St Nic's: Living on the edge with Jesus

The Alpha Course

The page aims to give a brief overview of the course planned for this Autumn term and provides details of how you can be involved.

The next course begins on Thursday 24 September 2009.

What is Alpha?

Alpha is a ten week course which overviews the foundations of the Christian faith. We hope to help people understand better the teachings of Jesus by enabling participants to explore further the subjects being taught and to express their hopes or concerns as the course unfolds. Over 2 million people in the UK and 11 million worldwide have now attended the Alpha Course, all getting an opportunity to explore the meaning of life.

The Welcome Supper

To kick off the course we would like to invite you to our welcome supper. This is a very relaxed event where we can enjoy a meal together and get to know each other. Conversation will be interrupted only for a short introduction to the course and an after dinner speech. To put your mind at rest there is no dress code.

The Course

If that whets your appetite, there then follows ten weekly sessions on a Thursday night. Each evening will start with supper at 7 pm, which is always a good time to get to know others and often leads to good friendships.

At 8.00 pm, after brief notices, we will have ten minutes of voluntary worship, before listening to a thirty minute presentation on the topic of the week.

After a brief cuppa, time is provided for everyone to respond to what they have heard in small discussion groups. It is intended the groups assigned on the first night will be no more than ten people, of which only two or three will be group leaders. The whole evening will be finished by 9.45 pm.

The Day Away

We often find that an evening is just not long enough and discussions just get started and need to stop again. The course also includes one day away which will include a couple of talks, but will provide much more space to reflect, discuss and just spend more time together.

The Alpha Supper

You may by now think we are obsessed with food, but surely there can be no better way to finish the course. It will be an informal evening just to chat, review and if you want to tell us how we can better present the course.

Who is the course for?

It is our aim that the course is accessible to everyone, meets people where they are and encourages them on their spiritual journey.

When is the course?

Thursday 24 September 2008
Welcome Supper: Is there more to life than this?
Thursday 1 October
Who is Jesus?
Thursday 8 October
Why did Jesus die?
Thursday 15 October
How can we have faith?
Thursday 22 October
Why and how do I pray?
Thursday 29 October
Why and how should I read the Bible?
Thursday 5 November
How does God guide us?
Saturday 7 November
Alpha day away
Thursday 12 November
How can I resist evil?
Thursday 19 November
Why and how should we tell others?
Thursday 26 November
Does God heal today?
Thursday 3 December
What about the Church?
Thursday 10 December
Alpha Supper

What does the course cost?

There is no charge for the course, however as we will provide food each week we would be grateful for voluntary contributions towards the cost of food if you can afford it.

Where is the course?

The course will be held at St Nic’s Church, in Nottingham City centre (map).

What have others said?

Alpha was a great way for me to learn about God in a friendly and non-threatening environment. I was able to ask questions and actually get answers. This course changed my life because I realised that my life had purpose.

Amanda Lockwood

Alpha was instrumental in helping me rediscover my faith.

Charles Dods

How can I enroll?

To enroll please send an email to alpha@stnics.org with your name, phone number, email address and a clear statement of whether you want to come to the full course or just the welcome supper for a taster. Though completely optional, it would be great also to hear why you have decided to join the course and how you heard St Nic’s was running one.

Where can I find more information?

Should you have any further questions on the St Nic’s course then please email Simon at alpha@stnics.org.

More information about Alpha in general can be found on the Alpha Web Site, where you can also find details of other courses being held the world over.

Official Alpha Website

If you do not have a copy of the bible, but would like to read more then BibleGateway.com may be worth a visit.