Terms starting with B

A ceremony in which parents publicly commit to raising their child in the Christian faith and the church promises to help — used by churches that don't baptize infants.

Drifting or falling away from faith and its practice after having committed to it — usually gradual, often temporary.

The water ceremony marking a person's entry into the Christian faith and the church. Some traditions baptize infants by sprinkling or pouring; others baptize believers by full immersion.

The closing blessing spoken over the congregation at the end of a service — often "The Lord bless you and keep you…" — sending people out with God's favor.

Mildly mocking labels for very zealous Christians — "Bible thumper" for the preachy, rule-quoting kind; "holy roller" (originally) for the loud, expressive Pentecostal kind.

Grateful and fortunate — recognizing good things in life as gifts from God rather than luck or achievement.

The church — all Christians together — pictured as one living organism with Jesus as the head and each believer as a part. Also, in Catholic and Orthodox use, the Eucharist itself.

Having become a Christian — described as a spiritual new beginning, from Jesus' words in John 3 that a person must be "born again."

The printed program handed out at the door with the order of service, hymn numbers, announcements, and prayer list — or its modern equivalent on a screen or app.