Post Alpha thread . . . .

[newbeliever]

Hi everyone

Happy New Year!

Here's the new thread for all of us continuing our journey of faith following the Alpha course. My 'Moving on' course starts on 11th January - I've really missed my Alpha group over the Christmas break - it's been lovely attending the Christmas services, especially as they held so much more meaning for me this year - but I do need my weekly group meet too! The 11th can't come soon enough for me

Really hope that our 'regulars' will continue to provide their fantastic advice and guidance.

Also, anyone attending Alpha in the New Year, do join in too.

I'll attempt to do a link from the old thread so we don't miss anyone. Look forward to hearing you all

Thanks Newbeliever. Marking my spot on here.

Happy New Year everyone! Thanks NB for remembering

And PA, you are a star! Looking forward to reading and sharing my thoughts with you!

Blessings, love and happiness to you all x

Thanks NB. Also marking my spot and looking forward to further sharing the journey. My seekers course part 2 starts in a couple of weeks :)

My Beta course starts middle of January and my Alpha helpers training is in about two weeks

Hi all - I lurked a bit on the old thread and if it is OK I'd like to be a lurker on this one too! I find it really encouraging to read how God is working in your lives.

I'm curious to know, having never done an Alpha course, do all the groups watch Nicky Gumbel videos? Even just once?

(because I find him freaky )

Mary me too!

Also bookmarking the thread.

Hi Mary and MrsC Not all the alpha groups see the NG videos. In our groups we do tend to watch him (I find him a bit weird and irritating, but I dont go so far to say he is freaky, ), but a lot of groups have someone do the talks themselves, just using the same materials.

Marking my spot too!

We watched NG and we are in Sydney! I quite like him

We don't seem to have a follow on course but do have dozens of home groups so I'm joining one of those next Tuesday.

My DH is thinking of doing Alpha, so I'm praying he does, think it would be easier for me if he does, although that is v selfish of me.

baggsying the comfy beanbag in the corner :D

How are you doing Willow ? Have been wondering how you were. :)

I think some Alpha courses have the NG videos and some have leaders doing the talks themselves. But all have discussion after the talk so it isn't all NG.

Lovely to see you all back

Willow - I'm baggsying the comfy beanbag in the other corner

Mary - my Alpha course didn't use the Nicky Gumbel videos at all. I was curious though, so ended up looking at a couple on them on Youtube - not sure his style is for me either

I'm sure you'd find a local church that didn't use them if that's what you'd prefer. The course that I went on used a variety of speakers each week - and made use of videos and music to illustrate points. We'd also have a testimonial and a book review each week and following the 'holy spirit' week there would also be 15mins of worship.

Livinginoz - lovely to hear from you, great that your DH is considering doing the course, think my DH is a looonnng way off. Will be interested to hear how your home group goes - I've never belonged to one before but also plan to join one once the 'moving on' course finishes in Feb.

PA - I start my new job the week after next - I'm meeting up with his old PA next week for a coffee. Any questions I should be asking her!?!

NewBeliever, I would just take your lead from the old PA. When I took over here the old PA went onto great detail about how the minister liked to take his coffee (a little milk, very strong and 2 sugars!) I was even taken to the kitchen to "practice", then I was given a rundown of When he liked said coffee!!! B**er that for a game of soldiers!!! (I think I even told the minister that on about day 2 He laughed and said it was refreshing to have someone who said what they thought, which was good because I was seriously thinking I was in the wrong job if that was what was soooooo important!!) If I was handing over to someone I would just run through what I do on a day to day basis and where everything is etc. Perhaps a list of contacts for different areas would be good for you, especially where you dont know everyone in that church. Ie: who to call in emergency, who is in charge of different areas of churchlife.

Lovely to see you back Willow and welcome to LIOz and MM

Curled up in the corner of the comfy sofa here

Had a FABULOUS morning in church. Wonderful sermon from one of my favourite preachers. Stayed until past 1pm chatting with others in church who I feel are now almost like my family. I feel so incredibly blessed

newbeliever, think I'm a bit beyond Alpha now, but I've always been curious about the course! Incidently, the nearest church which runs Alpha, I have disability issues with (more concerned with the 99 than the 1 lost sheep), so wouldn't go there anyway!

We sometimes run Emmaus courses, which make good follow-up discipleship courses.

I'm looking at alternative follow up courses Mary, have you got any info you can send me on Emmaus? Have written my own follow up course but keen to include different material. Starting next week so should get my act sorted!!

Emmaus

I've done Emmaus too (twice!) and also found it very good. A lady at my church described Alpha as being very 'wooo-hooo!' whereas Emmaus is more 'Hmmmmm......' I knew exactly what she meant! Emmaus is (in my opinion) a much 'quieter' and less dogmatic course than Alpha - it suited me very well.

Emmaus also has different stages, contact, nurture and growth. If its post-Alpha, would move onto nurture. Its good because each module is self-contained so you can choose what modules you want to do (each module is about 4-6 sessions).

That does look good Mary, that sort of thing is what my group is responding to. will have a further look into it.

Hi Oxo, has anything arrived yet? Slightly worried it is lost in the post.

PA, I just logged on to send you a thank you on a separate thread but saw your message on this one! YES, it arrived today (thank you sooo much) along with a delicious surprise! Cadbury's is one of the things we can't get here in Holland

I am so touched by your kindness. Bless you and I'll start the book tonight and let you know what I think. Maybe we could start a Christian books thread

My pleasure!! I have a few friends in France and Belgium and they cannot get "proper" chocolate, so I always add an extra into parcels that go abroad!

I think a Christian Book thread could be really good. There's a lot of variety out there.

When I first picked up "the Purpose Driven life" I was tempted to jump in with both feet and found that the first time I read it, I wanted to carry onto day 2 and day 3.... DONT!! You will get more out of it by disciplining yourself and taking it one step at a time, one day at a time.

I hope you find it as challenging and inspirational as I did.

After I had done it myself our church did it as a whole, which was really powerful, to have 250 people doing it at the same time.

Happy reading!

How are the new courses going? Or maybe they start this week, dont they?

Mine starts next week! Our church is currently taking part in something called Awake Wonder if anyone else is involved in the same?

I don't know anyone doing a complete fast - most people I know are giving up something they enjoy such as wine, television, cakes, biscuits etc. A church friend of mine is missing lunch every day and she and her husband are spending that time in prayer. I have family staying with me until Friday so it would be quite difficult to miss meals and they would think I was a total fruitcake anyway!

I met with one of the church elders yesterday and talked to her about my reservations regarding the Freedom in Christ book we were supposed to study. In the end, we left the book and just talked and prayed which I felt was very helpful and (the prayer) powerful. Will resist the urge to rush through the book, just like you describe, and take it one day at a time. Looking forward to discussing it on here