Early Church History and Its Effect On Worship (Coursework Sample)
Write a 1,250 word essay, using the following as an outline for your paper:
1. Identify one period of history and an aspect of worship in that period that
resonates with you. For example, the early church: the emphasis on the
Sacraments or the Reformation: the emphasis on preaching.
2.Become somewhat familiar with the period of liturgical interest and write a
summary of worship during this period.
3. Explain why this period and the aspect of worship you identified resonates
with you.
4.Discuss what this period of history could contribute to your own tradition.
6.Articulate why this particular emphasis of this period is important for Christian
worship today. (In other words, expand from what the period could contribute
to your tradition to what it could contribute to Christian worship as a whole.)
Early Church History and Its Effect On WorshipStudent NameInstitutionProfessorCity/StreetCourse + CodeDate
Question One
The Emphasis On the Sacraments or The Reformation
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are practiced as sacraments in the Christian Reformed Church. A pastor or ministry associate administers baptism by sprinkling water on the forehead, although immersion can also accomplish it. Adults who have been baptized are expected to declare their religion publicly. According to the Second Vatican Council, "the objective of the sacraments is to sanctify mankind, to build up the body of Christ, and ultimately, to give praise to God." They are indications that they are also instructive in their own right. Christ Himself established the sacraments. Christ instituted the seven sacraments so that he may continue to be accessible to his people even after his ascension into Heaven. The sacraments were given to the Church by Christ to distribute them to the faithful. These are how God's life is made available to us. Each sacrament is intended to deepen one's relationship with God and develop one's faith. People are cleansed of original sin via baptism; their faith is strengthened by confirmation; and they are persuaded of Christ's love and sacrifice through the Eucharist, which they partake in during the celebration of his body and blood. A sacrament, religious sign, or symbol is primarily linked with Christian religions. Divine or spiritual power is thought to be imparted through tangible materials considered channels of divine grace. Although many evangelical Christians find the subject too "catholic" to consider, the sacraments have a major role in the New Testament. The Heidelberg Catechism sums up the Bible's teaching on this matter by defining baptism and the Lord's Supper as "holy tokens and seals for people to see.[Erickson, Alexander. "With Many Such Parables He Spoke: The Liturgy as a Continuation of Christ’s Ministry in the Church." (2021).]
Question Two
Generally, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time (the week following the Epiphany) are the liturgical periods of interest in western Christianity (Time after Pentecost). Ordinary Time is not observed in some Protestant traditions; instead, each day is assigned a season number. Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection are remembered in holy remembrance by the Church on certain days of the year. Along with the big Paschal Solemnity once a year, she observes a day called as the Lord's Day to commemorate Jesus' Resurrection and Blessed Passion. But the Church exposes Christ's mysteries and commemorates the feast days of the martyred saints throughout the year. Six seasons and six times of the year are included in the liturgical period of interest. Preparation for the commemoration of Jesus' birth during Advent - four weeks prior to December 25th. Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ and his subsequent appearance to the world. Lenten season – six weeks of abstinence before Easter. In the Christian churches, the yearly cycle of seasons and days is known as the "church year," and it commemorates events such as Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection, as well as the virtues he exemplified in the lives of saints.[Rice, Monte Lee. "Toward a Pentecostal Theological Aesthetic and Practice of Sacred Time:‘Before His Face Through Times of Refreshing’." Journal of Pentecostal Theology 29, no. 1 (2020): 73-94.]
Typically, proper of Time and Proper of Saints are two liturgical times of significance, both referred to as Proper of Seasons in liturgical usage There is a universal Church liturgical calendar, as well as national, diocesan, parish, and other religious community-specific calendars. Every year, the Paschal Mystery is reinforced throughout the celebration of Jesus' life and the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary and saints. Act out Christ's mystery in your life as the year goes on, and you will be encouraged to do so. For example, Mary and the saints, who are commemorated throughout the year by the Church, finest demonstrate this virtue. The feast of the saints and the Christ-mystery have a remarkable relationship. Mary and Jesus are interwoven, as are all the saints, whose feast days proclaim Christ's glory and serve as a role model for the believers to follow in their own lives. On the first Sunday of Advent of each succeeding calendar year, a new liturgical year is launched.
Question Three
Technically, for me, the emphasis on the sacraments or the reformation significance resonates. When the church members participate in this sacred supper, they unite in an intimate relationship with Christ and each other. Having accepted Christ's sacrifice as their own, individuals can live out that sacrifice in service to God and others by sacrificing themselves. The high point of the mass is the Eucharistic prayer, in which the holiness of God is glorified, his servants are recognized, the Last Supper is remembered, and the bread and wine are consecrated. People can participate in something that draws them together by participating in Liturgical. Allows Christians to participate more actively in prayer by teaching them the prayers and worship structure. Worship led by a Christian congregation, or liturgy, is a traditional public religious service. This type of religious activity has been called "liturgy," an expression of a community's response to and involvement in the sacred.[Vandiver, Dallas W. Who Can Take the Lord's Supper?: A Biblical-Theological Argument for Close Communion. Vol. 21. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2021.]
Question Four
Both the interest in liturgy at this Time and its longstanding heritage go hand in hand. Neither can function without the other's help. The Time of liturgical interest depends on tradition, just as tradition results from the liturgy. Both an individual's and a religious community's overall well-being are intertwined with the liturgy and rituals they practice. Liturgy and tradition, as well as other facets of our existence, form our identity. It is impossible to live if we constantly re-invent the methods in which we interact with each other and the Other. We have ceremonies and liturgies for just such occasions. Repetition binds these rites and liturgies to the past, preserving their significance for us a
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