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What Is Alpha? Christ Lutheran Church 8011 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814-2476 Email: [email protected] 301-652-5160 Fax - 301-652-2301 Website: http://www.heartmindsoul.com Volume 67, Reach Up - Reach Out & Grow NOVEMBER 2001 Issue 11 With a new design www.heartmindsoul.com What is alpha? !!!ATTENTION!!! All over the world, the Christian church is experiencing new shoots of life springing up giving fresh dynamism, hope and vision. THE DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES FOR THE NEXT Alpha is one of these shoots. Thousands of Alpha courses are now running in many countries. Hundreds more register each month as church leaders CHRONICLE from all denominations report the astonishing impact the course has on non-churchgoers and existing Christians in their areas. And it's spreading fast to many secular locations - prisons, businesses and schools. IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH! CHURCH STAFF Rev. Marvin Tollefson Developed at Holy Trinity Brompton over the last twenty years, Alpha is a 15-session practical introduction to the Chris- Pastor tian faith. It's aimed especially at people who don't go to church. At Holy Trinity, Alpha courses are held throughout the Graceful Growing Together year and have hundreds of people attending each week. Krista Vingelis Stewardship We will be offering one course on Sunday mornings beginning Sunday, December 2 at 10:15 am. An evening Minister of Family & Community Care course is also being offered. The evening course will be offered on Thursday evening at 6:30 pm beginning No- Initiative envelopes are now Jin Sun Cho vember29. At the evening event there is a light meal followed by a talk on a subject central to the Christian faith. Organist & Minister of Music Then participants break into pre-arranged groups of around 10-12 people (in which they remain for the entire provided in all monthly envelope course) to discuss the talk in an environment where each person should feel free to ask or express whatever packets, in addition to the regular Richard Czypinski they wish. A team of around three or four 'leaders' or 'helpers' from the host church are attached to each group. offering envelopes. Pew envelopes for Office Manager There is also a Saturday during the course offering when the subject of the Holy Spirit is addressed. Graceful Growing Together are also in the pews for your convenience at all Claire Cho services. Office Assistant Florence Heacock HIGHLIGHTS Origins of Alpha Small Groups Coordinator 'It's friends bringing friends' ...FROM THE PASTOR, OUR MISSION STATEMENT On Insert, and Page 1-2… The Alpha course has been running for 20 years, but it was only in 1993 that its The mission of Christ Lutheran Church is to make CHURCH COUNCIL astonishing possibilities as a vehicle for evangelism began to emerge. This is disciples of Jesus Christ; to transform all people into Jeff Karpinski: President PLACES TO PLUG IN! the story of how it happened: fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. On page 3-5... Sanna Solem: Secretary Tim Bradley: Treasurer Twenty years ago, Charles Marnham, a clergyman at Holy Trinity Brompton, London, OUR VISION STATEMENT Franz Schauer EVENTS & HAPPENINGS began looking for a means of presenting the basic principles of the Christian faith to Our vision is to be a community of believers making On page 6 & 7... new Christians in a relaxed and informal setting. He devised the Alpha Course. and baptizing disciples so that Christ’s forgiveness Jennifer Walker and healing can be accomplished in the world. Grace Lloyd-Davies STEWARDSHIP CORNER The talks addressed such questions as 'Who is Jesus?', 'How and why do I pray?' and 'How does God guide us?'. When Charles Marnham moved on, others took over lead- Eugene Saylor On page 6... We are a community of believers because God ership of the course and made their own changes. By the time Nicky Gumbel took over Alpha in 1990, the course was a central feature of the church's life, with the num- wants us to be something together and represent Priscilla Lotsberg CLCW INFORMATION ber of participants regularly totalling around 100 people on each course. God with our unified diversity. Our vision is to Laurie Heinecke further God’s Kingdom in our midst. On page 6-10... (Continued on page 2...) OTHER INFORMATION On page 11-12... 12 1 PILGRIMAGE ROOM PRAYER ROOM It was while leading his second Alpha course that Nicky made a discovery which transformed the church's whole ap- (SPIRITUAL RESOURCE CENTER) Sundays proach to the course and gave it a new dynamic. As he looked around the 13 members of his 'small group', he real- PRAYER-HEALING ROOM) 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. ized to his surprise that apart from the three Christian helpers, all the other 10 members of the group were non- Second Floor of Luther Hall churchgoers. Christ Lutheran Church is in the process of preparation/renovation of the office upstairs (2nd Floor of Luther Hall, NEXT DOOR to the large 1 Timothy 2:1…First of all, then, I urge that "They had all the normal objections: 'What about other religions?'; 'What about suffering?', and so on - and we had a carpeted room at the end of the hall) as a multi-purpose faith space, so supplications, prayers, intercessions, and stormy first six weeks," he said. Then they went away on the weekend and all 10 announced their Christian conver- all God's people/children of CLC's community will have a space for as a thanksgivings be made for everyone. sion together. SPIRITUAL RESOURCE CENTER and PRAYER-HEALING ROOM (PILGRIMAGE) for prayer, spiritual reading/research/development, The Prayer Room will be open for you to spend time The experience transformed Nicky's thinking about Alpha. He realized how this simple course in basic Christianity Bible study, spiritual discernment, healing, and other spiritual purposes. in quiet prayer and/or for a prayer minister to pray could become a powerful medium for evangelism. He quickly worked to give the course the kind of ‘feel’ that would Also, this space will have a computer available for research by all in with you---for prayers of adoration and praise for be particularly attractive to non-churchgoers. CLC's faith community. When the Pilgrimage Room is not occupied God, healing, thanksgiving, confession, supplication, by His people/children, CLC's Small Group Coordinator will continue to intercession for you, your loved ones, our church, The method of welcome, the atmosphere of the small groups, the food, the seating, the flowers, the sound, and the expand spiritual life/ministries of CLC. community, and world. material of the talks themselves were all changed to make them as attractive as possible to the person who walked in 'off the street'. “PRAYER…links all aspects of our lives to God. Please keep this spiritual space development in your prayers. In prepar- God is present in all of life…PRAYER is centering He emphasised to the Alpha small group leaders that no question should be treated as too trivial, threatening or il- ing/renovating this space for ministry, bookcases, comfortable chairs (2- our life in our relationship with God in Christ and logical. Every question would be addressed courteously and thoughtfully - and none would ever be 'pestered' if they 3), small table (1 or 2), paint, and painting of the room are needed. If allowing that center to be present in all we do. chose not to continue with the course. you are led to assist with this project and have some items that may help Christ will be there for rest, guidance, joy, love, and to prepare this room for these ministries, please call Florence Heacock, Nicky Gumbel explains: "It's all friendship-based. There's no knocking on doors - it's friends bringing friends." hope. In PRAYER we present our whole life and the Small Group Coordinator for CLC, at 301/652-5160 or 301/452- lives of other to God, so that God may be known and 2491. Looking for answers? The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a re- lives may be touched by GRACE.” Richard J. laxed, non-threatening manner over ten, thought-provoking weekly sessions. Beckmen It's low key, friendly and fun. And it's supported by all the main Christian denominations. PRAYER BOOKS You're not on your own either. More than 2 million people worldwide have found it a worthwhile experience. So join us on a journey of discovery. There's a course running at a church near you! Staff Prayer Journals for your input (your written prayer s for the staff) are available on the table in the narthex. What is Alpha? There is a prayer journal for each one of the following staff: The Alpha course consists of a series of talks looking at topics such as "Who is Jesus?" and "Why and how Pastor Marvin Tollefson do I pray?". Krista Vingelis There is a meal together at the beginning of each session which gives you an opportunity to get to know Jin Sun Cho each other. Richard Czypinski ATTENTION!!! After each talk we divide into small groups for a time of discussion. At anytime, as God speaks to you or leads you, stop by the narthex table to The 2002 Altar Flower Listen, learn, discuss and discover. And ask anything. Alpha is a place where no question is too simple or share or write a prayer for each staff Calendar is up in the too hostile. person in their "Prayer Journal". narthex. Please sign up for Alpha is for everyone, altar flower donations.
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