The Christian Faith
This section of the website provides more extended teaching on larger content areas, such as the Creed and the Sacraments. It begins with Introduction·to the Christian Faith. More content will be added in due course.
The section entitled Short Talks comprises stand-alone talks and articles on different aspects of the Christian Faith, including the teaching of Jesus, the seasons of the Church’s Year and Feasts and Festivals.·
Altar linen and vessels
Today we’re going to talk more about the altar and credence table.
The altar
The altar should be covered with three cloths, the top one of which is called the fair linen cloth. When the altar is not in use, this is covered with a fourth – a dust cover, which is taken off before the Eucharist.
The Eucharistic vestments
Origins in the Roman Empire
The wearing of the Eucharistic vestments is the only everyday custom which has come down to us from the old civilisation of the Roman Empire before the barbarian hordes from Russia and China swept across Europe at the beginning of the fifth century. The break-up of the Empire began in the year 410 AD when Alaric, the barbarian chief, captured and looted Rome, the city which for 800 years had been unconquered.
Public worship
God’s Family, the Church
In a family there are some things which the members do on their own, such as working or going to school. And there are other things which they do together, like having their Sunday lunch or going on holiday.
So it is with the Family of God, the Church. There are some things that we do by ourselves, such as saying our daily morning and evening prayers. But the chief thing that we all do together is public worship. By public worship I mean services in church in which we come before God as his Family and People.