Drama, Literature and Music in Worship
Christians express their faith in ways you can watch, read and hear: plays, stories and music. Explore passion plays, the novels of C.S. Lewis, and the sound of chant and hymns in worship.
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Free interactive practice at using the material, which is what the marks are for.
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Faith you can watch, read and hear
Christians do not only express their faith in pictures. They also act it out in drama, tell it in literature, and sing it in music. This module explores plays that retell Bible stories, stories that explore Christian ideas, and the music used in worship.
Mystery play words
Four ideas run through this topic:
What is a passion play?
What does a passion play retell?
- The death and resurrection of Jesus
- A famous sporting event
- A medieval battle between kings
- The story of a farming harvest
Two ways to express faith
Christians use many art forms. Here are two big ones.
Match the form
- A mystery play
- A passion play
- A story by C.S. Lewis
- Gregorian chant
- Acts out Bible stories like the Nativity
- Retells the death and resurrection of Jesus
- Uses the lion Aslan as a Christ-figure
- Ancient unaccompanied singing in worship
The sound of worship
Music sets the mood in worship. Gregorian chant is a calm, unaccompanied plainchant used in many Catholic and Orthodox services, and the Church document Musicam Sacram gives guidance on sacred music. Many Protestant churches instead sing hymns together as a congregation.
Spot the forms
Which THREE are forms of Christian expression covered here?
- Passion plays that retell the Easter story
- Novels that explore Christian themes
- Hymns and chant sung in worship
- Refusing to express faith at all
- Counting the collection money
What is it for?
- Teaching Bible stories to people who cannot read
- Retelling the passion of Jesus on stage
- Creating a prayerful mood in a service
- Exploring faith through an imaginative story
- What medieval mystery plays did
- What a passion play does
- What Gregorian chant does
- What a C.S. Lewis novel does
Retell the story
A passion play follows the Easter story. Put these events in order.
- Jesus shares the Last Supper
- Jesus is arrested
- Jesus is put on trial
- Jesus is crucified
- Jesus rises from the dead
Complete the idea
A _____ play retells the death and resurrection of Jesus. Medieval _____ plays acted out Bible stories for people who could not read. The author C.S. _____ used the lion Aslan as a Christ-figure. Gregorian _____ is ancient singing used in worship. All of these help Christians express and share their _____.
True or not?
Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.
- A passion play retells the death and resurrection of Jesus.
- Gregorian chant creates a reverent mood in worship.
- Mystery plays were written to mock the Bible.
- C.S. Lewis wrote only science textbooks.
- Christians never use music in worship.
What is chant?
What is Gregorian chant?
- Ancient unaccompanied singing used in worship
- Modern pop music played at parties
- A spoken sermon with no music at all
- A fast dance performed in the street
Choose the form
A church wants to help people connect with their faith. Choose the best form for each aim.
- They want to show the Easter story to children who cannot read well. What could they use?
- They want a calm, prayerful atmosphere for a service. What music fits?
- A member enjoys reading. How might a story deepen their faith?
Express the faith
Explain how Christians use drama, literature and music to express and share their faith.
- Describe what a mystery play or passion play does
- Give one example of Christian literature and its theme
- Explain how music like chant or hymns is used in worship
- Say why these forms help Christians