Why not join the Alpha course at Holy Trinity Church Centre, 5a Priory Row. Click here for Peter's story         Click here for Lucy's story . The course consists of eleven sessions, ten Wednesdays, commencing at 7pm, with one Saturday day away. We are now taking bookings for our next course, which runs from: Wednesday 28th January 2009 to 1st April inclusive and Saturday 7th March. If you are interested, then we would love you to attend our free celebration meal on Wednesday 10th December at 7.00pm in the Church Centre. The autumn course will be celebrating the completion of their course and there will be an opportunity for new people  to find out about Alpha. Book online by clicking here or telephone Steve & Gillian on 02476661086. Main national Alpha site - click here Further details, to email us giving your name and telephone number or telephone Steve & Gillian on 02476661086. Course details Each evening starts with a simple meal, giving time for us to get to know each other. Then we have a talk on an interesting topic such as: "Who is Jesus?", "Why did he die?", "How can I be sure?". After this we break down into small groups of approximately eight people to discuss, ask questions, give views and find answers. We finish promptly at 9.30pm. An Alpha course is low key, relaxed, non-threatening, no demands, enjoyable, interesting, informative and satisfying. Comments made by guests on a recent course: I can't wait for next week. Good food Very friendly atmosphere Interesting I didn't know there was so much to know I feel I have just started on a road of discovery So relevant Small groups are great

Peter's story - ALPHA and the ‘VELVET REVOLUTION’

A talk by Peter at an introductory evening for Alpha

A couple of years ago the mere suggestion that I might be standing here extolling the virtues of the Alpha course would have seemed faintly ridiculous. That is not to say that I was particularly antagonistic towards Christianity; rather, my attitude towards the Christian Faith might have been described, at best, as tolerant, and at worst, as merely indifferent.

Like many people I rather admired the Christian aura of idealism and hope; whilst remaining deeply sceptical about the Christian understanding of their source and inspiration. Like many people I too would have broadly subscribed, at least in principle, to what might be termed as Christian humanist values; of compassion; of striving for greater social justice; and as for humility … well, as a lifelong QPR supporter you’ll perhaps understand that I was no stranger to humility. To borrow from the jargon of the cold war, I thought I had established a permanent ‘Pact’ of ‘Non-aggression’ or of ‘Peaceful co-existence’ between myself and my actual or supposed ‘Kingdom of God’; whereby I wouldn’t seek to interfere in Christ’s sphere of influence, in return for which Christ wouldn’t seek to interfere in mine.

So what happened? How did I arrive at my own ‘Velvet Revolution’? How was it that my relationship with Christ, which seemed to be fixed at a point of mutual inertia, began to move forward and flourish on the basis of mutual dialogue, friendship and trust?

A part of me would like to be able to tell you that, as with Paul, I suddenly experienced a moment of BLINDING and celestial revelation. To be frank, however, at times my own journey to faith seemed more like being stuck of the M25 during the rush hour, than being on my ‘road to Damascus’. Nevertheless, three very significant developments gradually began to fall into place.

Firstly, I grew increasingly dissatisfied with the terms of my so-called ‘Pact’ with Christ and began, at least tentatively, to chip away at the self-constructed ‘Berlin Wall’ separating me from faith in order to catch a glimpse of the other side.

Secondly, it began to dawn on me that Christ would never have been party to such a shoddy and compromising deal; that regardless of my own indifference towards him, he had never been indifferent towards me; and that whilst I was just beginning to reach out for him, his hand of friendship had always been there reaching out for me.

And thirdly, and this was perhaps the most surprising development of all, I decided to attend the Alpha Course. Or rather, I was persuaded, not to mention badgered, to attend the Alpha Course by a very close friend of mine, Sophie. Despite having conjured up visions of some kind of North Korean Correction camp or of the Spanish inquisition with tambourines, I managed to cross the threshold of the Trinity Church Centre that first evening (albeit under escort from Sophie, in case I ‘bunked off’ on the way), and have never looked back since.

Contrary to my worst fears, Alpha did not require me to leave my critical faculties at the door. Moreover, Alpha provided a very welcoming, often humorous and always stimulating forum in which I was able to explore and develop my relationship with Christ.

Without Alpha I might still be struggling on my own, trying to chip away at that wall which separated me from a life of renewed meaning and purpose with Christ, and I will always be grateful to Alpha for encouraging me to draw upon the strength and resources of the only person capable of bringing the wall down; namely, Jesus Christ himself.

For those of you here this evening for the first time I sincerely hope, and indeed pray, that Alpha will serve to enrich your lives, just as it served to enrich my own.

Lucy's Alpha story

I originally did an Alpha course at University. After 3 months into my first year, although really enjoying my University experience, I missed something that I had found from studying RE, or going to Church on occasions with my school friends.

I wasn't a christian, but really wanted to explore life, God and what people believed. Alpha was definitely the right place to do this. The atmosphere was really relaxed and enjoyable, there was great food every week and I quickly felt that what was being discussed was exactly what I was missing. I am quite an opinionated person and Alpha thankfully gave me absolute freedom to speak honestly about all the topics discussed.

I can't put into written words the moving nature of the experience I had on Alpha's Holy Spirit day, but it was one that changed my life. God came close to me on that day and so much of the Alpha course and the rest of my life made sense because of it.

I am still always questioning and learning, but Alpha certainly answered some of the bigger questions that had been with me for a long time.