Describe how Christians might worship God at home. Private worship helps Christians to develop their own, personal relationship with God, where they can focus on things that are important in their own lives. A Christian’s life is based on a relationship with God. They believe that prayer is an essential part of life. Just as daily food is needed build a strong and healthy body so Christians believe that daily prayer helps to feed the spirit.
Prayer is keeping in touch with base. People can use formal written prayers – or formal conversation. They sometimes speak to God as though he is a friend. Although Christians can pray anywhere at any time, a lot of them prefer to communicate with God in the security and privacy of their homes. Communal or corporate worship reminds them that they are part of a group of believers all working together and sharing the same beliefs and traditions. Many Christians have a set time during the day in which they occupy themselves in prayer.
They might read a passage from the Bible, perhaps with the help of another book which would explain the passages. They may also pray silently about something which is on their mind. Perhaps about someone who is ill, something they have done wrong, money problems, relationship problems etc. Christians often believe that private prayer helps them develop a healthy relationship with God.
In communal prayer sometimes words are recited together. The most famous prayer in Christianity is the Lord’s Prayer, which is normally said aloud by everyone together. It comes from the New Testament, and Christians believe that the words of this prayer come from Jesus himself when he was teaching his followers how to pray: This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ (Matthew 6: 9-13).
However, I have found another passage called the ‘Lord’s Prayer’; which is said to have also been taught to the disciples by Jesus, but it is different:’ Father, may your holy name be honoured, may your kingdom come, give us day by day the food we need, forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not bring us to any hard testing.’ (Luke 11: 1-4) These prayers are very common, Christians can recite these at any time of the day. Another popular prayer for Christians is the Grace, which is often said as a blessing at the end of church services, or at the end of other Christian meetings such as Bible study groups:’ Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.’ The ending of this blessing is very similar to the ending of the Qur’a nic verse Al-Fatima; ‘Ameen’. In the synagogues, there always had to be at least ten men before they could pray together.
Jesus is said to have said something very different. He said you don’t need that number. If any two, three or more of you agree together, and want to pray to God, he will hear you and grant your requests. This is quite revolutionary. Jesus encouraged everyone to pray together, and to ask God to give them things they needed.
Matthew (18: 19-20) Christians believe Jesus said it was wrong to make a great show of praying, and to pray in public places where everyone could see. He said that it was important to go somewhere quiet and undisturbed where people could pray to God in private. However, the majority of Christians pray openly and publicly in church alone and in groups Rosary beads are also often used to help people pray. A Christian might read the Rosary before they go to bed or when they want to relax and pray quietly somewhere. A rosary is a special group of prayers. Each of the beads on this string is a reminder of one of these prayers.
Each bead has a distinct pattern on it so they can feel and distinguish each prayer. Small actions.