Welcome to Alpha!

We would love to invite you to check out Alpha at a supper on Sunday, September 26, 2010 in here at West Church in the Vestry.

Who is Alpha for?

Alpha is for everyone; no question is out of bounds and you are free to discuss as much or as little as you wish. People come from all kinds of backgrounds: some to investigate whether God exists; others may have attended church on and off all their lives but feel like they are missing something. We don't assume any background knowledge of or belief in Christianity and everyone is welcome.

What is Alpha?

Alpha is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life in an informal, fun and friendly environment. The Alpha course consists of a series of talks, looking at topics including 'Who is Jesus?' and 'Why and how do I pray?', with the option of a weekend away. We meet for supper and each talk is followed by discussion in small groups.

Alpha is offered for ten weeks on Sunday nights. You don't have to come to the whole course - just come along for the first night and see what you think. No pressure.

Okay, I'm interested...what next?

The Next Course starts on: September 26th (5:30pm - 8:00pm)

Further Information

More than 11 million people have completed the Alpha course worldwide in churches, homes, schools, universities, and prisons. It is low-key, friendly and fun - and is supported by all the main Christian denominations. Alpha is being run by churches of every denomination, including Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal, Salvation Army and non-denominational churches. Wherever the course is being held, all churches provide the same material, making alterations only to suit local culture. People 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.

For more information please contact the Diane Senno by email alpha@westchurch.org.

To find out more about the Alpha course, see further information below or go to www.alphausa.org

A Typical Alpha Evening

6:00 Supper Together
Each Alpha group eats supper sitting together at the same table. Food is prepared for our guests by folks from the church.

6:40 Talk
All the groups gather for a brief time of worship followed by a video of Nicky Gumbel giving a talk on one of the key issues of the Christian faith. Some sample talks are: Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant? Who is Jesus? How can I be sure of my Faith? How does God guide us? How can I make the most of the rest of my life? And the like. See schedule of talks for further topics.

7:30 Small Group Discussion
Many Alpha guests speak of how they find the small group sessions to be the most rewarding aspect of Alpha. The small groups provide an opportunity to ask questions, express opinions and discuss the topic of the evening. They also give guests the chance to make friends and to bounce ideas around in a relaxed and non-threatening environment.

8:30 Evening ends
All the small groups are committed to ending on time.

Alpha in the Press

The New York Times
"A novel approach to Christian education that has been catching on nationwide."

Time Magazine
"...many claim Alpha has changed their lives and appear genuinely happier for the experience."

The Independent Newspaper (UK)
"The world's most popular course in Christianity."

Madeleine Bunting, The Guardian
"What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions - life and death and their meaning."

Damian Thompson, The Times
"What distinguishes Alpha from other initiatives is the easy-going, relaxed feel of the proceedings - that, and its astonishing success."

Julia Llewellyn Smith, The Express (UK)
"Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life."