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Christians celebrate various events in their lives, they consider
many of these to be sacraments. The Salvation Army and the Society
of Friends do not practice these sacraments, they believe that they
lead a sacramental life.
Baptism : Most Christians believe this is a sacrament.
- Baptism is when a baby is symbolically washed with holy water -
representing the sins being washed away and being reborn as a Christian.
Babies are not old enough to make promised for themselves so God parents
are chosen to represent the child. Sometimes a baptism (often known
as the Christening) may be performed where the whole person is submerged
under water - this again represents being born again (after burial
of old self under water) as a Christian but normally this is when
the person being baptism is not a baby.
- The holy water used at a baptism is usually held in a font. Sometimes
these are small and functional, other times they are large and elaborate.
Confirmation : Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe this
is a sacrament.
- When the child is old enough to make his or her own promise to God
- they confirm the promise made by God parents at the Christening.
Very often they dress in special clothes - girls in white dresses
and veils and boys in smart shirts, jackets and trousers.
Marriage: Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe this is
a sacrament.
- Two people get married and become a new family. They will love each
other and be companions for life. Some denominations do not allow
couples to be divorced, others are more lenient and realise that it
is not always possible for couples to stay married. The wedding services
has promises that the couple make to each other. There is a lot of
ritual involved.
Death -Extreme Unction (anointing the sick and dying): Roman Catholics
and Orthodox Christians believe this is a sacrament.
- A funeral service is held for Christians who die, this seems like
a sad occasion for the family but it is also happy because the person
who has dies is joining Jesus. Many Christians wish to receive extreme
unction before they die - this prepares them to meet God in death.
The Lord's Supper - Holy Communion: Most Christians believe this
to be a sacrament.
- When Jesus had the last supper he took some bread, broke it and
shared it with the disciples. He passed a big cup of wine round the
group. He told them that he must die to save mankind and they must
always share the bread and wine in remembrance of him. Ever since
then Christians have held services called: Mass, Eucharist, Holy Communion
or the Lord's Supper where they have shared blessed bread and wine
and given thanks for Jesus life, death and resurrection.
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