The Church in the local community
The word ‘church’ does not just refer to a building for Christian worship. Christians also use the word to mean the worldwide community of followers of Jesus Christ. This community is also sometimes referred to as the ‘Body of Christ’: just as in a human body each tiny cell has an important role, so each Christian makes a contribution to the worldwide work of the Church. St Paul explains this concept in the The second part of the Christian Bible containing 27 books consisting of four types of literature: letters (epistles), gospels, history and prophecy.: Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1 Corinthians 12:12–14)
Many Christians work to help their communities become better places to live. They see this as putting their Christian faith into action.
| Source of support | What this means |
| Sunday school | Christian children are brought together to study the Bible and learn about how to live a good Christian life. |
| Helping the poor | Many churches run food banks to distribute food to people who can’t afford to buy food. Some churches run soup kitchens and provide temporary accommodation for the homeless. |
| Youth clubs | Christian teenagers may attend church youth clubs to meet and socialise. These clubs also provide opportunities to be involved in projects that benefit the community. |
| Visiting the elderly and the sick | Members of the clergy provide the Eucharist to people who are too unwell to leave their homes to go to church. Volunteers from the church provide support, company and religious guidance to people who have become isolated through old age or illness. |
| Source of support | Sunday school |
|---|---|
| What this means | Christian children are brought together to study the Bible and learn about how to live a good Christian life. |
| Source of support | Helping the poor |
|---|---|
| What this means | Many churches run food banks to distribute food to people who can’t afford to buy food. Some churches run soup kitchens and provide temporary accommodation for the homeless. |
| Source of support | Youth clubs |
|---|---|
| What this means | Christian teenagers may attend church youth clubs to meet and socialise. These clubs also provide opportunities to be involved in projects that benefit the community. |
| Source of support | Visiting the elderly and the sick |
|---|---|
| What this means | Members of the clergy provide the Eucharist to people who are too unwell to leave their homes to go to church. Volunteers from the church provide support, company and religious guidance to people who have become isolated through old age or illness. |
Love your neighbour as yourself.
