Alpha - anyone starting the course this Autumn?

[newbeliever]

Hi everyone, I mentioned on another thread about starting a thread for Alpha newbies.

I have signed up to do the course this Autumn, starts Tuesday, 28th September. Was quite surprised when I rang the parish office, there are about 40 people on the course - and it's for 3 hours each week - I was thinking 2 hours max! They start the evening off with dinner and drinks before moving onto the topic for the week. How do your churches run the course?

Thought it would be nice to share our thoughts each week in a safe place - I'm worried about not knowing what to say or just not understanding the topic so would be good to have some fellow MNr's on the journey too.

Anyone else want to join me?

Hi Oxo - I haven't done Alpha but have read some of NG's material and felt much the same as you about banality!

But God IS interested in the small things in our lives as much as the big. It's no coincidence that I became a Christian when I becames a parent as this is primarily how I view the large part of my relationship with God - He is my parent, I am his child. If one of my own children were severely ill, would I stop being interested in how another of my children got on with his spelling test at school? Or that he had had a minor scuffle with his friend? God is the same and much much more - the extreme need and suffering of one of His children doesn't diminish His interest and concern over the 'lesser' worries of another.

As for 'signs' - you'll find them if you look for them a bit like how you can make a horroscope in the newspaper applicable to yourself if you try hard! That's not to say that God doesn't 'speak' to us through the words and actions of others, by drawing our attention to things etc (many people call these things 'Godinceidences', which I like! A sort of God-inspired coincidence :) Was it God, or coincidence? If the result is to draw you closer to God, does it matter?)

AS for God not being a mind reader sorry, but that really tickles me! He doesn't need to read our minds IMO because he is already withing them. He knows our every want and need before we do! So from that point of view, I agree that you don't NEED to pray to ask for things - God already knows your needs. BUT the crucial point is that he wants a relationship with you. He wants to talk and communicate. He wants to be engaged with you in the process of your life. Again, to use another parent / child example: I try to ensure that my kids have a piece of fruit when they come home from school. I know they need fruit because they won't have had much during the day and if I give them a biscuit first then they won't eat the fruit. But I always ask what kind of fruit they would like - not just because it might be different from yesterday and the day before, but because it's part of our relationship. A habit and a part of our routine when they get home. They like and expect me to ask and I want to have that conversation with them.

Does that make any sense?!

As for not deserving things..... it's very easy to feel like that! Can I recommend another book I love? It's Philip Yancey's 'What so Amazing About Grace'. It's a lovely, inspiring, comforting book.

And like MHD says - keep questioning!

Oh thanks everyone for replying! MrsC, what an interesting post. Although I very much feel the parent and child relationship with God, I think you illustrate it beautifully. Madhair, the parking space/sick child analogy is exactly how I feel and I do feel its right to question - part of the uneasiness I'm getting comes from the fact that my course leaders seem to imply that its fine to question ..... as long as you come round to their way of thinking in the end Plus the fact that I'm often the only one who does question anything!!!

Will google the book, thanks!

Okay, big stumbling block this week. It was the one on prayer. The guy on our course who is a recent convert was telling us about how his prayers have been answered, including when he prayed to catch a fish having had a day of totally unsuccessful fishing and within a couple of minutes he had caught one.

Now, of course my reaction is that it is a coincidence. Doesn't mean it was an answer to a prayer.

We had a discussion on how I'm very analytical and (with my academic hat on) want the evidence. I'm reading 'The Case for Christ' at the moment but even with this I'm getting frustrated because all of the academics interviewed in it are Christian and there isn't any one contradicting or questioning the evidence.

Think this is a big stumbling block I need to overcome. :(

Willow, that was the week which I found hard (see earlier post). Basically, although I am enjoying Alpha and learning a lot, I am beginning to think that NG and his course portrays one aspect of Christianity. Although I love being surrounded by like-minded people, I do think it simply comes down to Faith. He talks about 'irrefutable facts' which I sometimes find difficult to accept.

I find myself questioning Nicky Gumbel a lot. I think it is easy to give one side of any argument by only giving one side of the evidence which he seems to do. Strangely though, although I often feel a bit at the stuff he says in his course, my Faith in God grows stronger. Can't explain it really.

Oxo, that's great that you feel your faith is growing. I do feel it is vital to question, if not we'd be Nicky Gumbel-ians rather than Christians, and I dread to think what that would look like
However I do agree with some of his stuff - just not others. And that is healthy. No one person is going to have all the answers, and we need to find the answers that sit right with us, and that deepen our faith. I always say that as long as we agree on the fundamental aspects all the fluffery doesn't really matter a great deal. And you're right, NG does portray a certain flavour, and there are plenty of others out there who bring different aspects. I love the breadth of Christianity.
Willow, I can understand your difficulty on the prayer topic as well. When we hear such stories it's easy to think they may be coincidence - I often have that reaction myself. However I have seen and heard of answers to prayer that are beyond coincidence, and remain convinced God answers prayers - but not always how we would hope or think of as being the best way. 'For his thoughts are higher than ours, his ways are higher than our ways.' It's a bit of a mystery - and cannot be proven. Frustrating isn't it!

Hi PA and Newbeliever (and everyone else on this thread!!) How did your Alpha weeks go last week? Last week I had the module on 'How and why we should read the Bible?' which was more interesting than I thought it was going to be . Our course leaders gave us a handout showing a way to read the Bible in a year, with a certain piece of Scripture to read each day. I have kept up so far and am finding that my actual knowledge of the Bible was very sketchy indeed!!!

Tonight is a section called 'How Does God Guide Us?' which I think I will find v interesting. And then on Friday its the weekend away (which I actually thought was NEXT weekend so I was a bit taken by surprise!!). Hope the weather picks up as the place we are going to is a bit like a Centre Parcs with lots of nice walks but its rainy and miserable here at the moment.

Am finding the whole course worthwhile overall. What about everyone else? I must say one of the things I am coming to love about it is the sense of belonging, of knowing I am loved and prayed for, by people who really hardly know me at all. It feels very special in a world which can sometimes seem (to me at least) so materialistic and self-obsessed.

Hi Oxo,

Hope it went well this week.
That Bible in the year is a bit tough going. for the past 5 years I have done it alternate years and have really enjoyed it, but have also struggled at times. Which one are you doing? Some do Old testament/new testament and a bit of Psalms each day, others just start at the beginning and go right through, and my favourite is the Chronological one. Dont worry if you miss a day, just pick up the next. Dont beat yourself up, or it becomes a chore and you will just read for readings sake, IYSWIM.

Really pleased you are enjoying the course and you sound as if you have really moved on in your faith. Will be praying for you to have a really good time away. When do you come back?

Hope you are going on ok Willow and New believer

Have a great time on the weekend away Oxo, will look forward to hearing about it and will also pray for you :)

PA, the 'Bible in a year' is the first one you describe which has OT, NT, Psalms, bit of Prophesy, bit of History etc . I'm actually finding it very manageable as its only 10 - 15 minutes or so reading a day (but a lot of thinking about it afterwards!)

Thanks PA and Madhair for the prayers for the Alpha weekend. I'm looking forward to it and interested to see what will come up in discussions. Am off to bake for the weekend now - cookies, brownies and a carrot cake!!

How are you both getting on Willow and New believer? Although I have no problem praying now (got over my hurdle of asking God for specifics!!), I'm finding one of the hardest things at the moment is to let my mind be still and quiet and actually listen to what God might have to say to me. I always seem to drift off into thinking about the shopping list or what time the kids need picking up etc

So do I Oxo.

Me too Oxo!

In fact my inability to focus my mind on any one thing (and therefore leading to an inability to pray ) lead me to pick up a book in the library last week called 'Quiet Your Mind' by John Selby. It's not a 'religious' book but a kind of practical 'how to' guide based on cognitive behavioural techniques (he is a psychologist) and meditative techniques, both designed to stop the constant flow of thoughts and enable you to better appreciate the 'here and now' of the physical and spiritual world.

I've found it really helpful - I've read so many prayer guides that tell me to find a routine / quiet time of day and to empty my mind of other thoughts etc.... and I always end up thinking 'Ok, but HOW????!' so this book has really helped in a very practical way, not just for prayer, but for general life-enjoyment :)

A bit off tangent, but I thought I'd mention it

Hope the weekend is good.

hmmmmmm MrsC, interesting. I have tried focussing on nothing (impossible for me), tried something like a star (easier but still I waver after 10 seconds or so), tried a simple mantra (not working either!).

A couple of days ago, I was 'listening' so hard that I fell asleep - was in bed at the time. I was asking God to give me a sign that he could hear my prayers. I told the Alpha leaders and they laughed and said that God probably came to the conclusion that sleep was what I needed!! Funnily enough, I am a v poor sleeper but have slept very well for the last few weeks. Despite enormous personal and financial stress at the moment, I do feel at peace. Perhaps God has given me a sign after all

Thanks for the prayers and good wishes everyone and will let you know how the weekend goes.

Oxo that tends to be my response to 'prayer' too As I've said before, though, I reckon God has all my matters in hand whether or not I am praying them 'properly' but, boy, would I like a bit more of an active relationship! It's a bit like my relationship with my OH actually - any attempts to relax and enjoy being with each other usually ends with both of us snoring on the sofa Hey ho

Very funny MrsC . I guess we just have to keep trying ..........

Oh yes another one here who finds it hard to focus and often drifts off while 'listening'. I like the term 'soaking' for that - soaking in God's presence - you don't always need to be actively praying or hearing, and sometimes sleep results and can be very healing.

Focussing is not something that just happens. Has to be worked at and even then easy to find yourself thinking about your to do list/next year's holiday/your neighbours attitude etc etc! I just have to pull myself back. Sometimes find an Ignatian reading (where you put yourself in the situation, hear the sounds, smell the smells etc etc) can be helpful, other times put on worship songs on my mp3 which can help focus. No failsafe way though, unfortunately. But hey - God gets it. God knows what it is like for us. Probably laughs along with us about it all :)

Just thought I'd say hello, I'm doing the Alpha course in Sydney, but we seem to be on the same schedule! I only moved to Australia in July and although I went to church when I was a teenager and always felt God was "there" I wouldn't call myself a committed Christian. So I kind of decided before we got here I would start trying to find God again.

The church I've started going to is Anglican and there are lots of people my age there (I'm 31), and the Alpha course has been good because i can relate to people there. They have divided us up into 2 groups (about 10 in each) and seem to have done it by age because the other group has all the older people in it. Reading that back sounds bad, but I'm finding the discussions are a lot easier because we all have a lot in common if that makes sense.

My DH is kind of interested and since I've started he thinks he might join the next one.

I think I'm waiting for some kind of "thunderbolt" moment when I find God and this course has helped me see that its not always like that.

Re the bible, a girl leading a course works for the Bible Society and she has recommended a Quest bible, which is a study bible, so I'm going to try and get one this weekend.

Hi Livinginoz and welcome! What 'week' are you on?

Hi Oxo,

Just trying to count and failing! But we did the bible on Thursday! Its the weekend away next weekend which they said is going to be a lot about the holy spirit.

Hi everyone and welcome Livinginoz - sorry for going AWOL for a bit - had a hectic couple of days leading up to half-term and have been away the last week - has been lovely spending time with the DCs although the weather hasn't been great.

Has been really interesting catching up on all the threads, especially the ones relating to prayer - I enjoyed the Alpha week on prayer and found that everything was starting to make sense, however, with a week off and almost two weeks since I last went to church I am feeling a bit detached from it all - I'm looking forward to going to church tomorrow and re-connecting. Does everyone else feel like that if they miss a Sunday at church?

My next session is on how to read the bible and the 'away' day is next weekend.

Oxo - hope you weekend goes well, I'll look forward to hearing how you get on.

Willowfae - how are you getting on, hope the small group thing isn't such an issue for you now.

Livinginoz - sounds like we are on the same schedule, we'll have to compare notes next week.

ps Just had phone call from my husband who I 'encouraged' to go and help at church today with the yearly sort-out of the gardens/grounds - just had a call from him to say that it has been a good morning and got lots done but he had to sneak off for a bit because they got the guitars out. Really felt for him as he is new to all this but it did make me smile

I know what you mean newbeliever about looking forward to going to church if you've been away for a week or two. It's not that I feel I'm distant from God, just that I like meeting up with other people to worship and find I gain a lot from the sermon. I think we can also gain a lot of strength and encouragement from each other when we meet as a group. My singing is not up to much either and so I enjoy that aspect of going to church too!

Sounds as though your husband had fun yesterday!

at the guitar strumming Christians putting your DH off! I would probably run a mile, too!!

Oxo hope the weekend was good.

Oh no ..... the guitar strumming Christians and their fabulous music are one of the things I love about my church

Will post later about the Alpha weekend as I have to take the dog out now, but I will briefly say that it was very positive and an important part of the Alpha course. It was also a lot of fun getting to know people better in a different setting, playing games, singing (!) It was very emotional and at the same time, joyful. More later and nice to see you back PA and NB

Looking forward to hearing about the weekend Oxo :)

My dh is one of those guitar types He's pretty cool though with it....I love it all too, not in a seventies folksy way but love contemporary worship.

Newbeliever, yes I often feel that way if I've been disconnected for a while and need to get back into Gods presence and talk with others. It's good to feel this way and know what you need. :)

Hi livinginoz :)

NB I know just how you feel about missing church and feeling a bit out of it!

I feel I have really changed as a person and I don't really want to be around many of the people I used to socialise with (not my good friends you understand, but people I would meet at a party or similar). This is not a reflection on those people as many of them are fantastic, but I feel as if my life has taken a different direction

However, I DO want to be with my family and with other Christians who understand this new passion I feel. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Glad I'm not the only one to miss church and that my feelings are normal.

It didn't get better for my poor DH this weekend - our church service on Sunday was all about prayer and our vicar had set up 6 'prayer stations' around the church which people could visit during the hymn or afterwards (cue more guitar playing). Now I felt a little uncomfortable (but not as much as I would have been had I not just covered 'prayer' on the Alpha course) but my poor DH just didn't know what to do. This is all new for both of us (new vicar has a more modern style)- I just hope it hasn't put him off returning next week. I used to be a bit about the guitar music too, but now quite enjoy it .

Oxo - glad your weekend went well, I know what you mean about socialising, I'm finding I need to spend more time around Christians as it encourages and supports my faith - I'm already thinking beyond Alpha that I may join a prayer group at church as I'm realising that I need that focus in the week as well as on a Sunday.

Jaffacake, PA and Madhair - thanks for still looking in on us, it's great to receive your feedback and support.

Got Alpha tomorrow - already wondering what food will be on the menu