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More than four million people have completed the Alpha course during the last ten years in churches, homes, schools, universities, and prisons. Alpha is an opportunity to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed non-threatening setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions, with an optional day or weekend away. It is low-key, friendly and fun - and is supported by all the main Christian denominations.
Everyone is welcome on an Alpha course and people attend for a wide variety of reasons. Some want to investigate whether God exists and if there is any point to life; others are concerned about what happens after death. Still others may have attended church on and off all their lives but feel they have never really understood the basics of the Christian faith. People come from many different backgrounds, holding many different viewpoints - but all come with the same objective: to establish whether Jesus Christ has any real relevance for their lives.
Alpha is being run by churches of every denomination, including Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal, Salvation Army and non-denominational churches. Wherever the course is being held, all churches provide the same material, making alterations only to suit local culture.
A Typical Alpha Evening...
6:30 Supper Together
Each Alpha group eats supper sitting together at the same table. Food is prepared by different Free Church small groups.
7:10 Talk and Worship
All the groups gather for a brief time of worship followed by a video of Nicky Gumbel giving a talk on one of the key issues of the Christian faith. Some sample talks are: Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant? Who is Jesus? How can I be sure of my Faith? How does God guide us? How can I make the most of the rest of my life? And the like.
8:00 Small Group Discussion
Many Alpha guests speak of how they find the small group sessions to be the most rewarding aspect of Alpha. The small groups are an opportunity to ask questions, express opinions and discuss the topic of the evening. They also give guests the chance to make friends and to bounce ideas around in a relaxed and non-threatening environment.
9:00 Evening ends
All the small groups are committed to ending on time.
A Typical Daytime Alpha...
Currently Alpha is offered for women on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11:30am at the Parish House, 28 Elm Street Andover.
9:30 Breakfast
We offer coffee, tea and baked goods and this provides a chance to connect with other people in the group and get to know them.
9:45 Talk
We listen to a video of Nicky Gumbel giving a talk on one of the key issues of the Christian faith (see list of talks below).
10:30 Small Group Discussion
The small group discussion is an opportunity to ask questions, express opinions and discuss the topic of the morning and gives guests the chance to make friends and to bounce ideas around in a relaxed and non-threatening environment.
11:30 Morning ends
The morning finishes promptly to allow guests to pick up their children from the childcare on time.
Other Times
Alpha is also sometimes offered at other times in people's homes.
For more information about the Alpha course please contact:
Roselle Heckendorn
rheckendorn@freechristian.org
or visit the official Alpha Course website at http://www.alphausa.org
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