Rituals - Festivals and Worship

Festivals: The birth of Jesus, the Son of God, is celebrated on December 25th and is one of the main festivals celebrated by Christians. This holiday is known as Christmas Day, which comes from the English Phrase meaning "Mass of Christ". The Messiah was sent from Heaven to save the world from sins and was born to the virgin Mary and her husband, Joseph. During this festival, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus by going to church, exchanging gifts, and decorating their homes with lights, Christmas tress, etc.
Christmas is significant to Christians because it marks the beginning of Jesus' life on earth. Jesus was sent to earth by God to teach people to word of God and to lead others toward God. This holiday has been shaped socially into a time of gift giving and decorating and not as much focusing on Jesus' birth. Although "Jesus is the reason for the season", it is easy to get distracted from this when it's time for the fun decorating that occurs during this time as well.

Worship: Christian worship is usually believed to be at church, when in reality, God can be worshiped anywhere and anytime. This often includes prayer, song, and a sermon. Music is used to affect our emotions through lyrics, while prayer is used to bring one closer to God through thanking or asking for forgiveness. A sermon is a spoken word of God with a lesson or message that the Pastor or Minister usually gives during a church service.

1. The purposes of these rituals are to bring one closer to Jesus and God by celebrating the birth of Jesus and by praying to God to thank him or to ask for forgiveness.
2. On Christmas Day, it is common for a worship service to be held at a church, or even just alone, to remind oneself what the meaning of the season is truly about; the birth of the Messiah.
3. Rituals are usually linked God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit as its foundational figure. By worshiping and praising God, it shows that he is the Supreme leader for Christians.
4. Rituals tend to shape communal identity by the holidays that people celebrate, the clothes that people wear, and the places that people worship.
5. Possible gender issues that may come forward are the ideas of modesty for women in the clothes that they choose to wear, as well as the authority issues of men, with some believing that a male should have the main authority to teach and spread the word of God.
6. Rituals are affected by the community by the ways in which we celebrate holidays and the places that Christians consider to be sacred (as mentioned above).


http://www.allaboutgod.com/christian-worship.htm#sthash.WZtT7iLm.dpuf