Cross
The sign of the cross, reminds them of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Seats
There are seats called pews which are situated either side of the nave. These are wooden seats with room to stand. On the floor you will find kneelers where you may kneel to pray. Pews are a fairly modern invention as before people in the congregation used to stand.
Lectern
The Bible rests on the Lectern during the readings and services. It is usually in the shape of an eagle, as an eagle is believed the word of god being carried around the world, eagles are symbolised to be standing upon earth also it’s symbolic of raising the word up to God and God raising his followers “on eagle wings”.
Stained glass window
Around the walls of the church there are stained glass windows, which show pictures of saints or important events from the Bible such as the birth of Christ or the death of him on the cross from the bible. Stained glass windows were used because hundreds of years ago everything was in Latin and only the clergy had access to the Bible because the majority of people were generally illiterate. This meant they had limited access to the Bible and the only way in which they could understand was through the stained glass windows which depicted important events.
Pulpit
Sermons are delivered to the congregation from the pulpit which is a raised box.
Nave
This is the main part of the Church where the congregation sits. The central aisle represents the Christians journey through life towards God.
The Notice Board & Welcome Board
The notice board is not something you would immediately look for but is just as important to a modern day church. Churches are very important to local communities and any events that happen in the surrounding area are usually placed on here. The Welcome Board welcomes worshippers.
Altar
The altar is the table at the front of the church. The altar is used at times of Holy Communion. The whole table is meant to symbolise the last supper and so non-alcoholic wine is used to represent the blood of Christ and wafers or bread are used for the body of Christ.
The font
In order to become a member of the Church and Gods house, you must be baptised. The font is used for infant baptisms where the child is blessed with holy water, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The fonts are usually highly decorative made out of marble or stone and are usually placed near a door or an entrance so that the child’s spirit is free to enter the congregation.
Statues
Statues are usually placed around the church they represent the presence of saints.
The Organ and Music in the Church
Many Christians find that the most effective way in which to praise the Lord is through music. The organ is the most common instrument used in church but also more modern instruments such as guitars, drums and violins are also embraced by the congregation.
The Bible
The Bible is obviously an important part in any church service. The Bible is found on the Lectern. Readings are usually taken from the Bible in every service. The Book of Common Prayers is also used in the Church of England
b) Explain the different forms of worship used in this religion and how these forms may be helpful to different people.
Christians worship is a way of expressing what they believe about Jesus Christ. They meet regularly with other believers to worship together. At other times they may worship on their own or with their families. Sunday is the holy day for Christians. They usually meet for worship in a church.
Worship can involve all sorts of activities such as reading the bible, singing hymns, songs and psalms, praying and listening to sermons are all parts of worship. Church services may vary but most contain several of these activities. For committed Christians, however, worship does not begin and end in church because they dedicate their whole life to God.
The Christian faith has many styles of worship and people will prefer one particular style depending on their personality, their character and their approach to the Christian faith.
There are two different types of worship, Liturgical and Non-Liturgical. Liturgical is a Greek word meaning ‘public worship’.
The different forms of Christian worship can be divided into three types:
- Formal Worship
- Informal Worship
- Personal Worship
Formal worship (Liturgical) is a style of worship where all the actions follow a set pattern. The Roman Catholic, Orthodox and some Anglican churches worship in this way. They express their beliefs using symbolic acts and special objects. It is common to burn incense and candles. The Anglican Church uses the Alternative Service Book where the congregation read a set piece each week. The priests and vicars wear special clothes.
Informal worship (Non-Liturgical) is the style of worship that takes place in many Protestant churches. Informal worship does not have set rituals and symbolic actions. These Christians give more importance to Bible reading, prayers, hymns and sermons. There is much more freedom to speak, read from the bible and pray. People might clap their hands or wave their arms in worship. An individual worships in the way he or she wants which might include kneeling quietly or dancing. This worship is often lively with a band playing music including electric guitars and drums. In this way people are free to express themselves. They are not embarrassed by their emotions and are not afraid to show their feelings. Certain people may prefer informal worship because it is not restricted and there is the freedom to worship as they wish. They may also prefer it because each service is different since it is not read out of a book but can make it up as they go along.
Personal Worship is when Christians pray by themselves. Christians believe that they can communicate with God through prayer. Christians do not pray in the same way or at set times. Some use their own words, others prefer to use set forms of prayer. Daily worship helps people to be at peace with themselves and others and to reach out and help and share with other people.
c) “There should be one style of worship for all believers”. Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to the religion which you are studying in your answer.
Personally I do not agree with the statement “There should be one style of worship for all believers”, because worship should be a matter of personal choice. Different people prefer different styles depending on their personality and their character. People shouldn’t be pressured into the way they worship. Everyone is different and therefore they may like different styles of worship. In my opinion I think it is unfair to tell someone how to worship, because to a religious person, worshipping is part of their everyday life.
Christians believe that it is a personal choice to how you want to worship. Christians believe that Sunday should be the main day of worship, but people can still worship God whenever or wherever they wish. Worship is a way for Christians to express what they believe about Jesus Christ. It is important for them to meet regularly with other believers to worship together. Christians do not feel the need to worship in the same way or at a set time.
Bibliography
- Class notes
- How to read a Church by Richard Taylor