The Alpha Course

Alpha Course – with a difference!

Alpha Courses have been running at Norbury for many years but this time we’re doing something new. Instead of holding the course in church, we’re holding it in the pub! It’s only 100 yards away but it should give things a different slant. We’re hoping that it will encourage plenty of people who might feel unsure about coming to church to join in, as well as hoping that plenty of existing church people will come along to enjoy themselves too.

For those who are unfamiliar with the concept, Alpha is a one-evening-a-week, 10-week course, offering a chance to explore elements of the Christian faith, to chat about them in a relaxed and informal environment, and ask some of the questions we all inevitably have. Each evening consists of a meal, a DVD presentation on a particular theme and group discussion time.

It’s a chance to make new discoveries and make new friends too. Long-standing members of church using it as a “refresher course” have enjoyed it just as much as those with no church experience.

This Alpha Course will run on Tuesday evenings (7.15-9.30pm), beginning on 18 January 2011. The venue is the “Rising Sun” pub just across the road where the Macclesfield and Buxton roads diverge.

The course is open to any interested adults – existing church members, baptism parents, marriage couples, those considering confirmation, as well as anyone who’s just interested in finding out a bit more, or dipping their toe in the water.

Please consider it for yourself and perhaps suggest it to a friend too. All are welcome.

For more information or to sign up, please contact:

Richard Lawry on 0161-483 8640 or e-mail richard.lawry@norburypc.org
or
Elizabeth Olsson on 0161-483 6325 or e-mail elizabeth.olsson@norburypc.org

Course Contents

• Introduction: Christianity-boring, untrue, irrelevant?
• Who is Jesus?
• Why did Jesus die?
• How can I be sure of my faith?
• Why and how should I read the Bible?
• Why and how do I pray?
• How does God guide us?
• How can I resist evil?
• Who is the Holy Spirit?
• What does the Holy Spirit do?
• How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?
• Why and how should we tell others?
• Does God heal today?
• What about the Church?
• How can I make the most of the rest of my life?

So! What is Alpha all about?

The course was primarily designed for non-Christians, those people outside the church – and we all know a few of those! It was a much shorter course then but has since been adapted to suit many needs.

There may be new Christians who may just be starting to come to Church and want to know more. There may be existing church-goers who have never experienced the love of God or the Holy Spirit. Some find it difficult to understand what it is like to have a relationship with Jesus. Alpha can help them to experience that relationship.

More recently, Alpha has become a way for Christians who are not regular church-goers to find out more about their faith. I would say that the majority of us know a lot of people who fall into this category. How often has someone said to you “Of course I believe in God, but I don’t need to go to church every Sunday – I can pray on my own at home?” I was in that same category (preferring to play golf on a Sunday – and I still meet many golfers with a similar attitude).

If you were learning a language, or yoga, or had any other interest, would you really be taking it seriously if you studied alone and didn’t tell anyone about it? Why then shouldn’t we invite others along to Alpha to ask their questions and to seek some answers for themselves?

Let us share in the Good News of our risen Saviour.