result of living out their worship experience, and they not only increase their own individual spirituality, but the spirituality of their community as a whole. Saturday and Sunday worship employ singing and hymns to glorify the name of Jesus Christ, and affirm our belief in him. The fact that this worship takes occurs in public places and is open to the whole community reflects again the spirituality of the experience of the community. (If time had permitted here, a final statement would have been made, tying up the answer)

Analyse the significance of ONE practice within Christianity drawn from one of the following: - Response Scaffold

Baptism

26

Marriage ceremony Saturday/Sunday Worship

CATHOLIC ORTHODOX PENTECOSTAL1. Gathering Rites (coming

together) Gathers the community and

prepares them for the celebration

1. The Liturgy of Preparation Includes the entry and vesting

prayers of the clergy and the Prothesis

(e.g. Assemblies of God: Hillsong) Does not focus on sacramental

ritual but rather on the preaching of the Word of God.

Although the community gathers the focus is on the individual’s relationship with God through the Holy Spirit, thus the name Pentecost, and the service is informal, no dictated order of service.

worship has a great focus on hymn singing and preaching

Incorporating charismatic practices – praying in tongues, prophecy, and healing in their worship.

They are known for being very emotionally involving and uplifting.

Most Pentecostals are Evangelicals (or Low Church Protestants) and thus are very biblically oriented.

Personal experience of the power of the Holy Spirit is central to Pentecostal worship.

Do not use symbols in their worship – no vestments, candles, images, responses, etc

do not have priests but rather ministers or pastors

2. Liturgy of the Word (Listening and responding)

Reminds the community of who they are and what they stand for

Readings from the Old Testament, Epistles and Gospel, letters etc

2. The Liturgy of the Catechumens (also called the Liturgy of the Word) So called because in ancient

times catechumens were allowed to attend

3. Liturgy of the Eucharist (Fed -Spiritually / physically)

Sacrament Celebrates the presence of

Jesus and gives spiritual nourishment

3. The Liturgy of the Faithful (including the anaphora or Eucharistic Prayer) Sacrament So called because in ancient

times only faithful members in good standing were allowed to participate.

In modern times, this restriction applies only to the reception of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

4. Concluding Rites Assembly are sent forth on

mission to continue the work of God in the world

4. Sent forth to live the message delivered

by the priest at the end of the service.

At the Last Supper Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19) For the last 2,000 years Christians have gathered every Sunday to honour this request and celebrate this memorial of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

"The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life" (Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium n.11)

“The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, n.10, Vatican II)

Start each paragraph off by saying: Sunday worship is significant to Christians because… PTO

1. Celebration of Faith and Identity Allows Christians to express their faith in God, share that faith with others and be

strengthened in their faith. Gives them a sense of community

27

reminds Christians of their deepest identity. By their baptism they have become a part of the Body of Christ (the Church). All the baptised have a responsibility to worship God.

2. Remembering a time to hear the stories of Jesus and the prophets A time to be reminded of God’s unconditional love for humanity. To remember that God loved humanity so much he became human himself and died for us to

forgive our sins. “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

3. Thanksgiving A time to thank for the many blessings in our lives, and to pray for the things we need. A time to thank God for sending Jesus to die for us, save us and promise us the gift of new

life after death. “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God… It is right to give Him thanks and praise” –

(Catholic Mass) “Lord by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the saviour of the world.”

– (Catholic Mass)4. Time to encounter Christ

A time to encounter Jesus sacramentally through: the community, the priest, the scriptures and the Eucharist.

Opportunity to relate to God5. Reminder of the mission and purpose of life

Reminds us of our duty as Christians to live as Jesus lived by loving all and helping the poor.

Sunday worship is significant as it provides a constant source of ethics for Christians. o These are derived from the Bible, the Old Testament reading and the New Testament

reading. o This communicates the Gospel values of going out into the community, improving

relationships, working for social justice and being an advocate for peace and harmony. o As Christians we are meant to live out the values and beliefs of the Sunday worship.

Sunday/Saturday worship is significant as it provides a special time of engagement with God. In honouring the Sabbath, we are not only called to be rested but to rest in God. Sunday worship’s main significance is that it imposes an ethic upon Christians, it teaches that

all Christians must live their live so that their lives are motivated by the love and will of God. It challenges Christians to work for the spread of God’s love, not only for them but for

everyone. Its significance can also be seen as it represents the last supper and us living out Gods

message “do this in memory of me”. Saturday/Sunday worship is the primary religious act through which Christians worship God. It can be split into four main parts: the gathering, hearing, being fed and being sent fourth. The significance of the Sabbath is expressed through the book of Genesis; Jesus rested on the

7th day of creation. The Old Testament; 10 commandments and in the New Testament; Last Supper and the resurrection.

To what extent is Christianity a living religious system that links directly with the life of adherents? (20 marks)

28

Students would be expected to make a comment on the meaning of the questions- how religious traditions are “living religions” and therefore link directly to the life of adherents, how they are relevant to their lives. They would need to explain that a religious world view give meaning to a person’s life and therefore following the beliefs and rituals of the religion become their daily life experience. The remaining part of the introduction would explain then how the tradition does this through its practice of Saturday/Sunday worship following religious ethics (with the example of bioethics), and being enriched in their faith and more able to apply it to their daily lives through the impact and contribution of a significant person (John XXIII). The remainder of the essay would deal with all three components or perhaps two only, using quotes and referring to different variants.Sample Student Response: (M W. 2010 - Done under exam conditions)The Christian religion from Jesus onwards has been a living faith, and requiring commitment from its followers and adherents. Through changes from John XXIII we have seen the church modernised for the people, primarily aimed at Catholics but its impact spread over all Christian denominations and the world. Sunday worship allows a follower to show their commitment to God, while the Christian teaching and ethics provide guidelines on how its followers should live life “love thy neighbour.”Before John XXIII Christianity, was becoming separated from the modern world. It was becoming difficult for its followers, especially Roman Catholics. “Through perhaps the greatest revolution of Catholicism of the modern era” John XXIII was able to modernise the church through some famous Doctrines which occurred in Vatican II, 1962. These were “Constitution of the Church, meant that the church had to be there for its followers, this improved communication with the church and its followers. Constitution of the modern world allowed “a breeze to come” through the church and put Catholicism and Christianity back into a frame of mind to be one with humankind. Decree of Ecumenism allowed Catholicism to join other Christian denominations allowing its people to feel part of the Christian family once again. An example would be the Catholic group forming with the NSW Ecumenical Council in 1965. The other 4 constitutions provided changes to the Catholic Mass. The priest now faced the people, it encouraged not just Catholics but all Christians to return to the Bible and follow Jesus. It also supported religious freedoms and called upon the Catholic and Christian community to accept all that is “good and true” in other religions. John XXIII was a great man, “I want to be kind forever” and won “The man of the year award” in 1962. He brought the church back to the people, allowing Christianity and Catholicism to once again become an integral member of its adherents’ lives.From Jesus onwards, community has been a vital role of the Christian faith. “Keep the Sabbath Day Holy” means that for over 2000 years Christians have come together and remembered Jesus, strengthening their ties with Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. In 155 CE, Justin Martyr said, “All people from city and country come to one place.” Sunday Mass, Sunday worship is an extremely important part of a Christian’s life. Through Mass Christianity is a living tradition that is expressed as a community every Sunday.Generally, all Christians gather as a community, listen to the word of God, receive spiritual nourishment and then go forth, spreading the word of God and Jesus. They are ‘sent forth’ to live their life as a good Christian following the Ten Commandments, “Do unto others, that you would want done to you. “Weekly worship is an integral part of a Christian life, it allows Christianity to remain an integral member of their lives, as every week they come together to share a meal and express and celebrate the beliefs of Christianity that is expressing their belief in the divine nature of Jesus, he is full man and full God. Celebrating the nature of the Trinity, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Reverently receiving assurance that God is part of their lives and finally remembering salutations and thanking God for his sacrifice. “It is right to give thanks and praise.”Weekly worship is an ever living connection between the religion that is Christianity with its people. There are slight differences in how each Christian denomination conduct their worship, however, they all celebrate Christianity and their members understand the importance of

29

Saturday/Sunday worship in keeping their faith a part of their lives and regardless of their denomination can feel a link to Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. It is this link that means that Christianity will always be a living religion.The lessons learnt, the guidelines that are expressed through the readings of the Bible due to Christianity’s connection with the lives of its adherents become the guidelines to how a good Christian should live their life. Once a Christian is “sent forth” from their own worship their life is now guided by the Ten Commandments, Natural Law, the Golden Rule and the Beatitudes all of which play a vital role in a Christian’s life.It is these laws, sections of the Bible and beliefs that shape how many Christians face problems and decision making in the modern world. It is the importance of Christianity in its adherents’’ lives that allows the decision making of any given individual guidelines and helpful sources when facing these problems. For instance, the issue that is Bioethics is becoming an ever increasing part of society, therefore it is important for them that they take in what the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, the Beatitudes, Natural Law and their local priest has to say. Inevitably the morals of the Christian religion has shaped many people’s opinion on organ donation, stem cell research and euthanasia.Euthanasia is strongly opposed by many Christians. “All life is sacred.” Therefore to kill yourself, or help in the death of another is a sin towards God who has created you “in his image.” Only God should have the power of life and death. This stance by many Christian Churches has lead many of its followers to be strongly against suicide and aggressive euthanasia. However, some sections of Christianity believe it is acceptable to switch off feeding machines etc in certain situations, passive euthanasia. The attitude of the Catholics can be seen when in 1980 they released a statement condemning the act of euthanasia. However, some denominations support it such as the Lutherans who say it is acceptable when the person is in pain.Organ donation however, is for the most part supported by a range of Christian denominations “It is a challenge to your generosity” Pope John XXIII, Catholics, Presbyterians and Jehovah’s witness along with most others it is well supported as it is the act of saving another “Saving one man’s life is like saving mankind”. The Jehovah’s Witness contrary to beliefs do support organ donation, yet are against transfusing blood, however, if the organ is drained of blood before the transplant they are supporters of it.Embryonic stem cell research tends to divide Christian denominations with more forces. The Catholic Church is strongly against it saying from conception human life is sacred in ‘my womb I knew you”. Presbyterian’s support it if there is no other way of gaining the research while the Protestant churches tend to support it if the stem cells are harvested from the IVF procedure within 15 days of fertilisation. The Baptist church however is strongly against it. Stem cell research however, is more widely supported by Christian faiths. If it is consented by the mother, the umbilical cord can be used for most denominations research.Decision making on bioethics is strongly linked, for a Christian to the views of their denomination. For most issues, charity and the sanctity of life seem to be the main guidelines for Christianity. It is these guidelines, this assistance when facing tough decisions that highlight the fact that Christianity is very much a living religious system, as it is an integral part of the adherents’ lives and thought processes.Through John Paul XXIII modernising of the church, Saturday/Sunday worship, and bioethics we can see that Christianity, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Golden Rule and overall the Bible play an important role in gathering the Christian community, therefore having an intricate connection with the lives of its adherents.Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). With reference to the quotation, evaluate how Christianity creates meaning for adherents today. In your response you must refer to at least 2 syllabus areas from: Significant Person, Ethics and/or Significant Practice.

30

Sample Student Response: (J.W. School Based Trial 2013) Christianity seeks to create meaning and help the lives of its adherents through Christ’s teachings. Conveyed through the actions of Pope John XXIII, the practices of Saturday/Sunday worship and the bioethical teachings of Christianity, adherent’s lives are strengthened through the Church. Through this strengthening, meaning is created for the lives of Christians.

Pope John XXIII has been considered a role model for Christian living due to his actions of his lifetime. John was a peaceful person who sought to help and to do good which is shown through his daily Decalogue, a collection of tasks which John would do one daily. John also changed the role of the Pope, thereby encouraging greater involvement by future popes, who would follow John in accepting the prisoners and visiting the sick and needy. “You couldn’t come to see me, so I came to see you.” John’s actions have allowed Christians to follow John and to become better people, allowing Christians to gain greater meaning through him and to live a stronger life with Jesus and as Christians therefore, due to John as a role model for Christians. Christianity has allowed for the creation of meaning for the Church’s adherents the acceptance of all.

The Second Vatican Council was commissioned by John in 1963 to update and modernise the Catholic Church. This prompted the creation of numerous decrees and documents all of which allowed for greater involvement for not just Catholics but for all Christians. The Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy strengthened congregational involvement and acceptance which allowed for greater meaning and understanding of the Church and Jesus to be gained. This was done through the vernacular language being used, greater interaction with the priest and changing of music from Gregorian chanting. Also, other Christian denominations were formally welcomed to pray with the Catholic Church through the Decree on Ecumenism. This allowed for a greater acceptance and greater connection between Christians and for Christians to learn about God and Jesus in other ways. The Second Vatican Council and Pope John XXIII have therefore created meaning for Christian adherents in numerous and effective ways which has allowed for a greater understanding of the Church.

Saturday/Sunday Worship is a significant practice in the lives of all Christian adherents. Different denominations will practice their worship differently which allows for different understandings of Christ to be understood, therefore created greater meaning in the lives of adherents. This is shown through the difference in the Catholic Mass and the Orthodox Divine Liturgy. Catholic Masses are divided into the two parts; Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist whilst the Orthodox ceremony has more parts to it. Although celebrated in different ways, the same underlying theme of connecting with God and doing God’s will is strongly expressed. This therefore to be created and furthermore through the various denominational celebrations which also conveyed their acceptance of Christianity.

Through Saturday/Sunday Worship Christian adherents are able to understand and connect with their beliefs in a strong manner which allows for greater meaning to be created. SS worship expresses the six core beliefs of Christianity though the various stages within a denominational celebration. The Trinity; belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is strongly explored in all denominational celebrations in particular the Orthodox Divine Liturgy. The sign of the cross, which recognises the Trinity’s performed at the opening and closing of the celebration and is repeated numerous times throughout, therefore affirming this religious belief.

The belief in the Divinity and Humanity of Christ is also explored in Christian worship, in particular in the Catholic Mass. In the Nicene Creed and the Gospel, the divine aspect of Jesus is shown through “born incarnate of the Virgin Mary”, and the miracles of Jesus in the Gospel. The human side is also explored in the Mass through the caring and loving nature of Christ through exploring the key beliefs of Christianity; adherents are able to gain a greater understanding and meaning of being a Christian, therefore showing how Christianity creates meaning for its adherents.

Saturday Sunday Worship also strongly conveys the benefits of the community and individuals. This allows for Christianity to create greater meaning for its adherents through these benefits and to help with their feeling of acceptance. Worship allows Christians to celebrate and connect to God and their faith, both individually and as a community. As an individual, adherents can pray to themselves at numerous pauses throughout the Catholic mass in particular the celebration of the Eucharist, where the individual is being fulfilled with a closer connection to God. By gathering together, the community is able to pray together and connect with God together. This allows for greater meaning and understanding of Christianity to be developed therefore due to the spiritual and sometimes physical benefits of Saturday/Sunday Worship, Christianity is able to create meaning for its adherents as they feel accepted in the Church.

31

Bioethical teachings allow for Christians to understand what is right and wrong and helps adherents in living their life, which therefore helps to create meaning. Christian ethical teachings are derived from numerous sources, including the Golden Rule and in particular the Beatitudes and Ten Commandments. By understanding these sources of ethical guidance, Christians are able to gain greater meaning in their life, as they have a set of moral and ethical ‘rules’ to follow.

These ethical sources have a greater impact on Christian bioethical issues such as Euthanasia. Euthanasia, or mercy killing, is the voluntary killing of someone to put them out of their misery. Most Christian denominations do not believe in their practice as it violates the Ten Commandments ‘thou shall not kill.’ This allows for Christian adherents to understand the issues being faced and helps them in their decision-making what can confuse adherents is when the thoughts of denominations collide, which is conveyed through the Methodist Church’s belies that state “Those who came after us will wonder, why we kept someone alive against their will!” Although this may create confusion, Christian adherents are able to follow the decision based on their denomination. This therefore allows for decision-making of adherents to be helped by the denomination which demonstrates how Christian creates meaning for its adherents and conveys their acceptance in the Church.

Issues over organ donation are answered by Christian denominations which as with Euthanasia, allows for a greater understanding and greater meaning to be created for its adherents. Many Christian denominations agree on their teachings regarding the organ donation stating that it is acceptable and charitable. This is emphasised in the Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II evangelical on organ donation and transplants. John Paul states that organ donation is an ‘act of charity and love.’ This therefore helps adherents in the understanding of this issue and allows for greater meaning to be created for adherents due to Christianity.

Stem-Cell research is a growing bioethical issue in Christianity and the teachings of the denominations help create meaning for Christian adherents. Almost all Christian denominations accept the use of adult stem cell for research as a life is not being taken and help is being provided. However, issues are created surrounding embryonic stem cell research adhere numerous denominations oppose its use. This is because a future human life is being sacrificed for the use of scientific research. The opposition towards embryonic stem cell research is shown by the Anglican Church who state “something good is never permissible, if it is the result of something bad.” The teachings by Christian denominations allow for a deeper understanding and meaning to be created for adherents, who are able to covert these bioethical and ethical teachings of Christianity into decision making.

Christianity looks to create meaning and understanding for its adherents. By helping adherents through their understanding of bioethical teachings, celebrating their beliefs and faith at Saturday/Sunday Worship and portraying Pope John XXIII as a role model for Christian living, Christianity has effectively demonstrated its views on life. Through this theory they have been successful in their attempts to create meaning for their adherents as they have invited people who seek their help, to follow them...

32