The Alpha Course provides a relaxed and friendly environment in which to ask questions about the Christian faith. At St Mary’s we have now completed two Alpha Courses and a wide range of people have attended. Some have been churchgoers for many years whilst others have had little or no experience of the Christian faith. We have also seen a variety of age groups from young mums to senior citizens.

The first course took place in the St Mary’s Centre on Wednesday evenings from September to December last year. Nine people started the course. Two dropped out half way through for personal reasons rather than being unhappy with the course. Some have now returned to their own church homegroups whilst another has joined a homegroup. Some of the others have been coming to “A Life Worth Living” – a course designed for people who have completed Alpha. This meets fortnightly on Wednesday evenings.

The second course has just finished. Eight people have been meeting for a couple of hours on Wednesday lunchtimes. They all seem to have enjoyed the course and we are expecting some of those who don’t currently attend church to be in church before long. Thanks are due to Ellen Jackson for the use of her home.

The format of both courses has been to have a meal together followed by a DVD explaining a particular aspect of the Christian faith followed by discussion and questions. We also have an ‘Awayday’ half way through the course to provide an opportunity for a longer period of discussion and questions. We have been grateful to Richard and Erica Nunn at St Andrew’s for letting us use Peter’s Barn for these Awaydays. Thanks are also due to Jay Ainge and Henry Goodman for preparing the meals and to Jay for washing up! The Friends of St Mary’s also agreed to finance the first course which involved the purchase of DVDs and literature.

Following the success of the first two courses we may consider running a third course in the autumn, following the ‘Walk Roding’ mission.

Mark James
Sue Goodman