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?

I'm off for the Alpha day tomorrow. I mentioned to the people running ours that I'd rather do an intense day than the 2 separate evening sessions they were planning and they hooked me up with another church. :)

Hi all

Lurking on this thread as am planning to do Alpha in January. Finding all of your chat about what's happening interesting as am slightly frightened of course. Really looking forward to it as have become a bit drawn towards all of this recently and am starting to lurk in churches

Have looked at places that seem to do course on the internet and really unsure WHERE to do it - seems to be so much choice (although a bit unclear at this point which ones will actually do it in January) - any ideas on how best to choose?

One thing that occured to me today. Did the Alpha course miss out an important step at the beginning? It seemed to start from an assumption that you believed that there was a God. Everything from the on depends on this assumption. This week we did the guidance one. It assumed God existed and that there was no need to doubt this.

Just realised I never did post about the Alpha weekend!! I couldn't make the Friday evening (our course ran from Friday 6pm til Sunday 3pm) so arrived early Saturday morning. As our resident guest speaker for the weekend, we had one of the young guys, only 25, who works for and sometimes preaches in church and who is also studying for his Masters in Theology. He is the leader of the music team and a fantastic guitarist as well as being good fun, so this boded well for the weekend

Each session began with prayer and as it was the Holy Spirit weekend, there were specific prayers that God's HS might come amongst us and help us as we further explored this section of Alpha. I was a bit sceptical about this section as I knew it was the part where we talked about speaking in tongues as well as other things and I've never been sure about this. There were loads of Biblical references to the gifts the HS gave and at first I was quite frustrated, thinking "instead of showing us where in the Bible these things happened, just tell us what it means!! Why is there any benefit to speaking a made up language when talking to God? Isn't it all a bit silly?"

But actually, as the weekend progressed, it did all seem to fall into place and many of my initial questions were answered. The Sunday was quite intense and emotional with an opportunity at the end to go to the Elders leading the course, to be prayed for, to confess anything privately that may be holding us back in our journey and ultimately, if we chose, to 'give ourselves to Christ'. Perhaps other people have experienced a less intense weekend but I guess the way the course goes is largely dictated by the group of individuals taking part. The leaders said that every Alpha was different and they have run dozens of courses.

The place where we went was a bit like a Centre Parks and we had loads of time to walk, to sit on our own or to chat in small groups as well as lots of eating (!!) and playing silly board games on the Saturday night. It was great to see a different side to everyone. For me, the chance to be still, to read more about Christianity, to have time to stop and really think, was a very important aspect of the weekend.

Sorry for the 'megapost' and hope everyone else has such a positive weekend/day away

Do you have to pay to do an alpha course?

Is it based on an evangelical model or is it another sort of Christianity?

Hope you don't mind me asking.. I grew up in the Catholic church and am very sceptical given the way I was taught.

Not to say I don't believe in God but I worry about other humans promoting something in this way and what they get out of it...being honest, hope not to offend.

Willowfae - yes you are absolutely right, it's one of the things I dislike about the Alpha / Nicky Gumbel material, and brings me back to the point I made early on in the thread about how I found his arguments paper-thin and unconvincing for anyone who wasn't already prepared to believe or who hadn't already accepted that there is a 'God'.

Again, I recommend CS Lewis (Mere Christianity in particular) and there are a number of books around specifically addressing the recent rise in Dawkins-style atheism (for want of a better way to describe it). I haven't read any of them so can't recommend a particular one but Amazon reviews are usually very helpful!

Oxo - glad you enjoyed your weekend :)

Constance, the Alpha course is free. In my group are asked to contribute something occasionally to the dinner (I enjoy cooking so I've cooked several times) and if you can, you are asked to contribute towards the cost of the weekend away. There were a few people on my course who were not able to do this which was no problem at all.

"Not to say I don't believe in God but I worry about other humans promoting something in this way" - am not at all offended but am puzzled! If you do not come to know religion through your upbringing, then how else are you supposed to learn about Christianity, or any faith for that matter, other than through other humans?

MrsC - I have Mere Christianity and am finding it very interesting and much more convincing than NG

Thanks for answering my questions, Oxo

It isn't so much the learning about Christianity, or God, or any of it - it's the active promotion of it.

I suppose I feel the same about evangelism. I just don't get why it is important to OTHER people that I believe in God, iyswim.

Oxo, thanks for your description of your weekend. Sounds great. so pleased things fell into place for you. As for tongues etc if you ever want to discuss it please do say but sounds like you got some good teaching :)

Constance...I suppose it's so important to me that others believe because it's not just about a nice little club, but a life transforming power that makes such a huge difference, and not only in this life. The only thing I can liken it to is a scenario like this: If you saw a child drowning, would you stand around saying 'well I can't invade their personal space, they'll save themselves if they want to, no good putting myself forward' or would you go and try to rescue them? No brainer really. However, I do take issue with the way christianity is pushed sometimes, shoving it at people is not right...alpha doesn't do that because people know why they are there and it is voluntary. I like to live life in such a way that it is a witness to what I believe, and talk about it if it is suitable / I am invited to. Do you sort of see what I mean??

Thanks, Madhairday. I sort of get your point, I think, but it seems to stand on the basis that others are 'drowning' unless they join the church you attend and start to live in the way you do - I'm not altogether sure what the lifestyle is, or what behaviour/belief etc is required in order to be 'saved' but I feel a bit uncomfortable at the idea that unless I attend the same church as these people, profess certain things, believe certain things, I am doomed...

do you see what I mean? Is that what you believe?

Hi Constance. No I certainly don't believe people have to attend the same church as me or even any church. Can't even imagine how hideous it would be for everyone to be walking round moulded to a certain denomination/way of doing it. Variety is the spice and all that.

However I do believe that having faith in Jesus brings us into relationship with God, and that does bring about changes in lifestyle. Certainly not saying that those without faith aren't good people. Far from it - I know many atheists far nicer than some so called christians. But living in the reality of this relationships starts to change you. In a good way, an exciting way. It's not about rules and regulations, however much it can look that way. It's about freedom.

Madhair, you said that much better than I could have ever hoped to (but then I am a 'young Christian' )

I can see that that is potentially a really good thing.

I think I am just sceptical of other people trying to convince me to be a certain way.

There seems to be a lot more to the Alpha course than simply helping people to believe in God and start to live in a Godly kind of way though - it seems a bit more like 'tricks', the speaking in tongues and all that - bit too gimmicky for me really.

Each to their own though. Thankyou for trying to explain, I do understand what is good about living in the right way and so on.

Ifyourehappy - I lurked for a good while on Mumsnet and visited a fair few local churches before deciding to take the plunge. When it came to deciding which Alpha course to go on, I went for the course at the church I thought I would be most likely to attend long-term - I had enjoyed the services and I liked the vicar and curates.

I hope you are finding the thread useful - if you have any other questions, do ask , although I can't promise I will be able to answer them (but I'm sure someone else will)

Constance39 - you may want to think about visiting different churches from different denominations. Whilst some churches have people talking in tounges at every service at others it is very, very unusual indeed (if not unheard of). I felt a little bit similar to you when I did an enquirers course some years ago at a church where it seemed as though everyone was talking in tounges all the time. Now I attend a more traditional style of church and feel much more comfortable. I don't think one is right or wrong, it just depends on what is best for that individual.

Hi Oxo - Thanks for the post on your weekend, I'm glad it was a positive experience for you.

Like you said, it is a very intense day isn't it? I had my day yesterday - I was jealous when I read yours was spread over a whole weekend - my day was great, but I was left wanting more at the end. The opportunity to take time out and focus properly on my faith was fantastic.

I did struggle a bit with the 'speaking in tongues' part, but I was happy with their reinforcement that it is not necessarily a gift every Christian has and it doesn't make us second-rate Christians if we don't.

I found the 'Holy Spirit' part very emotional - it started off with the vicar praying for us and asking us all to be filled with the holy spirit (we were all standing with our hands out before us), there was then a period of quiet, followed by members of the prayer group circulating around the room and praying for us - I found this part v emotional, within seconds of someone touching my shoulder and praying for me I experienced the most amazing feeling of peace and warmth through my entire body - the music minister then starting singing and playing the guitar in the background and I remained in this state for probably 10mins (could have been longer, totally lost track of time), at the end I realised I was crying. For the rest of the day (and today, now I think about it) I felt v different and from time to time continued to experience the same peace/warmth feeling going through me. What I am finding hard to understand is how everyones experience in my group was different - what does that mean?

A couple of people in my group really struggled with the day - I tried to help and reassure one of them, I was surprised as I thought her faith had seemed stronger than mine. I was quite touched this morning in church as she came and sat down next to me (she doesn't normally attend my church) and we both had a lovely chat with my vicar at the end.

I'm really looking forward to Tuesday - it can't come soon enough for me - I'm feeling quite a bond with my group and I don't want it to come to an end . Apparently, they do a follow-on course in the new year for anyone wants to continue, a further 4 weeks and following that they create home groups. So I am glad there is not necessarily an end to the whole experience - although we have been warned there is no supper at the follow-on just coffee and cake

Crumbs, I'm rambling aren't I , I'm finding it hard to express how different and amazing I feel.

How did you get on Willowfae?

Thanks NewBeliever, I have been looking at different churches and trying to work out what would suit me. Ultimately will be guided by a good friend who is going with me who has done it before. Slightly concerned that he will go for something less traditional than me but will still let him guide me I think.

Hoping there will be plenty to choose from for Jan - most are currently just showing Sept still.

thanks, Jaffacake.

I've been to a few in the past. Nowadays I prefer not to worship collectively at all.

It's as though the humans and their rituals and robes and stuff get in the way of the real thing...iyswim.

It's hard to explain.

Constance, obviously its up to you whether/how you chose to worship but I would just say that finding a church I feel at home in has really changed me in such a positive way. My church is young and modern in style, there are no robes or rituals and I find the sermons very relevant to me and modern day life in general.

Yesterday we started a new series of sermons which looks into hypocrisy in Christianity and asks 'are we really who we say we are'. Whilst all the teaching is scripture based, the pastor and guest pastors from other churches always relate things to our lives today and stress very strongly that it is not enough to come to church every Sunday and then forget about the Gospel for the next 6 days. My church also reaches out to the wider community and offers practical help to those in need which I love.

Another thing they talked about yesterday was responsibility, as friends, as parents, as members of the church - that we ARE the church and that outsiders will look to us to really live as Christians not just pay lip service.

Anyway, sorry if I have gone on a bit - I am rather enthusiastic about my new 'family'

NB, your day sounds amazing

Its hard to explain to others sometimes how changed I feel and I'm guessing you feel the same. The follow on course sounds interesting - most of the people from the last Alpha run by my church have gone on to study a 'Beta Course' (maybe this is the same as you course/) looking at certain aspects of Christianity and Faith in more depth. Don't think I'll do this though as I already find it such a rush on a Wednesday evening. I am going to follow a daytime one on one course though with one of the Alpha leaders all about letting go of worries, things we have done in our lives which we find are holding us back in our Faith. I have quite a list

Hi newbeliever

I'm so glad you had such a good experience on the away day. You express worry about the fact that people experience the HS in different ways or even not at all. From my experience I have always found that God touches people in the way that is right for them at that time. For you it was the peaceful, lovely feeling you describe, for some it is more dramatic, for some very physical, for some more cerebral. We are all wired so differently, therefore experience God in various ways.

It's brilliant that you were able to reassure this person who was struggling. In a sense you were being God to her - reaching out with his presence which you were experiencing in such a full measure. It is a mystery how God works, and I'll freely admit there are times I struggle and feel like there's a brick wall there. But somehow God comes through :) Keep holding on to the gift you were given.

As for tongues - Constance I had to smile a little bit when you said about tongues being a bit gimmicky, or like a trick. I would hope that if we Christians were going to come up with a gimmick we would choose something altogether less seemingly bonkers As a trick to get people to join in it would do very poorly, I fear. However I and many others (but certainly not all christians, would never say that) experience this gift as a love language to bring us closer to God, to express things in the depths of our spirit that we can't seem to find words for. I find it a very gentle thing rather than an aggressive shouting type of thing which unfortunately some of the more exuberant of our brethren express it as. It's wonderful though how God works. My friend was speaking quietly in this language and the man next to her couldn't believe it, she was saying things in his language which was a remote spanish dialect, she couldn't even speak spanish. It was words of encouragement and praise. Awesome.

All I'm trying to do here is say don't be scared of the tongues thing. I'm aware it can look like so much bunkum but it can be a deep and fulfilling way of intimacy with God.

Oxo - I do feel the same it's so strange because I feel like I've been taking these little steps over the last few weeks, but at the weekend I took a huge leap. I have also been very conscious that I have felt different since, even sitting here now typing this message, I can feel His presence - I sound bonkers don't I? - I've surprised myself over the last week. If you had said to me a year ago that I would be a committed Christian and would enjoy going to church, attending the Alpha course and reading the Bible/praying daily I would never have believed it.

Does this enthusiam die down after a bit? it feels a bit all-consuming at the moment (in a good way).

Not sure what the 'after Alpha' course is called, I'll find out tonight. Hope you have a good evening tomorrow. Looking forward to a nice supper this evening - last week was sausage casserole/jacket pot and veggies.

Madhair - thank you so much for you lovely post, it's great to feel supported and that what I am experiencing is normal. I am still feeling very emotional - is that normal too . I was v teary at church on sunday - everything seemed to mean so much more, the words in the songs, the reading, sermon etc everything was making me cry! Not in a sad way, aarghh it so hard to articulate. Even thinking about it all now makes me feel emotional, what's happened to me?

Also, would really appreciate any words of advice on how to discuss this with DP - he has been supporting me going to church, but he really doesn't understand what a journey I have been on and how much being a Christian means to me now. He is very at the moment. I am praying for him that he too will become a Christian, but I think that is a long way off at the moment. Words of advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ifyourehappy - I was from a very traditional church upbringing and never saw myself enjoying a more contemporary service. I used to cringe even during The Peace at my old traditional church. However, I stuck it out at my new church (because my children were enjoying Sunday Youth so much) and it kind of grew on me - a bit like Oxo said - give it a try you may surprise yourself, like me

NB I am smiling and in tears reading your post because you describe exactly how I feel!! I guess they don't call it 'born again' for nothing. I feel my life is completely changed and am really amazed that everyone else can't see it - I almost expect people to come up to me and say "Wow, look at you, filled with the Holy Spirit huh?"

I hope this enthusiasm remains though as I have so much happiness now (although I do feel I need to expand my reading outside the Bible and other religious texts as I'm getting a bit out of touch with current literature!!)

My husband also does not believe but is becoming increasingly supportive (I feel) of my Faith, perhaps as he sees it has brought more happiness and a calmer atmosphere to our home and also perhaps because he sees it as something non-threatening. I am going by the Biblical quotation which asks Christians to lead by example rather than trying to convince him through doctrine. And praying, of course

Like NB, I would also like to thank everyone who is not following the alpha at the moment but who has taken the time to post and offer advice and encouragement. Its so supportive of you. And to Newbeliever, I cry every Sunday in church. I've kind of accepted it and go prepared with extra tissues

WOW, thank you so much for sharing this all!!

NB you have made me teary reading your post. - in a nice way!!

OXO thank you for sharing too.

I am sooooo pleased for both of you. Firstly NB, it will wear off a little, but you never want to forget how you feel right now and you will always want to have it back (you will have times of being really close to God and other times of not being so close, its all natural.) Enjoy it all and soak it all in.

Dont worry about your hubbys. The change in yourselves will be the very best witness. I have shared before with you about my DH and how far away he was for the first 10 years of our marriage. One huge turning point for him was after i had really been praying hard for him, then one evening he sat and totally out of the blue said something that truly could have ended our marriage. I remember having a real moment of realisation that the way I reacted was going to be so significant, not just for our marriage, but for him. Before i opened my mouth to respond I prayed that God would give me the words to say and show me how to react. I had a real feeling of total peace and was able to respond in a way that was totally, totally beyond how I would EVER react normally. DH says that my reaction convinced him that there was something in all this "God stuff"!! Just keep praying for them, show them how God has changed your lives and softly softly they will "get it".

Sorry, waffling now!!

Apologies for not being around a lot, I have a bit of RL taking every ounce of my energy at the moment.

It has been a real privilege to hear how you have been getting along these past weeks. Keep it up!!
God is good!!!

PA has said it all. It's actually made me all teary (in a good way) reading your posts Oxo and Newbeliever, and how you are experiencing your lives being transformed in such a real way, not just in a theoretical way. it's what it's all about :) So thrilled for you.

As for that first flush of love feeling, like PA says it can ebb and flow a bit, but in my experience I have been able to grab hold of it again and again through very many years. Sometimes I feel far from God yet know he is close, others have a sense of his presence in this huge way that is still all consuming. It's something that just can't be described unless it's been experienced. It's fab isn't it - like PA says just soak it all in and revel in it. It's God showing his overwhelming love for you.

I can't imagine how difficult it is to have OHs who don't believe or evn more who are against your beliefs. A friend of mine (who has just finished my seekers course) is experiencing this at the moment, with her dh uutterly opposed and sceptical. I have said to her much the same as PA has said, that it is her witness that will make a difference in the way she lives, and sometimes trying to get through with words isn't the best thing. She then described how she had surprised him by being able to forgive something. This is so where it's at. Be encouraged and hang in there, and pray for them, apply that consuming new faith to intercession and see what happens. It may not be that you get the 'answer' you want straight away or even for years or ever, but you'll see what difference prayer makes, the spiritual affecting the physical. I've been prayed for for all my life for healing from a chronic disease but it has never happened, but I am utterly convinced God walks with me in the pain.

Oooh I am waffling. Just very excited for you and feel so priveleged to share your journey a little :)