Gabriel – one of the seven Archangels mentioned in the Old and New Testaments. He is the one who greets Mary with the news that she has been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus. He also tells Zechariah about the birth of his son, John the Baptist.

Gentile – anyone who is not a Jew

Gifts of the Spirit - ..... ...... .....

Gloria in Excelsis – this is an ancient hymn of praise used in the Eucharist on Sundays and Feast days. It begins with the words, ‘Glory to God in the highest!’

God – Christians believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the only One who is worthy of our worship and praise. There is no-one equal to him. He is above and beyond us but is also involved in the world he has created. The Father is the source of all life and existence. The Son is the object of the Father’s love and he brings that love to us in Creation and by saving us from our sins when he took flesh in the world (Incarnation), died and rose again. The Spirit is the bond of union between the Father and the Son and gives us life.

He created the heavens and the earth and in Jesus took flesh from Mary and became a human being to be involved in the life of our world and to save us from our sins. The Holy Spirit, who first

Godparents – the people who make promises on behalf of a baby or young child when they are being baptised. They promise to help the child to grow up in the Christian Faith, to know Christ and be able to follow him. God parents should themselves have been baptised.

Godchildren – the children for whom Godparents have responsibility to help grow up in the Christian Faith and to follow Jesus, because they have made promises to God at their baptism.

Golgotha – this word means ‘skull’ and is the hill where Christ was crucified just outside Jerusalem. It may have been a place of public execution where the skulls of the executed could be found. It’s also known as Calvary.

Good Friday – the day on which we commemorate and celebrate the suffering and death of Jesus.

Good Shepherd, The – a title which Jesus attributes to himself in the Gospel according to John

Gospel - the word means ‘Good News’ of Jesus. In this sense, of course, there is, only one Gospel which is why the four Gospel Books in the New Testament are called ‘the Gospel according to….’

Gospel Procession – in many churches the reading of the Gospel at the Eucharist is accompanied by movement and ritual. The Book of the Gospel is carried by the Deacon (or priest) and accompanied by candles, and acclaimed by singing Alleluia! The gospel is then proclaimed from the lectern. Sometimes, the Gospel is read from the middle of the people.

Grace – this is a word to describe the help that God gives us. By God’s grace our sins are forgiven and we are inspired and strengthened through the power of the Holy Spirit

Grace at Meals – it’s a custom of many religions to give thanks before and after meals, and there are some well known prayers for this. Jesus (John 6:11) and the Apostles (Acts 27:35) can be seen doing the same. The word ‘Grace’ has been used to describe these prayers.

Greenbelt – a Christian Arts Festival held every year in August. In recent years it has been held at Cheltenham Racecourse.