The Alpha Course Starts February 1 – First Congregational Church of Westbrook, CT

Starting on February 1

WCC will be offering an amazing opportunity to explore the basic beliefs of our Christian faith through The Alpha Course ~ which originated in England and has been led all over the world. This course is for believers and non-believers alike.

This eleven-week course has but one requirement: that participants commit to coming every week. There is no homework to do during the week. Just come, be yourself, and enjoy getting to know others. It is a great introduction/refresher to our faith and we welcome adults from both within and outside of our congregation to join us on this venture.

Sunday School teachers, church lay leaders, parents, and all who are interested in growing deeper in both head and heart knowledge of our Living God ~ we hope you’ll prayerfully consider this opportunity. Anyone interested in being on the leadership team (coordinating dinners, babysitting, setting up, being a small group leader, etc.), please speak with Julia Manners.

Some of The Alpha Course Topics:

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?
Does God Heal Today?
How Does God Guide Us?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
How Can I make the Most of the Rest of My Life?
How Can I Resist Evil?
Why and How Should We Tell Others?
What About the Church?

The Alpha Course is an exciting opportunity for adults to explore their own faith in a small group setting. Alpha includes a time of fellowship, as we join together for dinner (which is prepared for you!). This will be followed by an engaging lecture on a specific faith topic, after which we‘ll split into small groups for a time of discussion. The Alpha Course will be held on Wednesday evenings, from 6:15 – 8:40 p.m. starting on February 1. A daytime group is also possible. Speak with Julia Manners if this daytime option interests you.

Here are some common questions we‘ve heard concerning Alpha:

Question: If Alpha is going to present specific tenets of our faith, then I‘m confused. I thought that the U.C.C. didn‘t tell us what to believe. How does Alpha fit into that philosophy? Answer: Alpha fits in beautifully. Alpha presents beliefs commonly held by Christians of all denominations (protestant and catholic). However, if you join Alpha to learn ―the right answer,‖ you may be disappointed. No one will tell you what you have to believe. But what you WILL get is a chance to examine your own beliefs, to grow deeper in your experience of God, and to develop a closer bond with others who are also seeking to grow in their faith.

Question: I‘m still not sure about this. Eleven weeks is a bigger commitment than I‘m used to. Answer: Eleven weeks may seem like a lot, but experience has shown that the bigger the commitment, the much greater the rewards. And a relational ministry opportunity like Alpha needs that amount of time for lasting relationships to develop. Besides, we suspect that the time will go quickly! Plus, there‘s no homework!

Question: Do I need to know a lot about the Bible in order to participate? I‘m nervous that I don‘t know enough. Answer: Alpha was originally developed for those who knew nothing of the Bible whatsoever. It is a very basic course ~ some call it ―Christianity 101.‖ There are no quizzes in Alpha! Plus, part of the reason for going is to learn more about our faith. So, whether you know a little, a lot, or nothing at all — give Alpha a try.