Christianity Section 4: Sacred Times Saul Baeza, Alejandro Granados, Ivan Vargas, Sergio Salcido 10/8/18

Sacred Times Like Jews, Christians believe keeping sacred time is important The Christians’ calendar is centered around the life, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ Christian festivals and holy days vary widely among denominations For Christians, Sunday is a holy day Early Christians associated Sunday with the resurrection of Jesus and even called it “Little Easter” As Christians became less Jewish and Gentile, Sunday became the official Christian Sabbath All Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter The Christmas cycle includes Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany The Easter cycle includes Lent, Easter, and Pentecost

Advent: Beginning of Annual Catholic Calendar Celebrates 1st coming of Jesus Christ Preparation for the 2nd Coming of Jesus Lighting of four candles on an Advent Wreath. One candle is lit each Sunday

Christmas: End of Advent Season Celebrates Birth of Jesus Christ. 2nd Holiest day of Christian year December 25th (mostly) or January 7th Celebrated since 4th Century on Dec. 25 as a contrast to pagan Celebration of the Unconquered Sun

Epiphany: “Manifestation, celebration” Celebrated 12 days after Christmas Associated with 3 moments of Jesus’ life – Birth, Baptism, & miracle at marriage of Cana Christmas & Epiphany used to be a single celebration. In orthodox Churches Christmas and Epiphany are still celebrated together

The Easter Cycle-Lent The word lent comes from an old English word for “spring time”. Begins with “Ash” Wednesday. Preparation for the great feast of Easter by praying, doing penance, almsgiving fasting, and abstaining from other pleasures. Holy Week-begins with palm Sunday, remembering when Jesus was welcomed into the city of Jerusalem.

The Easter Cycle-Easter Holiest day- is Christ’s resurrection from the dead and is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches have vigil service on holy Saturday evening. Vigil services Many Protestant churches have an Easter sunrise and symbolizes that Jesus is the Son who rose from the dead.

The Easter Cycle-Pentecost Pentecost means “fiftieth day.” As described in the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit descended on the frightened disciples of Jesus like “tongues of fire.” This experience enabled the disciples to and proclaim the good news of Jesus. Pentecost is known as the “birthday of the Church.”

Intro to Sacraments What are Sacraments? Sacraments are an, “outward and effective sign of the Church given by Christ to give grace.” Sacraments are also authorized signs that were given by Christ to the Church, these sacraments transmit God’s grace to the participant. Sacraments are scared times marked by Christians that are not tied to a particular season. Catholics Celebrate 7 Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.

Baptism Baptism is the only sacrament that is recognized by all Christians. Baptism is the sacrament that initiates individual into the Christian community. Not all protestant denominations Baptize infants know as ,”believer’s baptism.” This is when an individual is only baptized when old enough to proclaim a personal belief in Jesus. Examples of Baptism Protestant denominations that baptize infants: Anglicans, Lutherans, and Methodists Protestant denominations that don’t baptize as infants: Baptists, and Anabaptists. The sacrament of Baptism is practiced by either being immersed in a river or pool or sprinkled with water Priest proclaims,” I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Eucharist The Eucharist can also be known as the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. The eucharist fulfills Jesus’ Last Supper command to break bread and share wine in his memory. The Eucharist brings partakers into communion with Jesus, and brings partakers in communion with one another as the ,”Body of Christ,” on earth. Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, and some Protestants believe that Jesus is truly present in the blessed bread and wine.

Prayer Christians consider prayer to be a two-way conversation between God and an individual or a group. Prayer can be done anywhere, any time. Prayer can be formal or informal, long or short, verbal or silent, can involve singing, and can even be accompanied with different postures or gestures The Bible contains a number of prayers The book of Psalms is a prayer book within the bible The Lord’s Prayer is common to all Christians as it was taught by Jesus to his disciples

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Section 4 Quiz Early Christians associated Sundays with what? The resurrection of Jesus Why did Christians begin to celebrate Christmas on December 25th? To counteract the pagan celebration of the Unconquered Sun What is the holiest day of the Christian calendar? Easter What sacrament initiates an individual into the Christian community? Baptism When and where can Christians perform prayer? Anywhere and anytime Who was the controversial candidate for the Supreme Court justice? Brett Kavanaugh