Alpha IntroductionAs of 2016, over 29 million people worldwide, from every walk of life, have already been on an Alpha course. We sincerely hope you will join our group as together we explore the meaning of life.
Who is Alpha for? Everyone is welcome to the Alpha course. 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 also 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. What is Alpha? Alpha is a ten-week opportunity to explore the validity and relevance of the Christian faith for our lives today. It is a practical introduction to the basics of Christianity with loads of opportunity for discussion. The style of Alpha is informal, friendly and non-pressured - a style which seems to be appreciated in Canadian culture. Each week people meet together for a meal, a talk on topics such as "Who is Jesus?", "Why Did Jesus Die?", "How Can I be Sure of My Faith?", and "Does God Still Heal Today?", followed by small group interaction. There is a day or weekend retreat midway through the course, which focuses on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Churches of every different type and background, including Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Pentecostal, Salvation Army, Free Church and House Churches are running Alpha. Because Alpha covers the basics of Christianity all churches provide the same material, making alterations only to suit the local culture. What is Involved? A typical Alpha evening includes three segments:
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Anyone can come. Anyone interested in finding out more about the meaning of life or about the Christian faith can be invited on this ten-week introduction designed for both non-church goers and new Christians. You do not need any particular background or experience.
Learning and laughter. The course is based on a series of fifteen talks which tackle the key questions at the heart of the Christian faith. You will find that it is entirely possible to learn about the Christian faith and to enjoy the experience! Laughter and fun are a key part of the course, breaking down barriers and enabling everyone to relax together. Pasta. Eating together gives people the chance to get to know each other and to develop Christian friendships. It is important that the course is held in a welcoming environment. Helping one another. The small groups encourage everyone to participate and help each other along the way, as they discuss the talks, examine the Bible, and pray for each other. For the leaders and helpers, the course provides an opportunity to help bring others to faith. People often come back and help on the next course or bring their friends along to see what it is all about. Ask anything. Alpha is a place where no question is regarded as too simple or too hostile. People are given a chance to raise their questions and discuss relevant topics in small groups after the talk. |
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Watch the first video below... Is There More to Life Than This? |
What is the Next Step? 1) Take 22 minutes to watch the first video in the series: "Is There More to Life Than This". 2) Decide if you are interested in pursuing the remainder of the series 3) Contact the Church office and let us know that you will be coming. 
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More Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be pressured?
Alpha recognizes that people are in process throughout life as they wrestle with the purpose and meaning of life. Alpha is a progressive step-by-step personal introduction into the Christian Faith. The underlying premise is that this personal interest in the Christian faith is self-directed, and therefore, pressure-free. Each person comes to Alpha with one over-riding objective: to establish whether Jesus Christ has any real relevance for his/her life.
Alpha is modeled on the way Jesus conducted himself and others. Jesus never forced himself on anyone. He never pressured anyone to follow him. Rather, He "invites" people to follow him!
Can I miss a week?
Sometimes circumstances come up beyond our control, and we understand that, but we also know that you will matter to the rest of your group! You are a "key success factor" in your group. We would, therefore, really like to encourage you to attend every evening. Your presence affects others positively!
What do I do now?
There is a very simple registration form that we ask you to fill out. Once you've done that; just plan to be here next week! If you have any questions you can contact Pastor Norman at 633-4903.
Some Additional Thoughts
When participating in group discussion, keep these thoughts in mind:
A fundamental principle of the Alpha course is that everyone is free to be himself or herself and to express what they feel or think! No one is obligated to do or say or participate in anything.
The Alpha Course is held each Wednesday, starting with a dinner at 6:00 pm. If you need to be a few minutes late, that's OK, just come in and help yourself when you arrive. We will endeavor to be done between 8:15 pm each week.
Will I be pressured?
Alpha recognizes that people are in process throughout life as they wrestle with the purpose and meaning of life. Alpha is a progressive step-by-step personal introduction into the Christian Faith. The underlying premise is that this personal interest in the Christian faith is self-directed, and therefore, pressure-free. Each person comes to Alpha with one over-riding objective: to establish whether Jesus Christ has any real relevance for his/her life.
Alpha is modeled on the way Jesus conducted himself and others. Jesus never forced himself on anyone. He never pressured anyone to follow him. Rather, He "invites" people to follow him!
Can I miss a week?
Sometimes circumstances come up beyond our control, and we understand that, but we also know that you will matter to the rest of your group! You are a "key success factor" in your group. We would, therefore, really like to encourage you to attend every evening. Your presence affects others positively!
What do I do now?
There is a very simple registration form that we ask you to fill out. Once you've done that; just plan to be here next week! If you have any questions you can contact Pastor Norman at 633-4903.
Some Additional Thoughts
When participating in group discussion, keep these thoughts in mind:
- Show mutual respect. (ie. no put downs)
- No sharing of another person's stories without that person's consent
- Only one person will talk at a time.
- There's no such thing as a dumb question
- Allow others time to express their thoughts and feelings.
- No one has to talk
A fundamental principle of the Alpha course is that everyone is free to be himself or herself and to express what they feel or think! No one is obligated to do or say or participate in anything.
The Alpha Course is held each Wednesday, starting with a dinner at 6:00 pm. If you need to be a few minutes late, that's OK, just come in and help yourself when you arrive. We will endeavor to be done between 8:15 pm each week.