Christian worship facts for kids
In Christianity, worship is a very important part of being a Christian. Most Christians believe that worshiping God is a central act of their faith. Many theologians (people who study God and religious beliefs) say that humans are homo adorans, which means "worshipping man." This means that worshiping God is a key part of what it means to be human.
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History of Christian Worship
How Worship Started
For many centuries, Christian worship has mostly followed a set pattern, called a liturgy. This pattern includes prayers and hymns, which are often based on the Scripture. Christians also set specific times for prayer during the day, often inspired by Jewish traditions. They also celebrate special holidays and seasons throughout the Christian year. These celebrations remember important events in the life of Jesus, the lives of saints, and different aspects of God.
The way Christians worship has always been seen as very important. There's a Latin saying, lex orandi, lex credendi, which means "the rule of prayer is the rule of belief." This means that how a community worships shows, teaches, and guides what they believe. Changing how people worship was seen as changing their faith itself. Even though there was some variety in early Christian worship, there was also a lot of unity. If a new belief, called a heresy, appeared, it often came with changes in worship for that group. So, having the right faith also meant having the right way to worship.
Early Christian Worship
We don't know all the details about how Christian worship first developed, but it grew out of Jewish worship. The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles show that early Christians went to both the Jewish Temple and synagogues. They also worshipped in private homes, often to "break bread." This phrase meant both sharing a meal and celebrating the Eucharist (a special Christian meal). The book of Acts (chapter 2, verse 42) says that the very first Christians in Jerusalem "continued in the Apostles' teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers."
Worship Today
In many Christian traditions, especially in Eastern churches and for Catholic and Anglican churches in the West, worship often centers around the regular celebration of the Lord's Supper. This is led by a priest, with people taking part. This tradition is known by different names like the Mass, Divine Liturgy, Eucharist, or Communion. It involves sharing bread (and sometimes wine). These services also include prayer, reading from the Scripture, singing, and usually a sermon or teaching.
However, in many Protestant traditions, Communion is celebrated less often, or not at all. Their main worship service often focuses on a formal sermon, which can be like a lecture. Worship in these churches also includes spoken prayer, Scripture readings, and music, mainly hymns.
Almost all Christian traditions also have other ways of worshipping. This includes personal prayer and Bible study, small group prayers (often with Bible study), and special ceremonies for events like weddings, funerals, or other church and state occasions.
Main Types of Christian Worship
Sacraments and Holy Mysteries
These are special religious acts that are important in many Christian traditions:
- Baptism: A ceremony where a person is welcomed into the Christian faith, often with water.
- Eucharist (also called Communion or Lord's Supper): A special meal remembering Jesus's last supper with his followers.
Eastern Christian Worship
These are specific types of worship in Eastern Christian churches:
- Paraklesis
- Moleben
- Akathist
Catholic Worship
These are specific types of worship in the Catholic Church:
Prayer in Christianity
- Lord's Prayer: A prayer taught by Jesus himself.
- Hail Mary: A prayer honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Psalms
- Psalms: A book in the Bible filled with songs and prayers.
Profession of Faith
These are statements of what Christians believe:
Christian Music
- Hymn: A religious song of praise.
Chant Music
- Gregorian chant: A type of ancient, traditional church music.
Classical & Baroque Music
- Johann Sebastian Bach: A famous composer who wrote a lot of church music.
- Mass (music): A musical setting of the Mass liturgy.
Modern Christian Music
- Gospel music: A style of Christian music that often uses powerful vocals and harmonies.
- Olivier Messiaen: A modern composer who wrote religious music.
- Christian music: A broad term for music written to express Christian faith.
Christian Holidays and Seasons
The most popular religious holidays in the Christian calendar are Christmas and Easter. Christmas comes after the Advent season and celebrates the birth of Jesus. Easter comes after Lent and Holy Week and celebrates Jesus's resurrection. While Christmas is very popular, especially in Western countries, Easter is considered the most important celebration in the church's calendar.
Images for kids
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Worship at a Byzantine Catholic altar
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An altar is a stone or wooden table used for the celebration of the Eucharist in some Christian worship rites
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A congregation during a Christian service of worship, with women observing the ordinance of headcovering (Brazil)
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Pope Benedict XVI elevating the Eucharist for worship of the faithful amidst incense
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A contemporary worship team leads the congregation in praise and worship
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Some clergy may wear vestments such as the alb (pictured) when celebrating rites such as baptism
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See also
In Spanish: Culto cristiano para niños
