St George's Church (Church of England)  Church Rd., New Mills; Tel. 01663 743225  Minister: Revd. David J. Murdoch

CHRISTIANITY - WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

MANY people think that being a Christian is having to believe a whole set of doctrines and obey lots of rules; it's not - it's finding out that we can have a living relationship with God and that we can be greatly enriched through learning to love and follow Jesus Christ.

Christians base their beliefs on the life and teachings of the historical figure of Jesus who lived as man on this earth, but they believe that after his death he rose again and still lives today. It is the experience of getting to know the living Christ that gives purpose to their lives. At the great festivals of the Christian Church we remember events in Jesus' earthly life. These festivals show us something of the nature of God and are still important to us today.

Literally thousands of words have been written to try to describe the Christian experience of God. This is a short explanation of some of the basic beliefs and some of the language the Church uses to express them. But the ideas are complex and the Church has always found it difficult to describe God in human terms, so these are only a starting point to further reading and to a continuous search for a deeper understanding. Some of the special words that the Church uses are shown alongside their explanation.

Essentially...
Christians say they believe in ONE GOD in Three Persons. They have experienced God in three ways:

As God the Father: also known as Abba, Jehovah. He is God the Creator who created everything and everyone and still goes on creating today. God the Father already existed before time began and will still be there when time ends. He is eternal and the source of all creation.

As God the Son: also known as Jesus, Christ, The Redeemer, The Saviour, The Lamb of God, The Word made Flesh. He came to show us what God is like. We can read about his life on earth in the New Testament.

As God the Holy Spirit: also known as the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the Strengthener, the Advocate. Jesus promised that he would send his Holy Spirit to live in us, to guide, to strengthen and support us.

This One God in Three Persons is called the TRINITY. He is not three separate Gods but one and the same God who has shown himself to us in these three ways. Over the centuries many have tried to 'explain' the Trinity with all sorts of pictures. Some have described a flame giving power, warmth and light but still one flame, others three approaches to a mountain, others in terms of relationship saying that a man can be a father, a son and a husband but still one person. None of these images tells the whole story but are man's attempts to 'describe' God.

Christian Festivals
Through the year the Church remembers different events in the life of Jesus and their meaning.

At CHRISTMAS we remember the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem nearly 2,000 years ago.
We celebrate the lncarnation which means God made flesh. We give thanks that God's love was so great that he took human form and came and lived among us.
Daily we celebrate Christmas when we recognise that we are all made in the image of God; that Christ dwells in each of us and when we recognise God in others.

On GOOD FRIDAY we remember that Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem; that he suffered humiliation and torture and died a gruesome, painful criminal's death although he had committed no crime.
We celebrate because God's love was so great that nothing could break it, not even death. He was prepared to die to show us that love. Because no evil could break his love, no evil can separate us from his love. By his death we are forgiven, saved from sin and death, bought back by his love (Redeemed).
Daily we celebrate the crucifixion and redemption when we acknowledge our sins and say we are sorry (Repentance); when we accept his forgiveness for us and show forgiveness to others. We celebrate the crucifixion when we acknowledge our brokenness, our vulnerability and our need for God's love.

On EASTER DAY we remember that Jesus was raised from the dead (Resurrection). His disciples found his tomb empty but Jesus himself appeared to them on several occasions by the lakeside, at supper, on a journey. He changed them from frightened, broken people into joyful disciples, full of hope, ready to go out and share their experience with others.

We celebrate God's power over death and his gift of new and everlasting life to all of us. We celebrate the promise of another life after death in this world when we shall know him better and be united in love with him and those we love.
Daily we celebrate Easter when we experience 'new life', new opportunities, new beginnings. We celebrate Easter when we let go of prejudice, and long-held ways and are open to the possibilities of new ideas and re-creation.
Easter does not 'put right' the wrong of Good Friday but shows us victory over despair and darkness. Suffering and joy are interdependent. The Love that was not broken by crucifixion is renewed in the resurrection.

At ASCENSION we remember that Jesus returned to his father in heaven as victorious King, sovereign over all creation.
We celebrate the glory and majesty and kingship of Jesus.
Daily we celebrate Ascension when we recognise God's authority and power over us as individuals and over the whole world. His authority is that of love not the ruthless power of this world.

On WHITSUNDAY we remember that the disciples received the gift of God the Holy Spirit and were filled with power and grace.
We celebrate the strength and change that this Spirit brought to their lives.
Daily we celebrate Whitsun when we allow ourselves to be strengthened, renewed and changed by his Spirit.

God the Holy Spirit
There are other special occasions when the Church celebrates God the Holy Spirit. At Baptism (Christening), Confirmation and Ordination we acknowledge the special presence of the Holy Spirit and ask him to strengthen and use us.

At Baptism the baby (or adult) is signed with the sign of the cross (the Christian symbol) on the forehead. By Baptism we join the Christian family and so we ask especially for God to be with the new member.

At Confirmation and Ordination the candidates are blessed by the Bishop laying his hands on them. Confirmation is the time when people take responsibility for their membership of the Christian faith for themselves and acknowledge their allegiance publicly. Ordination is for those who are called to do some particular work for the Church.

At all these times we ask God's Holy Spirit to be with them as they are specially set aside (consecrated) for God's service.

The HOLY COMMUNION, sometimes called the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, the Thanksgiving or the Mass, is a very important part of the Christian life. At this service we remember that when Jesus was at supper on the night before he died, he took bread and wine, blessed them and gave them to his disciples who were having supper with him. As he did so he said 'This is my body, this is my blood which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me…'
At Communion we give thanks that Jesus took ordinary food and wine and made them special. We celebrate God's love, blessed, broken, poured out and given to us. We give thanks that every time we come to Communion and take the bread and wine God is coming into us and filling us with his power. In our lives we celebrate Communion when we recognise that whenever God is allowed to use everyday things he can make them different and special and that whenever we put ourselves in his hands he can change us and use us for his glory.

Progressing
For many centuries Christians have found that some things helped them to know more about God and deepen their relationship with him. The three best known are Prayer, Bible reading and Worship (especially in Holy Communion).
By Prayer we deepen our relationship with God as we share all our hopes and fears with him and give time to listen to him. We bring before him the needs of the whole world as we pray for others (Intercession).
By well-directed Bible-reading and reflection we team more of the life of Jesus on this earth, what he said and did and why. We learn about his closest friends and their reactions to him and their relationship with him. In the Old Testament we read the history of the Jews and their understanding of God. Jesus was born into the Jewish faith and much of his teaching leads on from it.
By Worship we express our wonder, joy and gratitude to God for all he is. We share with others and remember that we are not just on our own but are members of his family here and in heaven.

Published by the The Mothers' Union, 24 Tufton Street London SW1P 3RB.