Alpha at Holy Innocents'
Alpha is fabulous! I felt a sense of belonging and welcome from everyone involved -
participant in one of our Alpha Online courses |
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Our third Alpha Online course - starting Friday 23 April 2021
Thinking of coming? |
Thinking of inviting someone? |
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Want to register?
Registration has opened for this Alpha Online course, which begins at 8 pm on Friday 23 April. To register for Alpha Online (it's easy - it will only take you a minute), go our registration page. Still deciding whether it's for you? You can find out what Alpha Online is like by watching Lisa and Ike (both parents of children at Holy Innocents' School) and Suzanne tell their stories of coming on Alpha on our new video, 'It changed my life' - inspiring stories. Need more information? You'll find much more information about the course on our advertising flyer and on the rest of this page. Any questions? Contact Stephen on 07778 612050 or at orpingtonalpha@rcaos.org.uk. |
What sort of people come on our courses?
All sorts of people: from the Orpington area or anywhere else; from all sorts of church backgrounds or none; young, old and anywhere in between.; with all sorts of commitments and problems to juggle. Whoever they are, they have two things in common: they have lots of questions to explore; and more likely than not, they won't come on Alpha Online unless someone invites them. Who can invite them? You can. Someone once said, "If the only thing I ever did in my life was to invite one person to Alpha, my life would have been worthwhile." They might be a family member, a friend, a neighbour or a work colleague. Anyone you think might benefit from coming on Alpha. And of course you don't have to stop at one person. If you're connected with lots of people, why not invite all of them? And remember - they might be more likely to say yes if you offer to come with them, at least for the first few sessions. |
Alpha Online: invitational materials
Depending how you want to invite someone, you may send them a link to this page, to our registration page or to our new 'It changed my life' - inspiring stories video; or a copy of our advertising flyer.
On social media, you could use one of the invitational squares we've set out below - but remember you'll need also to send one or more of the links - perhaps to the registration page and the inspiring stories video.
On social media, you could use one of the invitational squares we've set out below - but remember you'll need also to send one or more of the links - perhaps to the registration page and the inspiring stories video.
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Alpha Online: the basic details
We've been running Alpha at Holy Innocents' since 2017. Over 250 people have been on our adult courses and we also run Youth Alpha (check out our Youth Alpha page). Most of our courses have been in person, but since the pandemic started we have run two courses online. We've always loved to welcome people from in and around the Orpington area, but now there is no geographical limit - you can join us from anywhere!
The course is free and it's simple to register; you can register for our April 2021 course at our registration page. It's best if you start at the beginning, joining the first session and carrying on from there. But we welcome people joining part way through, if you miss the early sessions.
We meet on Zoom on Friday evenings, arriving from 7.45 pm for a prompt 8 pm start. We aim to finish a little after 9.30 pm. Generally we'll meet every Friday from 23 April, with a break for half term.
There are twelve Friday session. Each of them includes:
There's also a "weekend Holy Spirit retreat" - with sessions on Friday evening, Saturday and perhaps Sunday morning. On our first Alpha Online course, we didn't know how the weekend would go. We needn't have worried: it was great!
The course is free and it's simple to register; you can register for our April 2021 course at our registration page. It's best if you start at the beginning, joining the first session and carrying on from there. But we welcome people joining part way through, if you miss the early sessions.
We meet on Zoom on Friday evenings, arriving from 7.45 pm for a prompt 8 pm start. We aim to finish a little after 9.30 pm. Generally we'll meet every Friday from 23 April, with a break for half term.
There are twelve Friday session. Each of them includes:
- social time, getting to know each other. It's amazing how quickly strangers become friends on Alpha
- watching a film from the Alpha Film Series
- discussing the film in a small group (in a Zoom "breakout room")
There's also a "weekend Holy Spirit retreat" - with sessions on Friday evening, Saturday and perhaps Sunday morning. On our first Alpha Online course, we didn't know how the weekend would go. We needn't have worried: it was great!
WHAT is Alpha?
Alpha is a course - weekly sessions and a weekend retreat, exploring life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment.
But more important, Alpha is an experience - of being welcomed, well-fed, informed, challenged, listened to and respected. Of meeting new people, sharing meals, enjoying each other's company and having fun. Of deepening relationships with each other and, if you'd like to, with God.
But more important, Alpha is an experience - of being welcomed, well-fed, informed, challenged, listened to and respected. Of meeting new people, sharing meals, enjoying each other's company and having fun. Of deepening relationships with each other and, if you'd like to, with God.
Transforming and uplifting -
participant in one of our Alpha Online courses
WHO is Alpha for?
It can be for anyone. It might be for you.
Millions of people around the world have taken part in Alpha. People from every church background and none. Non-believers, seekers, regular or occasional churchgoers, Catholics or other Christians who haven’t been to church for a while. All of them have experienced something special.
Here's what some of the participants on our earlier courses have said about Alpha:
Millions of people around the world have taken part in Alpha. People from every church background and none. Non-believers, seekers, regular or occasional churchgoers, Catholics or other Christians who haven’t been to church for a while. All of them have experienced something special.
Here's what some of the participants on our earlier courses have said about Alpha:
A superb course
It was an eye opener. I learnt more than I expected
I have never laughed so much in my life!
I have never felt community like it in the church… I found a Catholicism I can get on board with
Helped me to 'join the dots' in my head about my faith
I would recommend it to everyone
WHAT happens at an Alpha weekly session?
When we're meeting in person, we share a meal together. Now that we are online, we spend some social time getting to know each other.
We watch a talk or a film, about an aspect of the basic message of the Christian faith. Is there a God? If so, does He love us? Why did Jesus come? Is faith rational? Should we pray? And so on.
We talk about it in small groups, with an emphasis on listening to and respecting the views of everyone who has something to say.
We watch a talk or a film, about an aspect of the basic message of the Christian faith. Is there a God? If so, does He love us? Why did Jesus come? Is faith rational? Should we pray? And so on.
We talk about it in small groups, with an emphasis on listening to and respecting the views of everyone who has something to say.
Every church needs a space where people can be welcomed, known and loved.
Alpha provides that space
WHAT happens at an Alpha weekend?
The Alpha weekend is very special.
We make time and space for ourselves and for God.
We enjoy each other's company.
We watch some Alpha films and discuss them in our small groups.
We get to know about the Holy Spirit.
We have the chance to receive the gifts He has in store for us.
It's different online from when we can go away together in person - but it's still an absolute highlight that you won't want to miss.
We make time and space for ourselves and for God.
We enjoy each other's company.
We watch some Alpha films and discuss them in our small groups.
We get to know about the Holy Spirit.
We have the chance to receive the gifts He has in store for us.
It's different online from when we can go away together in person - but it's still an absolute highlight that you won't want to miss.
I wanted to reiterate how wonderful last weekend was -
I got so much out of it and thoroughly enjoyed it...
for me it was an incredible, emotional and thought-provoking experience -
participant in our first Alpha Online course
HOW can I learn more?
Contact Stephen Walsh (07778 612050) or e mail orpingtonalpha@rcaos.org.uk
Visit catholics.alpha.org
View our new video, 'It changed my life' - inspiring stories or some other Alpha stories
Visit catholics.alpha.org
View our new video, 'It changed my life' - inspiring stories or some other Alpha stories
Alpha has been the most rewarding and personally fulfilling thing
that I have ever been involved in during my entire life -
Holy Innocents' Alpha Online team member