Back to index

P

Palm Sunday: Marks the day Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on a donkey, where crowds waved palm leaves and declared him the messiah. Five days before they called for his crucifixtion.

Parish: The group of people of a certain area who are organized into a local, self-supporting church. Sometimes the word is used to refer to the geographic region around a church.

Paschal Candle: From the Hebrew word Pesach, meaning Passover. A very large candle in a very tall holder and placed in a prominent place. candle is lighted throughout the Easter season, and during baptisms and funerals.

Paul, St: A Jew who was converted to Christianity and who took the gospel to the Gentiles. Wrote many of the epistles.

Peace, The: Part of the service when members of the congregation, including the clergy, greet one another. The priest says, "The Peace of the Lord be always with you." The congregation responds, "And also with you." Immediately after these words people shake hands or speak or sometimes embrace in the church.

Pentecost: In Christianity, a holy day celebrated 49 days after Easter Sunday. It recalls the visitation of the Holy Spirit to 120 Christians 50 days after Jesus' resurrection. They spoke in tongues This is usually regarded as the date of the birth of the Christian church.

Peter, St: The apostle who denied Jesus and who Jesus called 'the rock on which the church was built'; Peter was the first bishop of Rome, or Pope.

Pews: Long, single, and usually permanent seats in the nave of a church building.

Prayer: Its purpose within Christianity is to assess the will of God for one's life, to praise God, to give thanks to God, to repent of sinful behaviour, to ask forgiveness, to seek a favour from God.

Priest: A clergyperson who may celebrate the Eucharist, give blessings and forgive sins.

Procession: The line of crucifer, acolytes, thurifer, MC, clergy and others walking into a church building to begin a service.

Prophet: In the times of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) a person, almost always male, who was a religious reformer. They claimed to speak for God.

Prophecy: The foretelling of the future through a direct revelation from God.

Pulpit: From the Latin, pulpitum, meaning "a platform." A raised platform or podium used for the sermon or homily.

Links