Alpha at Holy Innocents'
Alpha is fabulous! I felt a sense of belonging and welcome from everyone involved -
participant in our first Alpha Online course |
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Online course starting Friday 25 September 2020
Thinking of coming? |
Thinking of inviting someone? |
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Registration has started for our second Alpha Online course, starting Friday 25 September.
If you need to know more about it before deciding, you'll find lots more information on this page. Once you've decided, it's easy to register. All you need to do is to use the registration link or this barcode: 
Simple as that!
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If you do invite someone to Alpha, it may be the best gift they will ever receive: it may change their life. 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."
You don't have to stop at one person. If you're connected with lots of people, why not invite all of them? You could invite them on social media, using one of the invitations you'll find below and attaching one of these short promo videos: Ask at Alpha (square tile format) Ask at Alpha (Insta/FB story format) Intro to Alpha Film Series Don't forget to send them the registration link and if you've done Alpha yourself, don't forget to tell them how good it was! |
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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. This is our second online course. 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 (see "Thinking of coming?" above). It's best if you start at the beginning, joining the first session on Friday 25 September. 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 25 September, 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 (see "Thinking of coming?" above). It's best if you start at the beginning, joining the first session on Friday 25 September. 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 25 September, 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.
It is the most invigorating, incredible experience and a true blessing -
participant in one of our 2018 Alphas
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:
Far exceeded my expectations!
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
Before Alpha I had five to ten friends. Now I've got 70!
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.
The weekend away! I loved all of it.
It was so beautiful to feel the love of God in such a tangible way through the prayer sessions -
participant in one of our 2017 courses
HOW can I learn more?
Contact Stephen Walsh (07778 612050) or e mail orpingtonalpha@rcaos.org.uk
Visit catholics.alpha.org
View some Alpha stories
Visit catholics.alpha.org
View some Alpha stories
If the only thing I ever did in my life was to invite one person to Alpha,
my life would have been worthwhile -
Alpha participant quoted by Nicky Gumbel in one of his Alpha talks