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The
Christian faith is rooted in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of
Jesus of Nazareth - a first century Jew. Christians believe that Jesus was
“true human and true God”; At one supreme moment in history, God showed his
love by allowing himself to be crucified in the person of Jesus. He took
responsibility for our sin and reconciled humanity with God. He died, and was
raised to new life, leading to eternal life and forgiveness of sins for all who
believe. Christians also believe that God’s Holy Spirit is present in the
Church, the whole body of Christians, and is drawing together the whole creation
into a unity in Christ. So Christians speak of God as Trinity, being at the same
time One and Three: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The
main source of authority for faith for Christians is the Bible. The
creeds drawn up by the Ecumenical Councils express key elements of Christian
belief. The Church, as the Body of Christ, seeks to discern and interpret
God’s will afresh in every generation, led by the Holy Spirit. Christians
come together to worship, pray and hear the word of God on Sundays - the day
that Jesus was raised from the dead. They share spiritually in the death and
resurrection of Jesus in the sacred meal of bread and wine, which Jesus gave us
before he suffered. Christians experience God through prayer and model their
lives on the self-giving example of Jesus. People
come into the Christian Church through faith in Jesus and baptism with water, to
symbolise dying and rising with Christ and being born to new life.
The central festivals are: Christmas 25th. December celebrates the birth of Jesus, preceded by Advent. Easter In March or April commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus,
preceded by Lent - a period of spiritual discipline. Ascension celebrates Jesus’ ascension into heaven, 40 days after Easter. Pentecost marks the coming of the Holy Spirit on the fiftieth day after Easter.
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©2001 Wolverhampton Inter Faith GroupLast modified: June 09, 2001 |