Christianity Prayer and Festivals

Contents Prayer The Lord’s Prayer Advent Christmas Maundy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Summary

Prayer Christians pray privately as it is important to them to have a private relationship between them and God – after all we are all different! Prayer sometimes uses words and sometimes involves meditation or contemplation. Some people like to use aids to prayer such as rosary beads, crosses or crucifixes, icons or votive candles.

The Lord’s Prayer This is the only prayer that is used by all Christians in common. It is found in the Bible as an example of how to pray. –It thanks God for all he has done –it praises his holy name –it acknowledges that we are sinners and asks for forgiveness –it asks for God to help us in our daily lives, and give us what we need, including protection.

Advent Advent is the beginning of the Church’s year and is the time of preparation for the celebration of Christmas. It starts four Sundays before Christmas. Advent means ‘coming’. Christians think about the coming of Jesus, past, present and future. –The past: Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem –The present: Jesus’ coming into our lives this year –The future: Jesus’ coming at the end of time.

Advent Often churches are made to look slightly more simple – for example, flowers are taken away. When priests wear coloured vestments for services, the colour of Advent is purple – symbolising preparation and saying sorry. Churches and homes often have an Advent wreath. It is a ring of greenery with five candles – four purple ones and one white one. One extra purple candle is lit on each Sunday of Advent and the white one is for Christmas Day. Other people have Advent candles marked with the numbers from 1 to 24 and burned each day or Advent calendars with different pictures behind each of 24 doors. The emphasis is on counting down, waiting and preparation.

Christmas Christmas (or the Nativity of Jesus) is a celebration of the Incarnation – the birth of God as a human being. The key celebration takes place in most churches at Midnight when a Communion Service is held (Midnight Mass). Churches are decorated and many people go to church once only during this year at this time. On Christmas Day, there will be family services, and services around the crib. Prayers are often said for those for whom Christmas is not a time of celebration. The stories in the Bible of the birth of Jesus are read.

Christmas Often churches have wonderful cribs and some of the more home-based ways of celebrating are starting to be found in churches, for example, Christmas trees. Christmas carols are joyful ways of telling the world about the Good news – that Jesus has been born for us all. Nativity plays are ways that all people – even those who do not usually go to church can remember the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas presents remind us that God gave us the ultimate present – his only Son.

Maundy Thursday The week before Easter is called ‘Holy Week’. On the Thursday, Christians remember the Last Supper with a Communion Service in the evening. Just before the Last Supper, Jesus showed his service of his disciples by washing their feet. Many churches have this or a similar gesture take place. At the end of the service, the altar might be stripped and then there might be a vigil in the church until midnight. This brings to mind the waiting in the Garden of Gethsemane before Jesus was arrested.

Good Friday On Good Friday Christians remember Jesus’ death. It is called ‘Good’ because it was the day that sin was defeated. In many villages, Christians from all denominations get together and hold a walk of witness through the town. In some churches there are three hour services – this is how long Jesus was on the cross for. Other churches celebrate the stations of the cross – remembering the long walk from the trial to the site of crucifixion which Jesus had to make. During the main service, people are shown a cross which they kiss to show they are thankful for what Jesus did. Holy Communion is usually not celebrated on Good Friday as it is too much of a celebration for such a solemn day.

Holy Saturday Many churches keep everything stripped and bare remembering the waiting while Jesus was in the tomb. There are usually no services on the day. However, during the night, Christians gather together for the Easter vigil.

Easter Many Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by going to an Easter vigil. They light a fire outside the church remembering new life. The special Easter (Paschal) candle is lit and carried into the darkened church. The candles of the congregation are lit – the darkness begins to become light. After this there are readings from the Bible telling the story of the history of the world. The emphasis is on new life – so this is an appropriate time to celebrate baptisms. All people tend to renew the promises that were made at their baptisms to believe in God and turn away from sin.

Easter Some churches have an Easter garden to remember the place where Jesus was buried. Easter eggs are symbols of new life. Chocolate is a symbol of celebration. The word on the lips of all Christians is ‘alleluia’ – a word of great joy found in many Easter hymns and songs. Easter is the key day in the Church’s year. Jesus is risen from the dead and the world has been saved.

Summary Prayer is central for Christians and can take place in whatever way is important to that person. The Church year has key festivals – it starts with the season of Advent – a time of preparation for Christmas, the birthday of Jesus. Just before Easter the events of Jesus’ suffering and death are remembered on Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper) and Good Friday (his death). Easter is the key celebration of the Church year when Jesus’ resurrection is remembered.