Christianity - Ceremonies

1. Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

2. Baptism is a Christian ceremony to show belief in Jesus and a desire to follow his teachings.

3. Holy Water is used to show that sins are being washed away, this is usually held in a font.

4. Some Christians think that people should only be baptised when they are old enough to understand what they are doing.

5. Others think that it is right to baptise children of Christian parents.

6. Babies who are baptised cannot make promises for themselves so godparents are chosen to represent them at the ceremony.

7. Godparents promise to take a special interest in the child as he or she grows up and help them to become a good Christian.

8. Holy Communion, or Eucharist, is the service at which Christians share bread and wine that has been blessed to remind them of Jesus.

9. It remembers the Last Supper when Jesus gave his disciples bread and wine, saying,’This is my body’ and ‘This is my blood’.

10. After the supper, Jesus was arrested and crucified.

11. The word Eucharist comes from a Greek word meaning thanks, therefore Christians are giving thanks for the love of God.

12. Some churches celebrate this each week, others less frequently.

13. Different churches have different ways of taking communion.

14. They may use individual glasses or a chalice, give out ordinary bread or wafers.

15. People may stay in their seats for Communion or go to the front of the church.

16. Christians view marriage as a gift from God, not to be entered into lightly.

17. It is an important Christian ceremony.

18. For Christians, marriage is a public declaration of love and commitment, made in front of family and friends.

19. Christians believe marriage is a commitment to one person that should be worked at.

20. First the couple make their promises in front of God, then they make their vows to each other.

21. Marriage vows have been used at United Kingdom church weddings since 1552.

22. Rings are exchanged and there are prayers, readings, sermon and hymns.

23. The bride and groom then sign the register with two witnesses.

24. In Catholic weddings, the ceremony may include a mass.

25. Funerals are also an important Christian ceremony.

26. Christians hold a funeral service when someone dies to celebrate their lives.

27. They usually allow friends and family time to talk about the dead person and the good things that happened in their lives.

28. There are often readings, eulogies and hymns.

29. Some people wear dark colours to show sadness, others wear bright ones in order to celebrate the life of the deceased.

30. Some people are cremated.

31. Their ashes are given to the family to scatter in a special place or placed in a Garden of Remembrance.

32. Others are buried and have a memorial stone.