Alpha Course

Asking Questions? Looking for answers? Jan 2010!

This Years course is has finished... Check back later in the year or enquire at the office for the start of the new one.

Over 45 people of all ages have already signed up!

The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed manner over ten, thought-provoking weekly sessions.

It's low key, friendly and fun and there's no cost. It's supported by all the main Christian denominations. Over 2 million people in the UK and 11 million worldwide have already found it to be a worthwhile experience.

"Who is the Alpha Course for?"

• If you have little or no knowledge of Christianity and want to find out more.
• You are a Christian, but have "issues" with some of the teachings of Christianity.
• You have some tough "Life" questions to ask - Why does God allow suffering?, What is the point of Praying?, Why doesn't God punish bad people? Why doesn't God prove he exisits?
• You have heard from a friend about Alpha and thought you would give it a go.
• You have attended church for many years, and wondered what Alpha is all about.
• You want to talk about God/ Christian Sprituality to open minded people, and dicuss your thoughts.
• You think the course has nothing to offer to you.

Confirmation.

If you feel you would like to be Confirmed Into the Christian Faith at St.Bartholomew's, the Alpha course is an excellent way to give you the tools to discover more about what it means to be a Christian, and welcome you into St. Barts community. Confirmation?...Click Here.

 Alpha at St.Bart's...What to expect.

 The Course at St. Barts takes place in the Oak Room during a weekday evening.

If you arrive 10-15 mins early, tea/coffee and biscuits start the evening, giving people the chance to have a quick chat. Don't worry if you don't know anyone, Ben our Vicar  or Matt our Curate will look after you, and after the first week you will feel at ease. Try to bring a friend with you or a family member, the more people the better!

Each person is given a guide to the Alpha Course, and Revd Ben Presents it each week in his own unique style. The talk is usually about 20 to 30 minutes long, after which people are split into small groups of around 6 or 7 people including one leader. The people stay as that group each week for the duration of the course.

(Teenagers that are to be confirmed have a separate group)

Individual groups discuss the subject presented that evening. This is a great oppotunity to air your views, ask questions, discover alternative points of view. The group usually talk for about half an hour (or as long as you like). The group Leader is there to keep the dissusion on track for the evening and Rev Ben and Rev Matt are on hand should you need them to try to answer any questions you may not be able to answer as a group.

There is no homework or essays! There are refrences in the handbook that you can do further reading if you like.

About halfway through the course is the "Holy Spirit day". This is usually on a Saturday and starts in the morning with some presentations about what the Holy Spirit is and how it effects different people. After lunch is a time for thought and reflection. The day finishes in the afternoon.

Why Would I Do The Course?

People come on the Alpha Course for so many different reasons. But most leave with the feeling it was an experience worth doing, and would recommend to others.

Whether you're an athiest (those who do not belive in any God) or an agnostic (those who neither believe or disbelieve.) you might finish the course with the feeling that you have alot in common with a nice bunch of people, who, like you were looking for answers. You have enjoyed the lively disscussions and would consider many of your group, friends. Maybe you have found answers to questions you didn't think could be answered "Maybe there is something to Christianity?" Prehaps you will leave with a knowledge of a higher power and will enjoy finding out more.

For those of another faith, You may find that Christianity is unique and there is a different way to approach God to give you a, closeness and deeper meaning that may have been missing in your life.

As Christians, many of us have attended church as children, bought up in the faith but harbour miconceptions about what Christianity actually is and are missing a connection with God.The Course will reaffirm the core subjects and leave you with a strong knowledge of Jesus and God and a provide a solid grounding to advance and learn more.

In an insecure world where we look for the quick fix like dieting or makeovers, there are courses for everything and now, not content with our outer appearance people are looking for courses for the "inner self". There are many popular ones, spirituality,enlightenment, power of positive thinking, such as Reiki, Chakra, Meditation, Tai Chi, yoga etc They claim to enhance your life, bring you an inner peace or relaxation, but they often end in exausting dissapointment having cost a fortune and taken years to become proficient. Leaving you out of faith, out of pocket and out of breath!

What if there was just One course that could give all what these have to offer and much more?

 10 Reasons to try the Alpha Course,

• Its FREE.
• Make new friends. (The art of socialising)
• Its something new that's different, fun and enjoyable.
• Listen to ideas put forward in a challenging informative way.(Brain Training) 
• Enjoy Interlectual discussions on Spirituality (Can't do that at the pub easily!)
• Self Control. Recognise personal obstacles, over come them.(Self Awareness) 
• Unlock the way to obtain inner peace (relaxation/de-stress your life)
• Achive personal objectives and help other people (Suplicational Prayer)
• Find a meaning and purpose to your life with God (Focused Direction)
• Discover God, Know Jesus Christ and Receive the Holy Sprit.

With everything to gain and nothing to lose, Alpha poses the question...

 Why Wouldn't you do the course?

 What St. Bart's Alpha People say-

 "The Alpha Course challenged my thoughts and raised more Questions than it answered, but left me with the feeling that this was a good thing. It introduced me to a diverse group of people who, despite differences of opinion were all like minded.

On our journey we grew closer to God and closer in friendship...I miss them!"

“We already attend St Bart’s church most Sunday’s and heard some good feedback from  people who had been on the Alpha Course last year.

It was exactly true.  Rev. Ben led the course, he made it fun, interesting and informative and we able to chat freely on the different issues Ben raised each week.

We were split into groups and quickly made new friends and shared our views in a relaxed and informal way.  It was great!

We would definitely recommend the Alpha Course,  it really is for everyone!  God bless”.

“I’m a very ordinary bloke, living a very ordinary life and using Alistair Campbell’s words, I didn’t do ‘God’!!

Until ‘Alpha’ that is.

The Alpha Course, presented by Ben is fantastic and HE and IT have changed my life.”

“After the first session I was hooked. Ben was Charismatic in his presentations and the weekly subjects thought provoking and interesting.

My group had a good cross section of people aged from 20 to about 60. Some from this church one who had not been to church for 20 years, another who had a Sikh background.

Each of the group members contributed by exchanging ideas and we came to some satisfying conclusions about the issues Ben raised.

I’ve made some good friends; I've seen positve life changes frommy group and people in other groups, I look at life with new zeal and expectation and feel a closeness to God that was previously absent.

Was it worthwhile?  Definitely!”

"My reasons for attending the Alpha course here at St. Bartholomew's meant I could try to gain an understanding of who Jesus christ was, what was the Holy Spirit and how I could have a relationship with God.

The Course proved so sucessful that I went into furthering my understanding by attending Holy Communion services on sunday mornings and becoming Confirmed."

"I finished Alpha with an appetite to continue developing and learning...

Alpha taught me to have a visceral response to God, in all three manifestations, Father,Son, and Holy Spirit which has enriched my life, and our family life and I am looking forward to what comes next."

Below is a link to some stories about people that have completed the Alpha course here at St. Bart's and have found there lives transformed. Some in a subtle way and for others more dramatic, but all found the experience positive!

For Full Testimonies...Click Here

If You are interested, please sign up on the list at the back of the church on the left hand side or phone the parish office, so we can make sure there are enough books to go around (if you can't decide whether to come or not and want to leave it to the last minute...you can do that too!)