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What you
hear is not new, it just sounds new?
Alpha
participants pray together during a weekend retreat
that is the highlight of the 10-week course
on basic
Christianity. Groups meet weekly for a meal
and a
teaching.
My
Experience of Alpha:
How
I Was Filled with the Holy Spirit
By Jennifer
Simmons
"I should be happy but I don't
feel happy." These were the words that played over
and over again in my mind. I have a good job, a
great family and a new house that I had been praying
for. What more could I ask for? I started praying
for a change in my life. l asked God to help me find
the way. l wanted to know happiness and I wanted to
know peace.l guess I didn't feel deserving of these
things but I really felt that I needed them.
One night I had an amazing
dream. It was a dream that I will never forget . It
is as clear to me today as it was when I woke up. l
was standing in line to get on a roller coaster ride
at an amusement park. lt was a beautiful sunny day
and there was a sea of people all eagerly awaiting
their turn. I wasn't sure what I was doing in this
line - I hate roller coasters. The people on the
ride were screaming and laughing and it was very
loud. As I got closer in the line I could see a man
taking the tickets. He was wearing beautiful white
robe and he turned around and smiled at me. lt was
Jesus! Then I looked up and saw that the roller
coaster seemed like it was going to crash. l was
scared for them. I yelled, "Jesus, they are out of
control, aren't you going to save them?" Jesus just
looked at me and smiled. Just as I was about to get
on the ride my daughter woke me up saying it was
time for breakfast. I was a little scared because I
never had a dream about Jesus before. In fact, I
have been away from the church for a very long time.
A few days later I got a call
from Father Jim Otto. l knew that he was calling
about the Rite of Christian Initiation program since
I was only baptized Catholic. He said that he saw
that we had just registered at the parish and he was
doing a program called Alpha if I would like to come
and check it out. I said, "Father, I consider myself
a spiritual person and I don't really feel the need
to go to church." He said, "Shirley Maclaine
considers herself spiritual too." By the time I got
off the phone I told him that I would try to go. I
really didn't think that I was going to go .
A patient at work the next
week asked me if I loved Jesus. l told her "I guess
so". She told me that she really loved Jesus and she
just kept smiling. The day after that I found a
screen saver of the Blessed Mother on my computer.
Someone was definitely trying to tell me something.
Friday night came and I went
to my first Alpha meeting. I didn't know what to
expect but I enjoyed myself. I found myself looking
forward to it every week. I had gone to Mass a few
times and I even started reading the Bible. I came
to a passage about forgiveness one day and something
just clicked in my head. l felt that my inability to
forgive certain people for the many things that they
had done was holding me back.
I realized that I was carrying
around all of this anger, hurt and bitterness for
most of my life. It was making me miserable. Now ,a
thirty year old mother of two, I couldn't bear to
keep it with me any longer. I didn't want this to
affect me or my family anymore. I really didn't know
how to get past it though. Could I really ask God to
help me with this?
It was time to go on our Alpha
retreat. I didn't think that I would be able to go
but I really wanted to. I was nervous because I
wasn't sure what was going to happen. I figured at
the very least I would have a peaceful night away
from the kids and get to talk with everyone. It was
Mother's Day weekend and it was so beautiful there.
Late on Friday night I went into the chapel. There
were a few people inside and it was very peaceful. I
sat in the back and I began to pray.
I started by thanking God for
my many blessings and for leading me to Alpha and
the retreat. Then I said, "Lord, I think you brought
me here for a reason. I know that I need to forgive
them for what they did. If I can't forgive them I
know that I won't be able to ask for my own
forgiveness. Please help me, Jesus. Help me to find
peace through forgiveness." I said the test part
over and over again. I started crying and I just
couldn't stop. I felt sadness and relief.
The next morning I felt good;
a feeling of calmness came over me. Later that day
Father Otto prayed over each of us. This was new to
me . I wanted the Holy Spirit to come to me but I
was afraid. Father Otto and Deacon McGuire placed
their hands on me and they prayed. Father Otto said
a lot of things but I remember him saying, " Lord,
give her peace." I was totally overwhelmed. I felt
good but I wasn't sure that I was any different.
When I got home I gave my family the biggest hugs
that I had ever given them.
On Sunday morning, Mother's
Day, I was completely ecstatic. I got up and took
the kids to church and I felt really happy to be
there. I was starting to realize that I had received
a gift from Jesus himself! All that I had to do was
ask. l was filled and overflowing with the Holy
Spirit. I was free and peaceful and I knew that my
life would never be the same again. l will never
turn my back on Jesus again for I know He is always
with me. I will look forward to going to Mass every
week, reading my Bible before bed and bring my
family closer to the Lord. lf I could find that
patient at work I would tell her "Yes, I love Jesus,
too." I have thanked Jesus every day for answering
my prayers and showing me the way, starting with
that beautiful dream, and I will thank him forever.
He has given me a new life and I will be eternally
grateful. - Jennifer Simmons
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page
Do
you want to meet Jesus?
Your
invitation to check out Alpha
We invite you to check out Alpha by calling the rectory at 610 543 0848 .
Alpha a 10-week practical introduction to the
Christian Faith
· Dinner
· Small-group discussion
· Group teaching
· Weekend retreat (optional)
--Anyone can come -- believers and unchurched.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the
--Christian faith is welcome. Learning and laughter.
Join others in a relaxed atmosphere.
Pasta (or other great food). Each weekly session
begins with dinner.
--Helping one another. Dinner is followed by
large-group presentation and small-group discussion.
Ask anything. Here's your chance to ask your
questions and express your opinions.
A 10-week program answering these questions for
those who wonder:
· Christianity: Boring, Untrue, and Irrelevant?
·. Who Is Jesus?
·. Why Did Jesus Die?
· Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
·. Why and How Do I Pray?
· How Does God Guide Us? :
· Who Is the Holy Spirit?
· How Can I Be Filled with the Spirit?
· What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
·. How Can I Resist Evil?
· Why and How Should We Tell Others?
· Does God Heal Today?
· What About the Church?
We would like to invite you to join us on the
NEXT Alpha Course. Alpha is a short,
practical introduction to the Christian faith. It
includes an optional weekend away. This is a key
part of the course, as well as being great fun, so
please write the dates on your calendar now.
Each weekly session begins with supper at 6:30
P.M., includes a talk, and ends with an opportunity
to meet in small groups to discuss and study the
Bible. All meetings will take place on Wednesday
evenings at St. Francis of Assisi.
Please call the Rectory office to register: 610
543-0848. We look forward to meeting you.
--The Alpha Team
How the
first Alpha group at St. Francis began in 1999
Father Jim Otto called together 19 people several
months ago for the purpose of growing in their
commitment to the Lord. The group close to use the
ALPHA program that includes informal dinner, viewing
a videotape and discussion. ALPHA is a course in
basic Christianity that is presented in a clear,
compelling manner. It is being presented with great
success all over the world.
ALPHA is a meal, a talk and a chance to ask those
hard questions on faith in a non-threatening place.
Guests are invited to learn together as they dig
into questions of life and faith. ALPHA originated
in England as a way to present the Gospel to
believers and non-believers alike.
At the first meeting, held in the rectory, the
participants viewed a tape that summarizes the
program.. Twelve of those invited formed the first
group, which met Saturday evenings for 10 weeks.
Four ALPHA presentations have occurred. Twenty one
persons attended the most recent one that ended in
May 2000.
ALPHA is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.
For Christians, Jesus Christ is First. The outcome
of the program is a deeper faith commitment and
desire to share the Good News of life in Christ.
Watch for Alpha Information
Night.
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Below is a description of Alpha from
their
website
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