What is taught must be in accordance with the locally agreed syllabus; (If your school is outside of Cambridgeshire: the S.C.A.A Model 2 syllabus has been included to help in matching this lesson plan with your local Agreed Syllabus).

RESOURCES: There are 3 alternatives for this Lesson:

[1] Organize a visit to a local Church. (These can be found in the yellow Pages under 'Places of Worship'.)

[2] Visit: www.request.org.uk/main/churches/buildings/buildings.htm

then click on the menu which says: "Church Buildings"

& follow it right through to it's end by pressing the "next" buttons. (It's got a lot of good pictures showing the comparisons between an Anglican Church & a Baptist Church).

Then follow "Things you may find in a Church Building."

[3] Use Worksheet 3. This has pictures of some things which may be found in a Church building & has a Church layout.

 

STARTER:

 

A reminder that:

(a) 'Church' is not only a building but a group of Christians meeting together, (Lesson Plan 1).

(b) Christians can worship God anywhere (Lesson Plan 2), so a Church is not essential to worship.

 

Q. Does the design of a Church building create a certain atmosphere?

Discuss.

(Teachers note: Is it a dedicated building to worship? Seating layout? Focal point? Banners, statues, & symbolism? What can be seen from the windows? Any distractions - noise or other things? Acoustics? Etc.)

MAIN TEACHING:

Set out the classroom like an Anglican Church & take a tour:

(Teachers note: Need a Vicar, pianist &/or musicians, someone to give out hymn books, & someone to read the Bible from the lectern).

 

1) The Vicar is in the vestry, & the musician/s are playing some music.

 

2) The congregation comes in through the porch & are given a hymn book & prayer book, & they sit on the pews. (Some Anglican Churches & many other Churches don't have pews, they have ordinary chairs instead)

 

3) The Vicar walks from the vestry, & leads the Service from the front (between the pulpit & lectern).

 

4) The order of Service can be taken word for word from the Prayer Book, or just a few items can be read & the rest will be more informal & not set. A number of prayers are read by the Vicar &/or congregation.

Some examples: (Plain type is said by the leader, bold type is said by the congregation)

7) The Vicar gives a talk (known as a sermon or message), which should be based on the reading from the Bible. In the past, this sermon was given from the pulpit, but often now the Vicar remains where he or she is.

 

8) If it is a "Communion Service" the Vicar goes up to the Altar, then the congregation go up to the altar rail (which separates the Chancel from the Sanctuary) where they either kneel or stand ready to accept the bread & the wine as a symbol of Jesus' death.

(Teachers note: This is explained in the Bible in Matthew 26: 26-28 which says:

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."" (New International Version))

 

Example:

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body,

because we all share in one bread.

 

Draw near with faith.

Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you,

and his blood which he shed for you.

Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,

and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

(Teachers note: Feed on Him means to feed on His wisdom, love and power)

 

9) The congregation return to their pews & the Vicar ends the service. Often everyone goes to have a drink, biscuits & a chat!

Example:  

Be with us Lord, as we go out into the world.
May the lips that have sung Your praises,always speak the truth;
may the ears which have heard Your Word,listen only to what is good,
and may our lives as well as our worship,be always pleasing in Your sight,
for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

How different Churches do things:  

 

Roman Catholic Churches tend to be very ornate, they have a lot of visual things like statues & the services are very formal & set, being written in a book. Some Anglican Churches can be very similar to this, whilst others have fairly plain buildings & may have informal services.

The Methodist, Baptist, United Reform Churches (etc) tend to meet in buildings which don't have a spire or tower, & often the building is known as a 'Chapel'. The services are not read from a book, although many are very set by traditions, whilst others have informal services.

In other words, there are many different Churches

which do the same things in different ways!

PLENARY:

Q. How should you behave in a place of worship? Discuss.

(Teachers note: Try to bring out that it is not just showing respect - feeling joy, excitement, sorrowful, etc can be right, except where it offends other people).

(Teachers note: There is a 1 page worksheet to accompany this lesson plan).

5) Throughout the Service a number of hymns or songs are sung & the congregation stand to sing them. (Often a church will have a music group consisting of guitars, drums, electric keyboard, etc, instead of an organist).

 

6) Usually there are one or two readings from the Bible which is open on the lectern.

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