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.·
Holy Matrimony
The Sacrament
Ministers
Unlike all the other Sacraments, the ministers of Holy Matrimony, or Christian Marriage, are the people who receive it; that is, the bride and bridegroom. It is, of course, first necessary that they should have been baptised. Where a priest may be had, the couple should be married before a priest in order to receive the Church’s blessing and to obey the Church’s marriage rule.
Holy Unction (Anointing of the sick)
Oil
All over the Mediterranean lands you will find groves of olive trees. The berries are picked and crushed, and in this way olive oil is produced. In Our Lord’s day olive oil was used for all sorts of purposes, including the treatment of wounds and various diseases. You will remember how, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Good Samaritan bandaged the wounds of the bandits’ victim, “having poured oil…on them” (NRSV, Luke 10:34).
Holy Order: Deacons
The Sacrament of Holy Order
There are three ranks or orders of clergy: Bishops, Priests and Deacons; and they are made Bishops, Priests and Deacons by the Sacrament of Holy Order.