CHAPTER SEVEN

CHRISTIAN RITES, CREEDS AND CALENDAR

Introduction
As we noted in the previous lectures, elements of Christian worldview are derived from Bible,
teachings of Jesus Christ, and the faith community. The Christian beliefs are manifested in practical
daily life of Christians.
The purpose of this lecture is to introduce learners to Christian rituals, creeds and calendar. By the
end of the lecture students should be able to:
• 1. Explain the significance of rituals
• 2. Describe the Christian rituals regarded as sacraments
• 3. Articulate the main Christian creeds
• 4. Explain major events in the Christian calendar

Definition of rite/ritual and their functions

A rite is a ceremonial act performed on a special occasion, to enact or recall a special event. A religious
rite that is done repeatedly in a uniform procedure is known as a ritual. Various types of rites are
performed in church to mark different stages of Christian life. All Christian rites are physical actions
with spiritual significance. They may be performed in somber or festive occasions as well as in formal
or informal gatherings. The following are some of the key functions of rites.

 To commemorate past events so as to make them real in the present (recreation of historical
events)
 To facilitate transition from one status to another (rites of passage)
 To renew bonds among members of a group (reminding people of a common heritage)
 To enhance the level of commitment to beliefs.

The Roman Catholic Church recognizes seven rites as sacraments. These are Baptism, confirmation,
Holy mass, marriage, ordination, penance and unction. However, most protestant churches regard
Baptism and Holy Communion as the only sacraments. Circumcision and burial rites are performed
in all churches but they are not regarded as sacraments. All Christian rites are based on Christian
beliefs. Below is a brief presentation of the various church rites.

Baptism
Baptism is derived from a Greek term meaning to deep or immerse in water. Christian baptism was
introduced during the ministry of John the Baptist (Mat 3:1-17). John preached a baptism of
repentance and forgiveness of sins in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. People who came to
be baptized by John confessed their sins and committed themselves to a life of purity. Jesus was
baptized not as a sign of repentance but to fulfill his mission of being the sacrificial lamb that takes
away the sins of human kind. In the Great Commission, Jesus directed his disciples to in the whole

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world, make disciples, and baptize them in the name of God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit (
Matthew 28:19).
The ritual of baptism serves as an indication of transitioning from one status to another; it
marks end of identification with the old Adam and a new identification with Jesus (new Adam).The
practical details of Baptismal ritual varies from one denomination to another. In many churches
baptism is by water; either sprinkling or immersion is practiced. Churches do not agree on whether or
not infants should be baptized. While some denominations hold that children too need to be baptized
because they have inherited the original sin of Adam, other denominations believe that baptism should
be reserved for adults who are capable of repenting of their own sins. Regardless of the manner in
which people get baptized, the significance of Christian baptism can be summarized as follows:
(i) It is a mark of repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ
(ii) It indicates that one has been born again and has received the Holy Spirit
(iii) It symbolizes the washing away of sins and union with Christ
(iv) It is a public confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior
(v) It is a sign of dying and resurrecting with Jesus
(vi) It is a seal and sign of God’s grace through membership in Abrahamic covenant

The Lords supper

Accounts of the Lord’s Supper are given in all the gospels; Matt 26; Mark 14, Luke 22 and John 13.
This ritual was commanded by Jesus himself during the celebration of Passover. The following
account is given in Mark 14:22-25
22 As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke
it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” 23 And he took a
cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24
And he said to them, “This is my blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God
and his people. 25 I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink
it new in the Kingdom of God.” 26 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives
(NLT).

The elements of the Lord’s Supper are viewed differently. Catholics uphold the doctrine of
transubstantiation, claiming that in the celebration of the mass the elements of bread and wine are
actually transformed into the body and blood of Jesus. Lutherans uphold the doctrine of
consubstantiation, believing that the body and blood of Jesus are actually present, with and under the
elements of bread and wine. Most Protestants follow the memorial view, believing that the elements
are simply symbols of the body and blood of Jesus. According to John Calvin, Christ is really present
in a mystical sense through the activity of the Holy Spirit.
Paul instructed Corinthians on how this ritual is to be performed and its purpose: to remember
the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and to reflect on one’s own spiritual condition (1 Corinthians 11:23-
26).

Confirmation
In many protestant churches, confirmation is a rite that is done to affirm the faith of those who were
baptized as infants and are now mature enough to take control of their own spiritual life. Before
confirmation, one is taken through church doctrine in catechism classes after which the rite is
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performed. The candidate of confirmation is made to make vows of commitment to the teachings of
the church. Confirmation also allows the candidate to participate in the sharing of the Holy
Communion. Within the Roman Catholic Church confirmation is regarded as a sacrament. It is
performed to confer the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the recipient. The rite involves the laying on of
hands and anointing of the forehead.

Penance
This rite is considered as a sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church. Christians who sin and are truly
sorrowful for their wrongs are given the opportunity to confess their sins to the priest in secrecy. The
priest grants absolution to the penitent. The rite is believed to be the means by which Christ imparts
grace to the soul of the penitent. This rite is not performed in the Protestant Churches.

Extreme Unction
The Roman Catholic Church regards the rite of extreme unction (the last anointing) as a sacrament
which gives health and strength to the soul to persons who are likely to die any moment. These are
the last rites. Often it is the anointing and giving comfort and the assurance of forgiveness to the
dying. The body is anointed for the last time. The basis of this sacrament is James 5:14-15 which
instructs that a sick person be taken to church to be prayed for and anointed with oil in the name of
the Lord. After prayer, the priest anoints on the eyes, ears, nostrils, lips, hands and feet. The anointing
is done by making the sign of the cross with the oil. Only the priest can perform this rite. The rite is
not recognized as a sacrament in the Protestant church tradition.

Holy orders
Ordination of church servants is done in both Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. However,
unlike the Catholic and Orthodox Church traditions, Protestant Churches do not consider this rite as
a sacrament. In the Catholic Church, ordination is considered as the continuation of Christ’s
priesthood. As a sacrament, ordination is a means by which a man is incorporated into the priesthood
of Christ.

Marriage
Marriage is another rite that is performed in all Christian traditions. It is basically a union between a
man and a woman for the purpose of companionship and procreation. The ceremony of a church
marriage is presided by an ordained minister who leads the couple in exchanging vows, promising to
live together for worse or for good until death makes them part. The ceremony is performed in the
presence of God and witnesses. In the Roman Catholic Church marriage is regarded as a sacrament.
It symbolizes the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and his people. It is also a sign that reveals
the Lord Jesus Christ and through which divine life and love are communicated.

Christian Creeds
Creeds are formulaic statements of Christian belief1. As early as the third century A.D, the church
formulated creeds to serve as standard expressions of what Christians believe and to safeguard against
any heresy. The creeds were also intended to guide preachers in order to give a united message. The
various creeds were developed over several centuries before they attained their current forms. Guided

1 The notes on Creeds are adapted from Hans-Georg (ed) 1985, Apostolic Faith Today: A Handbook for Study, Geneva World
Council of Churches, pp.17-19

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by the Holy Spirit, early church fathers convened several church councils to discuss the contents of
the creeds.
The creedal statements are mainly drawn from the New Testament and some of the writings
of the early church fathers. What was proclaimed by the apostles in the early days of the church has
been preserved in the creeds. Over the years, Christians throughout the world affirm the creeds as
summaries of their faith. Any deviations from the creedal statements are heresies. There are different
Christian denominations but they all adhere to the fundamentals of the Christian faith as stated in the
creeds. The creeds have helped the Christian faith to remain the same over the centuries.
The major creeds are the Nicene Creed (local eastern creed adopted by the Council of
Constantinople) and the Apostles’ Creed, which originated in Rome. All of them have three parts: the
father, the son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed was passed in 381 AD in Constantinople. It is a communication by the church to
its members of how to speak about its faith. It was the official creed of the ancient undivided church.
It is recognized by all the three main Christian traditions: the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and
Protestant. It is a concise summary of the core beliefs of Christianity, primarily concerned with
defining the nature or the three persons comprising the trinity: God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

We believe in one God,

The Father, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

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 the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

This creed summarizes the essential content of the apostolic faith. It is believed to have been founded
by the 12 apostles of Jesus. It was developed in the struggle against Gnosticism and its existence in
the present form was document from the 8th century.

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ,

his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose gain.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the
Father.
He will come again to judge the living
and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Church Calendar

The Christian calendar has 365 days. It is divided into 12 months that have no relationship to the
motion of the moon. Throughout the year, the church has seasonal themes focusing on Jesus Christ
and the life of the church.

Advent season
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 This occurs four Sundays before Christmas. The main theme is on incarnation of Jesus. Advent is a
season of waiting for the coming of the Lord. During advent, Christians prepare for the celebration
of the nativity of Jesus. The color of advent is purple symbolizing penitence and readiness to learn.
Advent also reminds Christians of the second coming of Jesus at the end of time.
Christmas
Christmas celebrates the nativity of the Lord. This is the season commemorating the birth of Jesus;
the coming of the creator God into the midst of the human family (Lk 2:13-20). It runs from 25th of
Dec to 5th January. The colors used are gold and white symbolizing festival time.
Epiphany:
This comes two weeks after Christmas (January 6). In this season, Christians celebrate the
manifestation of God in baby Jesus. The focus of this celebration is on the visit by the wise men to
honor Jesus as a king (Mat 2:1-6). Epiphany is dedicated for expanding the vision of Christian people;
the aim is to open to the people of all cultures, races, and religions. The colors used are white, gold
and green.
Baptism of Jesus:
This comes on the first Sunday after epiphany. Christians remember this day because it was during
baptism that God announced the divine sonship of Jesus (Mat 3:17). This occasion also marks Jesus
reception of the Holy Spirit.

Transfiguration:
This is observed on the last Sunday before ash Wednesday. During transfiguration, the glory of God
was revealed in the person of Jesus and was witnessed by Peter, James and John (Mark 9:2-12). Further
demonstration of Jesus’ divinity was witnessed this day. The color for this occasion is white.
Lent (Ash Wednesday):
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of lent. The season of Lent lasts for forty days, during which
Christians remember the temptations that Jesus went through in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-12). On ash
Wednesday, ash is applied on the forehead, with a sign of the cross with the words “remember that
you are dust and to dust you shall return” to signify the ephemeral nature of human beings. During
this time Christians commit themselves to prayer and fasting as they meditate over human sinfulness
and mortality. Self examination, control of appetites, and spiritual devotion are cherished during this
time. Attention is given to the teachings of Jesus. Popular colors are purple, ash gray, and red.

Palm Sunday:
Palm Sunday is commemorated to mark the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem (Mk 11:9).
Christians commit themselves to prayers and prophetic teachings. Palm Sunday is the beginning of
the Holy Week which ends on Holy Saturday before Easter. Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday
because it marks the beginning of a tragic week of events for Jesus. Christians commemorate this day
by processing while carrying palm branches and a cross.
Maundy Thursday:
On Maundy Thursday, Christians remember the last meal that Jesus ate with his disciples. He also
gave a new commandment to them and washed their feet (Jn 13:34). It was also during the Maundy
Thursday that the Lord’s Table was instituted. Late that Thursday after the meals, Jesus was betrayed
into the hands of Roman soldiers.
Good Friday:
Good Friday is commemorated to remember the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for the salvation
of humankind (Mk 15:25-40). It is a day of joy and not sadness. On this day Christians commit
themselves to prayers of renewal and dedication. Normally this day is observed in a somber mood.
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The climax of the events of this day is the celebration of the Lord’s table. The symbolic color for this
event is purple, indicating loyal blood.
Easter Sunday:

This is the resurrection Sunday (Lk 21:1-12). It is a day of joy for Christians because it reminds
them of Christ’s conquest of death. Because Jesus resurrected, Christians too will resurrect. This
occasion brings to fulfilment the mission of Jesus Christ. The favorable colors on this occasion are
white and gold.
Ascension Sunday:
This marks forty days after Easter. Christians commemorate the various post resurrection
appearances of Jesus before his final ascension to heaven (Acts 1:1-12). The ascension of Jesus is the
assurance that Christians have Christ who prays for them in heaven. It is also a guarantee that
Christians will resurrect just as Christ did ( Col 3:1-2). The colors for this occasion are white and gold.
Pentecost:
The day of Pentecost is celebrated 10 days after ascension of Jesus and 50 days after Easter Monday
(Acts 2:1-13). This is an occasion of a new beginning. It coincides with the Jewish day of Pentecost,
thanksgiving for the fruits of the wheat harvest. Christians commemorate the day when the Holy Spirit
came upon the disciples. By the power of the Holy Spirit, people from different communities were
able to speak other languages to the amazement of those who heard them.
Trinity Sunday:
Christians celebrate Trinity Sunday to remember the great commission where the three aspects of
God are emphasized (Matt 28:18-19): God the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. The symbolic color
for the day is green. On this occasion Christians celebrate the fellowship of Christians throughout the
world. Attention is given to the ways in which Christians experience God. The color is green and it
symbolizes growth.

Review Questions
1. Discuss the significance of rituals carried out in the church.
2. Identify the common features in church sacraments.
3. Analyze the key aspects common in all the Christian creeds of faith.
4. How are the main elements of Christian worldview reflected in Christian rituals and
statements of faith?

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