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H

Hallelujah: A shout or song of praise to God. "Hallel" means "praise." "Jah" is an abbreviation of "YWVH." It appears in many places throughout the last third of the book of Psalms.

Heaven: In Christianity and Islam it is the abode of God, the Father's House, where selected individuals go after death to be with God.

Hell: one of two destinations for an individual after death in the Christian, Muslim and some other religions. Various groups within Christianity believe that a person goes there because of some of their beliefs or their actions. Some believe it is a place of eternal punishment and torment, others it describes an isolation from God.

Heresy: beliefs that are forbidden by the policy-deciding body of a faith group.

High Church: High Church worship emphasizes theological or liturgical formality.

Holy Spirit (a.k.a. Holy Ghost): The third person in the Christian Trinity. Some faith groups consider him to be an active force. Historically, Christianity has taught that the Holy Spirit is a person, along with God the Father, and Jesus Christ.

Holy Week: The week preceding Easter - the last week in Lent. Holy Week is the most important period of the church year, observed with many special services, beginning with Palm Sunday and concluding on Holy Saturday. Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Hymn: From the Greek word, hymnos, meaning "song of praise." A hymn is a poem or other metrical composition adapted for singing in a church service.

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